In the world of cinema, not every film with a star-studded cast and heavy investment shines bright. Sometimes, even a project backed by a powerful production house and top actors can fall flat. One such example is The Lady Killer, a film that stunned the industry not for its story or performances, but for becoming India’s biggest box office flop.
The film, directed by Ajay Bahl, was made with a massive Rs 45 crore budget. But despite all that money and effort, it earned only around Rs 60,000 at the box office. Yes, you read that right, just about 500 tickets were sold across the country.
What went wrong with The Lady Killer?
Released in 2023, the film starred Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar in lead roles. It was a crime thriller produced by Bhushan Kumar under the T-Series banner. The project had begun in 2022, but constant delays and multiple re-shoots reportedly pushed the budget much higher.
When the film finally released in theatres, it struggled to find an audience. On day one, it sold barely 293 tickets nationwide and failed to cross Rs 1 lakh in total lifetime earnings. The poor reception and negligible footfall quickly made headlines, marking it as the biggest flop in Indian cinema history.
Was the film even complete when released?
In an unexpected twist, reports claimed that The Lady Killer wasn’t even fully completed when it was released. The film’s climax sequence was allegedly left unfinished. Director Ajay Bahl himself had acknowledged this in an early interview, although he later took back his statement.
Industry insiders believe the incomplete release wasn’t accidental. It was done to meet a technical condition tied to a Netflix deal. For the film to premiere on the OTT platform in December, it needed to have a theatrical release in November. Delaying the release for completion could have cost the producers their streaming contract, and possibly, a big chunk of recovery.
Why was there no promotions?
Despite featuring two known faces, the film was released with no major promotions or marketing. Apart from a trailer, there was little buzz online or offline. Even Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar reportedly distanced themselves from promoting it.
Trade sources suggest that the poor handling of the release, coupled with the film’s unfinished status, led to its catastrophic performance. Critics and audiences alike panned it for its patchy storytelling and lack of polish.
In the end, what was meant to be a gripping thriller turned into a cautionary tale about the unpredictable nature of the box office — where even big names and bigger budgets can’t guarantee success.
Highlights:
- The Lady Killer earned just Rs 60,000 despite a Rs 45-crore budget.
- The film was reportedly released incomplete to meet a Netflix deal condition.
- Lack of promotion and poor release strategy led to its historic box office failure.
