Biggest Bollywood Flops: Films By Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Kangana Ranaut And More

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Aug 20, 2026 13:50 IST ⓘ

From SRK's 'Zero' to Salman Khan's 'Tubelight' and Kangana Ranaut's 'Dhaakad', Bollywood stars' biggest flops.

Superstardom can secure a grand opening, enormous publicity and thousands of screens, but it cannot guarantee that audiences will return after the first weekend. Almost every major Bollywood star has at least one theatrical misfire in their filmography – sometimes an experimental drama that found no takers and sometimes an expensive spectacle whose losses were as oversized as its sets. From passion projects to franchise films that collapsed despite expectations, star power alone can attract attention but never guarantee box-office success.

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Wondering which films rank among the biggest flops delivered by Bollywood A-listers? From costly passion projects to star-studded spectacles, this list revisits some of the industry’s most significant box-office failures.

Without further ado, check out the list here:

1. Shah Rukh Khan - ‘Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke’ And ‘Zero’

Few Bollywood stars have a flop with a stranger backstory than Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke’. Directed by Birendra Nath Tiwari and released on April 9, 2004, the romantic drama co-starred Raveena Tandon. The catch? Much of it had reportedly been filmed in the early 1990s as ‘Jaadoo’, long before SRK became the superstar audiences knew in 2004. The abandoned project was eventually revived with additional actors and body doubles, while its original leads reportedly neither dubbed fresh material nor promoted it. Made for around Rs 1.25 crore, it collected only Rs 57 lakh net in India and approximately Rs 1.84 crore worldwide.

His far more significant failure was ‘Zero’. Directed by Aanand L Rai and released on December 21, 2018, the movie also starred Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. It had an unconventional hero, sophisticated visual effects, major cameos and a plot that travelled from Meerut to outer space. What it did not have was favourable word of mouth. Reportedly made for close to Rs 200 crore, ‘Zero’ collected Rs 90.28 crore net in India and around Rs 186 crore worldwide. SRK subsequently stepped away for four years before returning with ‘Pathaan’.

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2. Ajay Devgn - ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag’, ‘Maidaan’ And ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’

Ajay Devgn rarely looks nervous on screen, but his box-office record contains a few films capable of making anyone sweat. First came ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag’, released on August 31, 2007. The movie also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Mohanlal and Sushmita Sen. Babban Singh was supposed to introduce a new kind of terror; the film’s reviews ended up being considerably more frightening. Made for approximately Rs 21 crore, it grossed only Rs 12.73 crore worldwide. The title promised fire, but the collections were cold almost immediately.

Ajay suffered a double blow in 2024. Amit Ravindernath Sharma’s ‘Maidaan’ received its theatrical release on April 11 after years of delays. The football drama won appreciation but reportedly cost around Rs 210 crore and grossed only Rs 68.09 crore worldwide. Neeraj Pandey’s ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’ followed on August 2, reuniting Ajay with Tabu. Reportedly made for Rs 100 crore, it collected just Rs 8.59 crore net in India and Rs 12.91 crore worldwide.

3. Priyanka Chopra - ‘Love Story 2050’

‘Love Story 2050’ transported Priyanka Chopra into a future filled with flying cars, robots, holograms and a red-haired pop-star alter ego. Unfortunately, it could not transport enough viewers into cinemas. Directed by Harry Baweja and released on July 4, 2008, the science-fiction romance starred Priyanka in a double role alongside debutant Harman Baweja. It followed a heartbroken young man who travels through time and meets a woman resembling his deceased girlfriend.

The film was among Bollywood’s most ambitious visual-effects experiments at the time, but beneath all the futuristic machinery was a familiar love story that failed to connect. Made for a reported Rs 40 crore, it grossed only approximately Rs 18.47 crore worldwide. It also opened against the much smaller ‘Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na’, which quickly became the audience favourite.

4. Abhishek Bachchan And Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - ‘Raavan’

Mani Ratnam directing Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a contemporary reinterpretation of the ‘Ramayana’ sounded like serious cinematic royalty. Released on June 18, 2010, ‘Raavan’ unfolded across spectacular forests, waterfalls and perilous mountain paths. Abhishek played the volatile outlaw Beera, while Aishwarya portrayed the police officer’s wife he abducts.

The Hindi version, however, received sharply divided reactions, with much of the criticism directed at its storytelling and lead performance. Box Office India recorded its budget at approximately Rs 55 crore and worldwide gross at around Rs 49.57 crore. The simultaneously produced Tamil version, ‘Raavanan’, fared better critically, but the Hindi film remained a box-office failure.

5. Ranbir Kapoor - ‘Bombay Velvet’ And ‘Shamshera’

‘Bombay Velvet’ invited audiences to an expensive jazz party – and almost nobody turned up. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and released on May 15, 2015, the lavish neo-noir starred Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Karan Johar. Ranbir played street fighter Johnny Balraj, while Anushka appeared as jazz singer Rosie Noronha in a meticulously recreated 1960s Bombay. The costumes gleamed, the nightclub dazzled and the production design screamed money. The ticket counters, unfortunately, remained painfully quiet. Anurag Kashyap has said the production grew to around Rs 90 crore, while Box Office India listed an overall budget of Rs 118 crore. Against that, it grossed only Rs 43.14 crore worldwide.

Ranbir attempted another large-scale transformation with ‘Shamshera’. Directed by Karan Malhotra and released on July 22, 2022, the period action drama featured him in a double role alongside Sanjay Dutt and Vaani Kapoor. It was Ranbir’s first theatrical release in four years and promised to reveal his mass-action avatar. Made for a reported Rs 150 crore, it earned just Rs 42.48 crore net in India and Rs 63.58 crore worldwide. Ranbir returned riding horses, wielding weapons and fighting an empire, but the movie lost its most important battle by the first Monday.

6. Hrithik Roshan - ‘Mohenjo Daro’ And ‘War 2’

Hrithik Roshan travelled all the way back to the Indus Valley civilisation for ‘Mohenjo Daro’, only to discover that box office trouble apparently existed in 2016 BC too. Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and released on August 12, 2016, the historical adventure also starred Pooja Hegde. It combined romance, political rebellion and spectacular disaster against an imagined ancient-city backdrop. Reportedly costing around Rs 115 crore, it earned Rs 58 crore net in India and approximately Rs 107.86 crore worldwide. Its clash with ‘Rustom’ and relentless scrutiny of its historical liberties did not help.

His next gigantic disappointment came from the opposite end of the timeline. Ayan Mukerji’s ‘War 2’, released on August 14, 2025, starred Hrithik, Jr NTR and Kiara Advani. With two major stars, the YRF Spy Universe and a reported Rs 400-crore landing cost, it appeared too big to fail. It failed anyway, collecting Rs 365 crore worldwide. Kabir defeated plenty of enemies on screen, but the budget proved to be his toughest opponent.

7. Kangana Ranaut - ‘Rangoon’ And ‘Dhaakad’

Kangana Ranaut fought two very different wars in ‘Rangoon’ and ‘Dhaakad’; neither campaign ended well at the ticket counters. Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Rangoon’, released on February 24, 2017, also featured Shahid Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan in a Second World War-era love triangle. Kangana played film star Julia, caught between producer Rusi Billimoria and soldier Nawab Malik. The film had history, romance, music and three acclaimed performers, yet audiences largely declined the invitation. Made for a reported Rs 80 crore, it earned only Rs 20.68 crore net in India and Rs 39.78 crore worldwide.

Five years later, Kangana went fully armed in ‘Dhaakad’. Directed by Razneesh Ghai and released on May 20, 2022, the spy thriller starred Kangana as Agent Agni, with Arjun Rampal as its antagonist. International locations, stylish action and a female super-spy sounded like a refreshing combination, but the audience response was glacial. Against a reported budget of approximately Rs 85-93 crore, it grossed only around Rs 3.8 crore worldwide. Although its producer said money was later recovered through other rights, the theatrical performance was brutal enough for Kangana herself to call it a “historic flop”.

8. Salman Khan - ‘Tubelight’ And ‘Sikandar’

For years, Salman Khan and Eid seemed like Bollywood’s most dependable partnership. ‘Tubelight’ proved that even the strongest traditions can flicker. Directed by Kabir Khan, the war drama released on June 23, 2017. Adapted from the American film ‘Little Boy’, it presented Salman as a trusting man awaiting his soldier brother’s return during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Made for around Rs 135 crore, it grossed approximately Rs 211.14 crore worldwide. But reports of Salman compensating distributors made its underperformance impossible to ignore.

The bigger rejection came with ‘Sikandar’. Directed by A.R. Murugadoss and released on March 30, 2025, it also starred Rashmika Mandanna. Reportedly made for Rs 200 crore, the action drama earned around Rs 103.45 crore net in India and approximately Rs 184.89 crore worldwide. Its collections crashed after the initial Eid rush.

9. Aamir Khan - ‘Thugs Of Hindostan’ And ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’

‘Thugs Of Hindostan’ opened like a blockbuster and collapsed like someone had pulled a trapdoor beneath it. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and released on November 8, 2018, the period adventure brought Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan together for the first time, alongside Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Ships sailed, cannons exploded and Aamir grinned mischievously, but brutal word of mouth sank the film almost immediately. Sacnilk listed its budget at Rs 300 crore, with a worldwide gross of Rs 327 crore. The huge figure still resulted in a flop verdict because its expense and distribution terms were equally enormous.

Aamir returned four years later with ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. Directed by Advait Chandan and released on August 11, 2022, the official ‘Forrest Gump’ adaptation also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh and Naga Chaitanya. Reportedly made for around Rs 180 crore, it collected Rs 61 crore net in India and Rs 133 crore worldwide. The film later received a warmer response on streaming, leading many viewers to wonder whether it had been dismissed too quickly. The theatrical verdict, however, had already sprinted ahead while Laal was still taking his scenic route.

10. Alia Bhatt And Varun Dhawan - ‘Kalank’

‘Kalank’ looked as though no curtain, chandelier or piece of jewellery had been allowed on set unless it was breathtakingly expensive. Directed by Abhishek Varman and released on April 17, 2019, the Partition-era romance starred Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sonakshi Sinha, Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt. It had palatial sets, tragic lovers, extravagant songs and enough embroidered fabric to open an independent textile market.

The film secured a strong opening before poor word of mouth brought the celebrations to an abrupt halt. Sacnilk listed its budget at Rs 150 crore and worldwide gross at Rs 146 crore. Everything in ‘Kalank’ shimmered – except, unfortunately, the final trade sheet.

11. Ranveer Singh - ‘Cirkus’

Rohit Shetty did not cast one Ranveer Singh in ‘Cirkus’; he cast two. The gamble still could not produce a single hit. Released on December 23, 2022, the colourful comedy starred Ranveer and Varun Sharma in double roles alongside Pooja Hegde and Jacqueline Fernandez. Inspired by ‘The Comedy of Errors’, it came packed with mistaken identities, electric experiments and sets bright enough to be spotted from another postcode.

As per Sacnilk, it was made on a budget of Rs 70 crore and grossed Rs 60 crore worldwide. The film made plenty of noise, but the loudest sound after its opening weekend was probably theatre owners cancelling shows.

12. Akshay Kumar - ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ And ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’

Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff are two of Bollywood’s fastest action stars, but their recent collections occasionally fell even faster. The duo united for Ali Abbas Zafar’s ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, released on April 11, 2024. Also starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manushi Chhillar and Alaya F, the Rs 350 crore action spectacle collected only Rs 102.16 crore worldwide. The explosions were enormous, the stunts were international and the losses were unfortunately committed to matching the scale.

Prior to delivering this flop, Akshay Kumar faced another major disappointment in the form of ‘Samrat Prithviraj’. Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and released on June 3, 2022, it also starred Manushi Chhillar, Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood. Reportedly made for Rs 175-200 crore, the historical epic grossed only Rs 90.32 crore worldwide.

13. Tiger Shroff - ‘Ganapath’

Before delivering the massive flop ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, Tiger Shroff starred in ‘Ganapath: A Hero Is Born’, and it proved even more punishing. Directed by Vikas Bahl and released on October 20, 2023, the dystopian action film reunited Tiger with Kriti Sanon. It also starred Amitabh Bachchan in a key role. Reportedly made for around Rs 130 crore, it grossed just Rs 13.38 crore worldwide.

14. Prabhas - ‘Adipurush’

Only a film as expensive as ‘Adipurush’ could earn Rs 393 crore and still find itself on a list of major disasters. Directed by Om Raut and released on June 16, 2023, the Hindi-Telugu mythological epic starred Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan and Sunny Singh as characters inspired by Lord Ram, Sita, Ravana and Lakshman. It was mounted on a reported budget of Rs 500 crore and began with a thunderous worldwide opening.

Then came the criticism. Its visual effects, character designs and colloquial dialogues triggered widespread backlash, while the collections collapsed after the first weekend. Some dialogues were subsequently revised, but the damage had already been done. ‘Adipurush’ made the rare journey from record-breaking opener to colossal disappointment in less time than most films take to finish their first week.

15. Shahid Kapoor - ‘Shaandaar’ And ‘Jersey’

Shahid Kapoor has discovered that neither a lavish destination wedding nor a heartfelt cricket comeback guarantees box office happiness. Vikas Bahl’s ‘Shaandaar’, released on October 22, 2015, starred Shahid and Alia Bhatt. With castles, quirky relatives, extravagant clothes and endless fairy lights, the film appeared determined to live up to its title. Audiences had other opinions. Made for approximately Rs 60 crore, it collected Rs 43.13 crore net in India and around Rs 73.26 crore worldwide.

‘Jersey’ gave Shahid a far more grounded role but an equally disappointing result. Directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and released on April 22, 2022, the sports drama also featured Mrunal Thakur. Reportedly costing around Rs 80 crore, it grossed just Rs 27.90 crore worldwide. Multiple delays and its release one week after ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ placed it on a very difficult pitch. Shahid’s character was attempting a late cricketing comeback; the film itself was bowled out before it could settle at the crease.

16. Saif Ali Khan - ‘Chef’ And ‘Laal Kaptaan’

Saif Ali Khan has never been afraid of unconventional choices, although audiences have occasionally been just as unafraid to skip them. In ‘Chef’, Saif exchanged royal swagger for a food truck and frying pans. Directed by Raja Krishna Menon and released on October 6, 2017, the official Hindi adaptation of Jon Favreau’s Hollywood film also starred Padmapriya Janakiraman and Svar Kamble. The warm father-son drama served beautiful locations and enough delicious food to make viewers instantly hungry. The problem was that very few people arrived to order. Made for a reported Rs 30 crore, it collected only Rs 6.37 crore net in India and Rs 10.15 crore worldwide.

Saif then transformed into a dreadlocked Naga sadhu for Navdeep Singh’s ‘Laal Kaptaan’. Released on October 18, 2019, the revenge drama also starred Manav Vij, Zoya Hussain and Deepak Dobriyal. Its atmosphere was grim, its landscapes striking and Saif almost unrecognisable. Reportedly costing between Rs 30 crore and Rs 40 crore, it opened at just Rs 50 lakh and finished with approximately Rs 2.36 crore net in India.