Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is the longest running Indian film, screening at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir since October 1995 and passing 1,500 weeks by its 30th anniversary in 2025. Other record runs include Sholay at Minerva, Kismet at Kolkata’s Roxy, Mughal-e-Azam at Maratha Mandir and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! at Liberty.
Before multiplexes and streaming, a hit film could stay in the same single-screen theatre for months or years. Terms such as “silver jubilee” (25 weeks) and “golden jubilee” (50 weeks) measured success. Here are six Indian films with verified record-setting theatrical runs.
1. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Aditya Chopra’s directorial debut, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, released on 20 October 1995. It has played at Maratha Mandir in Mumbai’s Byculla area ever since, crossing 1,500 weeks by October 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter India.
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The film runs as a single morning show at 11:30 am, and a regular ticket cost Rs 50 in 2025. In 2015 the theatre briefly stopped the screenings after 20 years, but resumed them after demand from fans. No other Indian film has come close to this run.
2. Sholay (1975)
Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay released on 15 August 1975. It opened to poor reviews and weak collections for the first two weeks, then picked up strongly through word of mouth.
It went on to play at Mumbai’s Minerva theatre for 286 weeks, more than five years, as reported by the Free Press Journal on the film’s 50th anniversary in 2025. That made it the longest-running Hindi film in theatres at the time, until DDLJ overtook it.
3. Kismet (1943)
Starring Ashok Kumar, Kismet was one of the biggest hits of the 1940s. It played at the Roxy cinema in Kolkata (then Calcutta) for an exceptionally long period during the Second World War years.
Accounts of the exact length differ. The Roxy Cinema’s Wikipedia entry records 108 weeks, while several film histories describe a run of about three years. Either way, its record stood for decades until Sholay broke it.
4. Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
K. Asif’s historical epic, starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala, released on 5 August 1960 in 150 cinemas, the widest release for a Hindi film at that time. Its premiere was held at Maratha Mandir, which ran it to full houses for about three years.
A digitally coloured version released on 12 November 2004 and completed a 25-week run, a rare feat for a re-release. The film was the highest-grossing Hindi film until Sholay passed it.
5. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994)
Sooraj Barjatya’s family drama, starring Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan, ran at Mumbai’s Liberty Cinema for 105 weeks of regular shows and a further 16 weeks of matinees. It reached its 100th week in August 1996.
According to records of the theatre, the film played 2,341 shows over 847 days in its first run there. It was one of the biggest hits of the 1990s and revived interest in family entertainers.
6. Mother India (1957)
Mehboob Khan’s Mother India, starring Nargis, ran for a full year at Liberty Cinema from October 1957. It was India’s first official submission to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
The film was the highest-grossing Hindi film until Mughal-e-Azam passed it in 1960, and it remains one of the most re-watched classics on television.
Record runs at a glance
| Film | Year | Theatre | Reported run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | 1995 | Maratha Mandir, Mumbai | 1,500+ weeks, still running |
| Sholay | 1975 | Minerva, Mumbai | 286 weeks |
| Kismet | 1943 | Roxy, Kolkata | 108 weeks to about 3 years |
| Mughal-e-Azam | 1960 | Maratha Mandir, Mumbai | About 3 years |
| Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! | 1994 | Liberty, Mumbai | 105 weeks plus 16 matinee weeks |
| Mother India | 1957 | Liberty, Mumbai | 1 year |
Why such long runs no longer happen
Single-screen theatres once showed one film for as long as it drew crowds. Multiplexes, which became common in India from the late 1990s, rotate titles every week to fill many screens. Films also now reach streaming platforms within weeks of release, which shortens their life in cinemas.
As a result, success is now measured in opening weekend and total box office collections rather than the number of weeks a film runs. DDLJ’s daily show at Maratha Mandir is a rare link to the older system. For more film history, see our entertainment section and infotainment stories.
A note on films often listed by mistake
Some online lists include films such as Raja Harishchandra (1913) or Dil Se.. (1998). Raja Harishchandra is historically important as India’s first full-length feature film, and Dil Se.. is a well-regarded film, but neither is known for a record theatrical run, so they are not included here.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the longest running film in Indian cinema?
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) has run at Maratha Mandir, Mumbai, since October 1995 and crossed 1,500 weeks by October 2025.
How long did Sholay run in theatres?
Sholay ran for 286 weeks, more than five years, at Mumbai’s Minerva theatre.
Is DDLJ still running at Maratha Mandir?
Yes. As of its 30th anniversary in October 2025, it was still showing daily at 11:30 am, according to The Hollywood Reporter India.
What is a golden jubilee in Indian cinema?
A golden jubilee means a film has run for 50 weeks in theatres. A silver jubilee means 25 weeks.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter India on DDLJ at 30, Free Press Journal on Sholay at 50, Liberty Cinema on Wikipedia, Mughal-e-Azam on Wikipedia.
