Bhaag Milka Bhaag, Ashiqi 2,

Joginder Tuteja in Mumbai

Though 2013 has seen quite a few films failing at the box office so far, there have also been films that took everybody by surprise by performing well at the box office even when the odds were stacked against them. 

While some anticipated hits like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Race 2, Special 26 and Shootout at Wadala met expectations, several underdogs did exceedingly well too.

Here's a look at the biggest surprises of the year so far!

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Pawan Malhotra
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Box office collections (approximately): Rs 100 crore-plus

The film didn't really create any buzz when it was announced. However, its teaser did the trick when it was released more than six months ago. 

Catching up steadily at the box office, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag has proved the prediction that a Rakeysh Mehra-Farhan Akhtar film would open well. 

Uniformly good reviews, positive word-of-mouth and lack of major competition ensured that the biopic continued to run for an eventual 100-crore dash, a figure that no one expected from it to begin with.

Image: Farhan Akhtar in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Shraddha Kapoor, Shaad Randhawa
Director: Mohit Suri
Box office collections (approximately): Rs 80 crore

Nobody saw this one coming.

All everybody expected from this romance drama starring two relative newcomers was that it would just about break even.

However, this Mohit Suri film went on to attain blockbuster success.

Image: Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor in Aashiqui 2

Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Dhanush, Abhay Deol
Director: Aanand L Rai
Box office collections (approximately): Rs 60 crore-plus

Despite director Aanand L Rai's last hit Tanu Weds Manu, not many people were willing to give his new film a chance, mostly because of the unusual lead pair. 

Tamil star Dhanush was a debutante in Bollywood while Sonam had some high profile flops behind her. 

But Rai swung things in his favour. Excellent promotion strategy and marketing (by Eros) helped a great deal too. 

The film made twice the amount of money it was expected to rake in.