The year 2023 proved to be a mixed bag for Bollywood as several films failed to meet expectations at the box office. Despite the hype and anticipation surrounding these movies, they fell short in terms of revenue and left audiences feeling disappointed.
One of the biggest letdowns of the year was the film starring Emraan Hashmi and Akshay Kumar. Despite its release in theaters on February 24, the movie failed to attract large crowds and turned out to be a colossal commercial flop, bringing in a meager Rs 23 crore (Rs 230 million) at the box office.
Another film that underperformed was Shehzada, featuring Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon. The Hindi version of Allu Arjun’s blockbuster Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, directed by Rohit Dhawan, failed to live up to expectations, earning just Rs 47 crore (Rs 470 million) in box office receipts.
Anubhav Sinha’s directorial venture Bheed received favorable reviews from critics but failed to resonate with audiences. The film depicted the dark days of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, focusing on the migrant crisis in India. Unfortunately, it only managed to earn approximately Rs 3.33 crore (about Rs 30 million) at the box office.
Despite receiving positive reviews, Mission Raniganj, starring Akshay Kumar, struggled to make an impact in terms of box office performance. The movie, based on a historical tragedy and centered around Jaswant Singh Gill’s heroic rescue efforts during a mining disaster, only brought in a disappointing revenue of 45 crore (Rs 450 million).
Arjun Kapoor and Tabu starrer The Wild turned out to be one of the biggest failures of 2023. Directed by Vishal Bharadwaj’s son, Aasmaan, the film managed to earn around Rs 4.65 crore (Rs 46.5 million) but failed to impress audiences.
Despite its important message, Nandita Das-directed film fell short of expectations at the box office. The movie, helmed by comedian-turned-actor Kapil Sharma, garnered praise for its social relevance but only managed to bring in Rs 3 crore (around Rs 30 million).
R Balki’s sports drama Boomer, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher, also struggled to make a mark at the box office. The film narrated the inspiring journey of Anina, who dreams of playing cricket for India but loses her arm in a tragic accident. It earned a modest Rs 7 crore (Rs 70 million) in box office revenue.
One of the biggest disappointments of the year was Ganapath: A Hero is Born. Starring Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon, this dystopian film, directed by Vikas Bahl, was produced with a massive budget of Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion). However, it failed to recoup its costs, with box office receipts totaling only Rs 13.38 crore (Rs 133.8 million).
Overall, 2023 witnessed a number of Bollywood films that failed to resonate with audiences and fared poorly at the box office. Despite their star-studded cast and promising premises, these movies struggled to make a mark, reminding us that success in the entertainment industry is never guaranteed.
