Cult Hindi films that flopped

Mera Naam Joker: Raj Kapoor was the original showman of Bollywood. An accomplished actor, producer and director, he had great films to his credit. Mera Naam Joker, which released in 1970, was supposed to be Kapoor’s magnum opus, but unfortunately it did not strike a chord with the audience. Based on the life of a joker, the film bombed at the box-office. The film took six years to be made and Raj’s son, Rishi Kapoor, made his debut as a child artist in the film. The film also put the family at stake, financially. It was however, eventually considered a classic.

Shaan: After the hit film, Sholay, Ramesh Sippy tried his hands at a action-thriller. Shaan, which was supposed to be Sippy’s follow up to Sholay, failed to live up to the audience’s expectations and was considered a flop upon release. However, perceptions have changed over the years and Shaan is considered a cult classic today.

Agneepath: The fact that this film was remade in 2012 shows what an inspiring film it was! First made in 1990 with Amitabh Bachchan playing the iconic character of Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, the film bombed at the box-office and was bashed by the critics too. Surprisingly, Big B won a National Award for his performance in the film and over a period of years, this film was considered a classic and an exemplary film that inspired Dharma Productions to remake it with Hrithik Roshan playing the lead role of Amitabh Bachchan. The remake, however, fetched the numbers too, at the ticket windows.

Lamhe: Lamhe was a film that was certainly ahead of its time. With astounding performances by Sridevi, Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher, the film was about love and its capability to transcend the age barrier. The film, however, wasn't as appreciated at the box-office. Directed by Yash Chopra, Lamhe explored a theme that was perhaps too hard for the Indian audience to digest. Over a period of time, the film was appreciated and became a cult classic. It is considered as one of the must-watch films of Bollywood.

Andaz Apna Apna: For Hindi movie buffs, Andaz Apna Apna is a must-watch and is considered as an iconic Bollywood comedy starring Salman and Aamir Khan. Replete with humorous dialogue and a fantastic performance by Aamir and Salman, the film, though a flop in its time, has a cult following, especially amongst the youth today. A sequel to the film is in the offing for a long time now.