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From Adipurush to Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar: The Most Disappointing Films of Bollywood in First Half of 2023
The year 2023 began with the release of "Kuttey," a film starring Arjun Kapoor and Tabu, which unfortunately turned out to be a major disappointment. However, Shah Rukh Khan's "Pathaan" managed to revitalize the box office with its tremendous success. Nevertheless, despite a few small films garnering some recognition, the first six months of this year have left Bollywood yearning for the attention of moviegoers. Notably, even significant films featuring renowned actors failed to meet the high expectations. Let's delve into a glimpse of the most disappointing films from the first half of the year.
One of the most disappointing films from the first half of 2023 was "Shehzada," a Hindi remake of the Telugu film "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo," starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead role. The film's plot, revolving around the age-old formula of the rich versus the poor, failed to resonate with the audience. Moreover, the availability of the Hindi dubbed version of the original film on YouTube in previous years contributed to the rejection of this film.
"Selfiee," featuring Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi, suffered a similar fate as Kumar's previous films in the past three years. Despite the presence of two prominent stars and being a remake of the successful Malayalam film "Driving License," the audience rejected the film. "Selfiee" struggled to leave a mark at the box office, earning a meager sum of around 16 crores.
"Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar," a high-budget film produced and directed by Love Ranjan, grossed over 150 crores in business. However, it failed to recoup its costs due to its storyline, which many deemed sexist. Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, the film faced significant criticism and failed to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
Despite gaining some advantage from the success of his previous film "Drishyam 2," Ajay Devgn's "Bholaa," a remake of a South Indian film, failed to resonate with the audience. The film, despite Devgn's dual role as the lead actor and director, failed to offer anything fresh or innovative, ultimately disappointing viewers.
"Adipurush" emerged as the biggest flop of the year thus far. Right from the release of its teaser, the film sparked controversies. Audiences expressed disappointment with the depiction of Lord Ram, Sita, Hanuman, and especially Ravana. The film is currently entangled in a legal case for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindus, and the makers will be required to provide an explanation.
Salman Khan's Eid release, "Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan," a remake of a South Indian film, was swiftly labeled a flop by the audience. This indicated a waning interest in South Indian remakes. Salman Khan's age became apparent in the film, and the age disparity between him and his leading lady became noticeable. It became evident that Salman's stardom seemed stagnant, while the audience had progressed beyond it.
The first half of 2023 has been marked by disappointments and declining stardom in Bollywood. Despite the release of films featuring renowned actors and high expectations, the box office performance remained lackluster. From failed remakes to controversial portrayals, the audience rejected these films, signaling a need for fresh and innovative
- PTC PUNJABI
