Salman Khan, the Bollywood superstar, has an extensive filmography with numerous box office hits. However, not all his ventures have been commercially successful, proving that even superstars have to face failure at times.
Here are 10 notable films that underperformed at the box office, along with insights into their budgets and collections:
1. London Dreams (2009):
A musical drama directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film stars Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn as childhood friends with dreams of musical stardom, leading to rivalry and personal conflicts. The movie which also starred Asin was made on a budget of approximately ₹45 crore and it garnered around ₹41 crore, falling short of its production costs.
2. Main Aurr Mrs Khanna (2009):
This romantic drama features Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor as a married couple facing challenges when the husband loses his job, leading to emotional turmoil. With a budget of approximately ₹38 crore, the film collected only around ₹14.6 crore, rendering it a significant commercial failure.
3. Yuvvraaj (2008):
Directed by Subhash Ghai, this musical romantic drama stars Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Zayed Khan and Katrina Kaif, focusing on estranged siblings reconciling to inherit their father’s fortune. Despite its high production cost of approximately ₹48 crore, the film earned around ₹31 crore, failing to recoup its budget.
4. God Tussi Great Ho (2008):
A fantasy comedy inspired by Hollywood’s “Bruce Almighty,” the film stars Salman Khan as a frustrated TV anchor who gains divine powers to run the world his way. Made on a budget of approximately ₹21 crore, the movie minted around ₹25 crore, barely surpassing its production budget.
5. Marigold (2007):
An Indo-American romantic musical, the film features Salman Khan and Ali Larter, exploring the cross-cultural romance between an American actress and an Indian choreographer. With a budget of approximately ₹19 crore, the film’s minimal earnings of around ₹2.29 crore rendered it a significant box office disaster.
6. Tubelight (2017):
Set against the backdrop of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Salman Khan portrays a simpleton whose unwavering faith leads him on a quest to find his missing brother. Despite a substantial budget, the film’s collections did not meet expectations, leading to a below-average verdict.
7. Jaan-E-Mann (2006):
A musical romance featuring Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta, the story revolves around a love triangle complicated by misunderstandings and personal ambitions. Made on a budget of approximately ₹40 crore, the film’s earnings were insufficient to cover its production costs, resulting in a commercial failure.
8. Race 3 (2018):
An action thriller and the third installment in the “Race” franchise, the film stars Salman Khan leading an ensemble cast in a tale of family feuds and high-stakes heists. Despite its high budget and ensemble cast, the film received negative reviews and was declared an average grosser.
9. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023):
An action-comedy and a remake of the Tamil film “Veeram,” the movie features Salman Khan as a protective elder brother who takes on adversaries to safeguard his family. Made on a budget of approximately ₹125 crore, it collected around ₹110 crore, failing to break even.
10. Baabul (2006):
This family drama stars Salman Khan alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Rani Mukerji, focusing on societal norms and the challenges of widow remarriage. Despite a notable cast and a budget of approximately ₹26 crore, the film grossed around ₹39 crore, which was below expectations, leading to its classification as a flop.
While Salman Khan has an impressive record of box office successes, these films highlight the unpredictable nature of the film industry, where even big stars can face commercial setbacks.
