New Delhi: The biggest hit of 2025 is not Saiyaara, Dhurandhar, Chhaava, and Kantara: Chapter One; that title went to a small Gujarati film, Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate. Without any star power or over-the-top action sequences, the film defied all odds and outperformed several mainstream blockbusters.
“It still feels unreal because the chances of something like this happening are always so slim. The film managed to pull audiences into theatres. It’s massive, but honestly, I haven’t fully processed it yet,” director Ankit Sakhiya told ThePrint.
Released in October 2025, Laalo made history by becoming the first Gujarati film to cross the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office. Starring Karan Joshi, Shruhad Goswami, and Reeva Rachh, the film, written and directed by Sakhiya, follows a rickshaw driver’s journey of self-discovery guided by divine intervention from the Hindu deity Krishna. A Hindi-dubbed version was later released in theatres on 9 January 2026.
Produced on a modest budget of just Rs 50 lakh and featuring no big names, it went on to become the highest-grossing Gujarati film of all time and scored a theatrical run of Rs 120 crore as of day 104 of its release. And, became the most profitable film in Indian cinema history, with a reported profit margin of nearly 24,000 per cent.
In the process, it shattered the previous profit benchmarks set by Secret Superstar (2017) (Rs 900 crore on a Rs 15 crore budget) and Jai Santoshi Maa, which outperformed Sholay in 1975 and was made on a budget of Rs 10 lakh.
Still absorbing the overwhelming response, Sakhiya admits he is amazed by the appreciation coming his way. Filmmakers such as Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Nikhil Advani, and Siddharth Roy Kapur have personally reached out to congratulate him on his first feature film.
“I always believed I would do something significant in cinema, but I never imagined it would happen with my debut film,” he added.
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Civil engineer turned filmmaker
A civil engineer by training, Sakhiya said cinema had always been his true passion. Though he comes from a family of builders, his interest in films never wavered. His parents were firm about one thing: “Earn a degree first, and then chase your dreams.”
“My parents, like most Indian parents, aren’t very expressive. But they are happy that my hard work has paid off,” Sakhiya said.
Since 2019, Sakhiya has worked on several short films and assisted on feature projects. However, over the last two years, he dedicated himself to making Laalo.
Sakhiya admitted the film was a gamble, as such a movie had never been attempted in Gujarati cinema. The intent, he said, was to take that risk and offer something fresh to the audiences.
“This validation will encourage filmmakers to take more risks. Risks were being taken earlier, too, but they weren’t translating into box office and audience acceptance. Laalo’s success will leave a lasting impact,” Sakhiya said.
According to him, the film resonated because of its relatable story and the presence of divine energy.
He pointed out that Gujarati cinema has long been boxed into two dominant genres: comedy and romance. Sakhiya, who enjoys watching comedy films, said that filmmakers have attempted to explore other genres, such as murder mysteries, but those experiments failed to connect with viewers.
Now that a risk like Laalo has paid off, Sakhiya believes it will inspire and instil confidence in Gujarati filmmakers to push boundaries and experiment further.
“I’m confident that I can also now work on the scripts I have,” he added.
When asked about filmmakers who inspire him, Sakhiya said, “People don’t inspire me, cinema does. I am not moved by an individual’s work; I am moved by films and cinema as a whole.”
He also emphasised that he doesn’t limit himself to regional cinema or the Hindi film industry. Filmmakers like SS Rajamouli and Rajkumar Hirani, along with Malayali directors, have left a strong impression on him.
“Films from every language, even Iranian and Spanish cinema, inspire and teach me,” he added.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)