The 2017 science fiction blockbuster “2.0,” also known as “Robot 2,” starring superstar Akshay Kumar and helmed by visionary director S. Shankar, has earned the distinction of being the most expensive film ever produced in India. With a reported production cost of approximately 3 billion Indian rupees (US$44.1 million; £36 million), the film set a new benchmark for cinematic scale in the country.
This massive budget nearly doubled that of its highly successful predecessor, “Endhiran” (aka “Robot,” 2010), which previously held the record with an estimated production cost of 1.9 billion rupees (US$42 million; £27 million). The significant increase in budget for “2.0” was primarily driven by its ambitious visual effects and extensive post-production work, aiming to deliver a truly international-grade sci-fi spectacle.
“2.0” pushed the boundaries of Indian filmmaking, investing heavily in CGI, action sequences, and a star-studded cast to bring its futuristic narrative to life. While the film garnered considerable attention for its visual grandeur and the star power of Akshay Kumar alongside Rajinikanth, its record-breaking budget highlights the growing ambitions of the Indian film industry to compete on a global scale.
