This Is India's Biggest Flop Film, Made With A Budget Of 45 Crores But Earned Less Than 1 Lakh

The Lady Killer, a crime thriller directed by Ajay Bahl and starring Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar, became India's biggest box-office flop. Made with a budget of Rs 45 crore, the film earned less than Rs 1 lakh, making it one of the lowest-earning mainstream Bollywood films.

The movie faced multiple production delays, and despite its high budget, it was released incomplete in November 2023. This significantly impacted its performance, with almost no audience engagement.

The Lady Killer had a very limited theatrical release, showing in only a few cinemas across the country. On the first day, it sold a mere 293 tickets, resulting in earnings of Rs 38,000, with its lifetime earnings falling under Rs 1 lakh.

The film’s release in theatres was primarily to fulfil a contractual obligation for an OTT release, as the producers had already sold its digital rights. The movie had to hit theatres in early November to meet the 4-6-week window before it could be made available on streaming platforms by the end of December.

Because the film was incomplete, the lead actors, Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar, chose not to promote it. There were no interviews, press junkets, or other marketing efforts, leaving only a trailer to build anticipation.

Ajay Bahl, the director, publicly expressed frustration with the way the film was released, criticizing the decision to release an unfinished product without proper promotion or preparation.

Ironically, the theatrical release, intended to pave the way for its digital debut, backfired. The film’s poor performance and negative press discouraged streaming platforms from picking it up, leaving The Lady Killer without an OTT release even today.