Yash Chopra’s 2004 romantic epic Veer-Zaara continues to captivate audiences two decades later, as the film has now crossed the coveted Rs 100 crore mark at the worldwide box office following its recent re-release. Starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta in lead roles, the movie originally struck a chord with audiences for its cross-border love story, and it is now extending Yash Chopra’s lasting legacy.
Upon its re-release last week, Veer-Zaara brought in an impressive Rs 1.80 crore in total earnings. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film’s domestic collection alone amounted to Rs 1.57 crore, with steady earnings throughout the week: Rs 20 lakh on Friday, Rs 32 lakh on Saturday, Rs 38 lakh on Sunday, followed by Rs 20 lakh on Monday, Rs 18 lakh on Tuesday, Rs 15 lakh on Wednesday, and Rs 14 lakh on Thursday. Overseas, the re-release contributed an additional Rs 23 lakh to the total. This follows an earlier re-release in February 2023, which had earned Rs 30 lakh.
During its initial release in 2004, Veer-Zaara had already grossed Rs 61 crore domestically and Rs 37 crore internationally, bringing its lifetime earnings to Rs 98 crore. Over the years, the film continued to earn through occasional re-runs, adding Rs 2.50 crore from 2005 to 2023. With the fresh figures from both re-releases in 2023, the film has now reached a total of Rs 102.60 crore globally.
The movie’s re-release coincided with National Cinema Day on September 20, where tickets were offered for just ₹99, which is expected to have driven more footfalls and boosted the box office numbers further.
Veer-Zaara, produced by Yash Raj Films, marked the third collaboration between Yash Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan, following the hits Darr (1991) and Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). The film also boasted a star-studded ensemble cast, including Rani Mukerji, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Manoj Bajpayee, Kirron Kher, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, and Divya Dutta.
The story, set against a cross-border backdrop, revolves around an Indian Air Force officer, Veer Pratap Singh (played by Shah Rukh Khan), and a Pakistani woman, Zaara Hayat Khan (Preity Zinta), who comes to India to fulfill her grandmother’s final wish. Their love story unfolds over decades and across borders, with Veer being wrongfully imprisoned in Pakistan, and framed in an espionage case. Years later, Rani Mukerji’s character, a young lawyer, takes up his case to reunite him with his long-lost love.
The film remains one of Yash Chopra’s most cherished works, blending his signature romantic storytelling with the complexities of Indo-Pak relations. Its soulful soundtrack, composed by the legendary Madan Mohan and lyrics by Javed Akhtar, continues to resonate with fans, particularly the songs “Tere Liye” and “Do Pal.”
With Veer-Zaara now surpassing the Rs 100 crore milestone, it reaffirms its timeless appeal and further cements Yash Chopra’s reputation as the “King of Romance” in Indian cinema.