India’s most expensive film flopped miserably on Diwali, had three superstars, theatre owners demanded refund, superstar issued…, lead actors were

This film released in 2018 was a mega disaster released on Diwali. Even these big actor’s couldn’t save this film turning in a flop. Can you guess which film are we talking about?

Diwali weekends are a prime time for the release of Bollywood’s most highly anticipated films. As one of the biggest festive occasions for Hindi-speaking audiences both in India and abroad, major stars vie for these coveted release dates. Historically, Diwali films tend to perform exceptionally well at the box office. However, there are rare instances when a film fails to connect with audiences, regardless of the hype, festivities, and star power behind it. The last notable flop during this prime period occurred just six years ago.

This film was a disaster on Diwali

Vijay Krishna Acharya’s Thugs of Hindostan was the most expensive Indian film of its time, boasting an estimated budget of Rs 300 crore upon its release in November 2018. Trade experts predicted that the film would need to rake in over Rs 500 crore in India to be considered a success. With the combined star power of Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Katrina Kaif, the filmmakers were confident that they had a surefire hit on their hands.

When Thugs of Hindostan flopped on Diwali

Thugs of Hindostan had a strong start, breaking records with Rs 52 crore on opening day. However, its success quickly faded. With poor reviews and negative word of mouth, earnings dropped to Rs 6 crore by day four and fell below ₹1 crore by the second Monday. Ultimately, the film finished with just Rs 151 crore nett in India and a global gross of Rs 322 crore—far below the expectations for such a major release.

By the second week, theater owners were blaming Yash Raj Films, the producers of Thugs of Hindostan, and Aamir Khan for their losses, as many screenings were going empty. Mid-Day reported that several exhibitors were asking YRF for refunds. “YRF handled the distribution, and we agreed to a minimum-guarantee deal, expecting big profits from this film, but now the situation has changed,” an anonymous exhibitor told Mid-Day. “We plan to approach YRF for a refund. We hope they, along with Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, can help us, or some theaters might even have to shut down.”

Aamir Khan’s apologetic note

Thugs of Hindostan became one of the biggest box office disappointments in Indian cinema. Aamir Khan, who had a history of successful films, took full responsibility for its failure and apologized to fans after its release.

In a 2019 interview with Hindustan Times, he said, “I’ve always felt accountable for my work. For the past 18 to 19 years, I hadn’t had a film that didn’t do well, so this was new for people. With such high expectations for this much-anticipated film, I was truly sorry and upset that we fell short. I felt it was important to apologize for not meeting those expectations.”