Dosto, let’s take a journey down the filmi lane and revisit the drama, the grandeur, and the epic fail that was ‘Razia Sultan’. A tale of ambition as grand as a Bollywood wedding, but alas, with an ending as tragic as a soap opera! 😅
The Grand Set-Up 🎬
Picture this: the 70s and 80s, when Bollywood was basking in the glory of Amitabh Bachchan’s Angry Young Man. Filmmakers were dreaming big, and Kamal Amrohi was no different. Post ‘Sholay’, he embarked on creating a period drama that would rival the legendary ‘Mughal-e-Azam’. His magnum opus ‘Razia Sultan’ took seven years to see the light of day, but instead of a blockbuster, it turned into a financial black hole that sucked in the entire industry. Wah bhai wah, what a twist! 🤦♀️
The Epic Flop 💥
Released in 1983, ‘Razia Sultan’ was touted as India’s most expensive film, with a budget of ₹10 crore—outshining even ‘Shaan’. Starring the iconic Hema Malini alongside Dharmendra, Parveen Babi, and others, it was the talk of the town. But, picture fans scratching their heads over the shuddh Urdu and yawning at the film’s length. Dharmendra in blackface as Yakut? Not a good look, dost! The box office returns were a mere ₹2 crore, proving that not all that glitters is gold.
The Kiss That Missed 😘
Now, what’s a Bollywood drama without some controversy, right? Amidst the royal tales, ‘Razia Sultan’ dared to explore the queen’s personal life, hinting at a close bond between Razia and her aide Khakun, played by Parveen Babi. Amrohi’s attempt at portraying a tender relationship ended in a cheeky peck. But hold your dhoti, folks, it was blown up as a same-sex kiss, ruffling feathers among family audiences and earning frowns from some clerics. Arre bhai, thoda chill karo!
The Aftermath 🎭
The film wasn’t just a financial disaster; it was a tornado that left Bollywood in tatters. With debts mounting, Amrohi’s dreams of grandeur crumbled. He paid his crew from his own pocket, but the damage was done. The industry took a hit that it felt for a long time. Amrohi’s subsequent projects, including ‘Majnoon’ with Rajesh Khanna and ‘Aakhiri Mughal’, remained unfulfilled. Razia Sultan was his swan song—albeit a rather off-key one. 🎻
Kiran’s Gyan: Bollywood Ka Sikka
‘Razia Sultan’ is a classic reminder that in Bollywood, dreams are as big as the sets, but sometimes, reality hits harder than a villain’s slap. Next time you’re dreaming of making a big budget movie, just remember, bade bade deshon mein aisi choti choti baatein hoti rehti hain! 🧐
