While 2018 was quite favourable for the Hindi film industry as far as business went, ironically this year also recorded more box-office turkeys than successes (in numbers). Films that movie buffs impatiently awaited, tanked miserably. Thugs of Hindostan and Zero are suitable examples that found their way on to the list of the biggest flops of 2018, as noted by trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
While Salman Khan's brother-in-law Aayush Sharma's debut LoveYatri and Rajinikanth's Kaala also featured on this list, it was a devastating year for the Khan trifecta of Bollywood. Although Salman's Race 3 wasn’t a total flop, it was censured by fans, as a result of which, it did not perform as expected at the box-office. Aamir Khan's Thugs of Hindostan was a massive disappointment as was Shah Rukh Khan's Zero.
Here’s looking at the biggest flops of 2018.
Kaalakaandi
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Kaalakaandi[/caption]
Saif Ali Khan was in desperate need of a hit after the failure of his 2017 releases - Rangoon and Chef. And the actor hoped to see the light with Kaalakaandi. But to his dismay, though Kaalakaandi, (which started 2018 for Saif), tried hard to impress with the plot, it couldn't last. Directed by Akshat Verma, Kaalakaandi managed to collect INR 6.34 crore at the box- office. Critics appraised Saif's humorous performance but the film was subsequently ruled out for its half-baked script.
Aiyaary
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Aiyaary[/caption]
The Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee February release Aiyaary borrowed the plot from the Adarsh Housing Society scam but was panned by fans and critics for its convoluted script. Considering Aiyaary was directed by Neeraj Pandey who helmed A Wednesday and Baby, hopes were pinned on this 2018 film. But it struggled to earn INR18.22 crore.
Kaala
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Kaala[/caption]
You cannot really expect a Rajinikanth film to flop, right? But Kaala did and sorely! Pa Ranjith's film had Rajinikanth playing a gangster from Mumbai and while the Tamil superstar’s film was expected to emerge as a blockbuster, it ended up as a massive disappointment. Kaala released in Tamil and Telugu apart from Hindi in June, but earned just INR10.38 crore.
Bhavesh Joshi Superhero
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Bhavesh Joshi Superhero[/caption]
Who would have expected this film from director Vikramaditya Motwane; the creator of masterpieces like Lootera and Udaan? Bhavesh Joshi Superhero released in June and was Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan Kapoor's second film. It failed miserably and even that is an understatement. If you think we are exaggerating, allow us to enlighten you with the fact that the film only managed to earn INR1.46 crore!
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3
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Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3[/caption]
Deceit, conspiracy, love, lust and might we add to the list, a big flop??? Director Tigmanshu Dhulia cast Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Shergill, Mahi Gill, Chitrangada Singh and Soha Ali Khan in July's offering of Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 but even this didn't help since the film tanked! It collected just INR 6.68 crore at the box-office.
Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi
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Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi[/caption]
Films haven’t been kind to Sonakshi Sinha who is yet to witness a hit since her flops of 2017 - Noor and Ittefaq. Well her August release, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, failed miserably as well... Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film was a sequel to the 2016 original and was dissed by critics and fans alike. It earned INR 20.18 crore at the box-office.
Fanney Khan
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Fanney Khan[/caption]
It can be safely asserted that Fanney Khan, starring Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai- Bachchan and Rajkummar Rao, was a surprise flop. As in, wasn't the trailer of the film quite impressive? Well, it clearly wasn't what met the eye when it released in August. The film earned just INR 10.55 crore.
Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se
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Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se[/caption]
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 tanked, but everybody expected Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se - the third instalment in the series starring Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol - to fare well. But clearly, folks were proved wrong as this too failed to impress fans upon its release in August. It collected a mere INR 9.60 crore.
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
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Batti Gul Meter Chalu[/caption]
Why, Shahid Kapoor, why? Not his fault though! Shree Narayan Singh, who directed Akshay Kumar in the superhit Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, couldn't make the magic work again with his September release Batti Gul Meter Chalu. Based on the difficulties due to inflated electricity bills in rural India, the film only impressed fans with its soundtrack but not the plot. The film’s total collection was INR Rs 37.73 crore.
Paltan
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Paltan[/caption]
JP Dutta's war movie offering, based on the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La clashes along the Sikkim border after the 1962 Sino-India War, boasted an ensemble cast of Jackie Shroff, Arjun Rampal, Sonu Sood and Harshvardhan Rane. But it did little to impress... The film released in September and earned INR 7.20 crore.
Jalebi
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Jalebi[/caption]
Director Pushpdeep Bhardwaj's film, starring Rhea Chakraborty and Varun Mitra, released in October. You remember, right? Well, we don't blame you if you don't! The only reason Jalebi is remembered, is probably because of the song Pal, from the film. The vocals were provided by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. Produced by Mukesh Bhatt, the film earned just INR 2.41 crore.
LoveYatri
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LoveYatri[/caption]
So much for Aayush Sharma's debut film LoveYatri...phew! Salman Khan launched his brother-in-law in this October offering. So what? The only thing that worked in the film was the soundtrack, including peppy numbers like Chogada and Dholida, which you must have heard throughout Navratri functions. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala, LoveYatri collected INR 11.24 crore. It also marked actress Warina Hussain's debut.
Helicopter Eela
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Helicopter Eela[/caption]
Wish Kajol's Helicopter Eela was as impressive as her cousin Rani Mukerji's comeback film Hichki. This Pradeep Sarkar directorial cast Kajol as a single mother and aspiring singer but failed to impress fans. The film was released in October and earned INR 4.13 crore.
Namaste England
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Namastey England poster[/caption]
Vipul Amrutlal Shah's film was inspired by his 2007 hit, Namastey London. But Namaste England that appeared this October, didn’t do much... Starring Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra, the film didn’t remotely remind fans of Akshay Kumar's Namastey London and hence, flopped. Well, what did you expect? The film earned INR 8.02 crore.
Thugs of Hindostan
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Thugs of Hindostan[/caption]
Didn’t really expect this film to make it to this list, did you? Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Katrina Kaif, Thugs of Hindostan was the film everyone waited for the longest time. But alas, even Suraiyya couldn't save the film from drowning – pun intended guys! In case you didn't get it, try watching the film although we wouldn’t recommend that! Anyway, Thugs of Hindostan is apparently the most expensive film ever made in Bollywood and was released with much honour at Diwali. But what's the use? It earned a mere INR151.19 crore despite witnessing the highest ever opening record at the box-office.
Zero
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Zero[/caption]
We repeat – you didn’t expect Zero to feature on this list either, did you? Aanand L Rai's film cast Shah Rukh Khan as a vertically-challenged man; Anushka Sharma appeared as a NASA scientist battling cerebral palsy and Katrina Kaif played a glamorous superstar. But guess what? Zero didn't have enough ‘jaan’ in it. The film released on December 21 with the aim of cashing in on Christmas but has struggled to earn INR 81.32 crore so far.
Well, we are sure you might have made it to the theatres to watch most of the films in this list. We got you, guys.
Here's hoping for a better 2019 - at least, films-wise!
