When Aamir Khan spoke about his “weekend vs lifetime” box office formula years ago, few probably imagined it would become a handy way to measure staying power at the cinemas. But here we are in 2025, and that formula is still proving its worth — especially for films that rely on word of mouth rather than just massive opening weekends.
For the uninitiated, Aamir’s formula is simple: take a film’s weekend box office collection and compare it to its lifetime total. If the lifetime total is five times or more the opening weekend, that’s a clear sign the film had real legs at the box office. In other words, people weren’t just showing up in the first three days because of hype — they kept coming back because the film delivered.
The Rise of Mahavatar Narsimha
Enter Mahavatar Narsimha, the animated mythological epic that’s now making history in more ways than one. On paper, its opening was modest — just ₹1.46 crore on Day 1, with ₹12.11 crore over the weekend. But what happened after that is what box office dreams are made of. The film went on to collect a staggering ₹123.40 crore over its lifetime, which translates to a multiple of 8.60 according to Aamir Khan’s formula.
That number isn’t just good — it’s enough to put Mahavatar Narsimha in the all-time Top 3 list, right behind Kantara (10.54) and The Kashmir Files (9.31). It even edges out massive hits like Pushpa: The Rise (8.54) and 12th Fail (8.47).
Why This Is a Big Deal for Animated Films
Animated films in India often struggle to sustain box office momentum. The genre, while popular for children’s content, has rarely been able to pull in consistent repeat audiences, especially for large-scale theatrical releases. That’s what makes Mahavatar Narsimha such a standout case — it not only drew viewers initially but kept them coming back week after week.
Trade analysts believe the film’s success boils down to a few key factors:
- A rich mythological story rooted in Indian culture.
- Grand, cinematic animation that felt like a theatrical event.
- Emotional depth that connected with both families and devotees.
Word of mouth spread fast, and once audiences realized the experience was worth it, many returned for second or even third viewings. And that’s exactly the kind of behaviour Aamir Khan’s formula is designed to highlight.
The Top 5 That Tell a Story
If we look at the top films using this metric, the pattern is clear — all of them thrived because of strong content and audience connection rather than sheer star power or hype-driven openings:
- Kantara – 10.54
- The Kashmir Files – 9.31
- Mahavatar Narsimha – 8.60
- Pushpa: The Rise – 8.54
- 12th Fail – 8.47
These are films that people didn’t just watch — they experienced, discussed, and recommended.
The Bigger Picture
The success of Mahavatar Narsimha is more than just a box office story; it’s a sign that audiences are increasingly willing to reward originality and emotional depth, regardless of genre. It’s also proof that animation, when done on a grand scale with cultural resonance, can compete with the biggest live-action spectacles in India.
Aamir Khan’s formula might sound like a simple bit of math, but it captures something deeper — the difference between a film that makes money because of marketing and one that makes money because people genuinely love it. By that measure, Mahavatar Narsimha isn’t just in the Top 3 — it’s a benchmark for animated cinema in India.
And for the filmmakers, there’s no better validation than knowing your work has that kind of staying power.
