The entertainment industry generates hundreds of films in several languages each year to appeal to viewers across the globe. Bollywood isn’t far behind in terms of producing the same. Though many films go on to become hits and break box office records, not all films are destined to be on the hit list.
The amount of money, time, or effort that goes into creating a film is essentially irrelevant. Predicting the audience’s response ultimately comes down to more of an art than a science. Even the most experienced pros can’t predict if a film will be a box office failure or not. So, without further ado, let’s examine some of Bollywood’s finest missteps.
Aiyaary
A spy thriller that went horribly wrong in a number of ways, Aiyaary failed to make even half the money it spent on production. It is shocking how much depth and heart this 2018 effort lacks, especially in light of the fact that filmmaker Neeraj Panday has given us amazing films like Special 26, A Wednesday, Baby, and M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. The main characters of Aiyaary are Colonel Abhay Singh and his brilliant star trainee, Jai Bakshi, two intelligence officials who are at odds with one another and feel split. Bakshi goes crazy and threatens to overthrow the entire country since he can no longer stand it. Both on and off screen, the viewer may identify the two cops as they are caught up in a deadly game of betrayal.
Kalank
In 2019, Kalank, the most ambitious project from Dharma Productions, was not a feast for the heart. An all-star cast comprising Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapoor, and Sanjay Dutt came together for the high-budget drama during that era. With its stately pre-independence British setting, the plot revolves around six people from various parts of the city who are entangled in a single storyline of love and betrayal, retribution and hardships. This creates a wonderful picture of Lucknow in the 1940s. It’s undeniable that the film had a lot of potential to succeed, but in the end, it struggled to balance several plots. Its emphasis on several people kept the narrative surface-level rather than adding emotional depth.
Raabta
This romantic drama, which deals with romantic conflict and reincarnation, stars Sushant Singh Rajput and Kirti Sanon. Dinesh Vijan made his directorial debut with Raabta, and it appears that the film’s box office flop didn’t break him because, in the years that followed, he went on to helm other mediocre movies like Roohi, Luka Chhupi, and Bhediya. Shiv and Saira play star-crossed lovers in the film. They become close after their accidental encounter and become deeply in love with one another. When Saira’s ex-lover reappears in her life and brings up memories from the past that she would prefer to forget, complications arise. However, the project was poorly executed and lacked a compelling story.
Saawariya
Fyodor Dostoevsky authored a short novella titled “White Nights” early in his writing career. Bollywood king Sanjay Leela Bhansali turned it into a film in 2003. The film makes an effort to divert viewers with its striking visuals, nocturnal setting, and moving soundtrack. But it’s insufficient in some way. In the film, Ranbir Kapoor makes his acting debut as Ranbir Raj, a nomadic artist who finds Sakina, a stunning young woman waiting for her lover, Imaan, in a mysterious town. Raj talks to Sakina in an attempt to garner her affection since he believes that having a lover is a myth. At the same time, Gulabji, a prostitute, harbours feelings for Raj. Saawariya’s lack of content made the plot uninteresting, both critically and commercially. Since Bhansali gave the images more importance than the characters, the audience was cut off from their feelings.
