The Lady Killer: India’s Biggest Flop Released Incomplete, Grosses Less Than Rs.1 Lakh

In an industry where meticulous planning goes into the release and promotion of films, The Lady Killer stands out as an unprecedented disaster. Made on a substantial budget of Rs.45 crores, the film became India's biggest flop, grossing less than Rs.1 lakh at the box office. The film, starring Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar, faced numerous production delays and ultimately hit the screens in November 2023 with minimal fanfare and severe consequences.

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India’s Biggest Flop Film

Directed by Ajay Bahl, The Lady Killer was expected to be a gripping crime thriller. However, due to various setbacks, it turned into a cinematic debacle. The film, despite its promising cast and significant budget, ended up grossing under ₹1 lakh—a record low for a mainstream Bollywood film.

Why The Lady Killer Earned Less Than Rs.1 Lakh

The film was released in a very limited number of theatres, essentially as a token theatrical release to meet contractual obligations. On its opening day, The Lady Killer sold just 293 tickets nationwide, earning Rs.38,000. Its lifetime earnings remained below Rs.1 lakh, a disastrous outcome for a movie of this scale.

An Incomplete Release

The rush to meet a deadline for its OTT release led to The Lady Killer being released incomplete. The producers, bound by a contractual obligation to release the film digitally by the end of December, decided to push the film into theatres in early November. The unfinished product was the result of these hasty decisions, causing further damage to its reputation and box office performance.

Zero Promotions

Given the incomplete nature of the film, the lead actors—Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar—chose not to promote it. There were no interviews, no promotional events, and barely any publicity apart from a lone trailer. The film’s director, Ajay Bahl, publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with how the film was released, further highlighting the chaotic circumstances surrounding its release.

The Lady Killer ’s OTT Release

Ironically, the film's theatrical release was intended to pave the way for its OTT debut, but the plan backfired. Due to the overwhelmingly negative press and its catastrophic performance in theatres, streaming platforms were reluctant to pick up the film.

As a result, The Lady Killer remains absent from any OTT platform, making its failure all the more complete but you can watch this movie on Youtube.

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