After the phenomenal success of Mr. India in 1987, producer Boney Kapoor sought to recreate the magic with the same team in his next venture. He envisioned another blockbuster by bringing together his brother Anil Kapoor, the acclaimed actress Sridevi, and the talented director Shekhar Kapur. Announced with great fanfare in 1988, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja aimed to scale new heights in Bollywood. The star-studded cast was bolstered further by the addition of Jackie Shroff, making it one of the most anticipated films of its time.
However, what began as a promising project soon became one of the industry’s most infamous flops. The production faced several debilitating delays that frustrated Shekhar Kapur so much that he decided to exit the project midway. His departure resulted in Satish Kaushik, who had previously assisted Kapur on Mr. India and Masoom, stepping in to take the director’s chair. This marked Kaushik’s directorial debut, and expectations were sky-high.
Finally hitting theaters in 1993, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja had amassed a staggering budget of Rs 10 crore, a colossal amount compared to the average film budget of Rs 2-3 crore at that time. Its enormous budget made it the highest-budgeted Hindi film upon its release. Featuring powerhouse performances from Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Jackie Shroff, and Anupam Kher, who played the antagonist, the film had all the ingredients for success—or so it seemed.
Despite the astronomical budget and stellar cast, the film’s predictable storyline failed to resonate with audiences. The plot, riddled with clichés and lacking in emotional depth, led to its rejection by the very fans who eagerly awaited its release. Over its entire box office run, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja could only muster a meager Rs 3 crore, rendering it a monumental commercial failure.
The repercussions of this failure were profound, deeply affecting Satish Kaushik, who had pinned high hopes on his first directorial endeavor.
. Kaushik, who passed away on March 9, 2023, was remembered for his versatile roles in the film industry. However, the flop of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja had a lasting emotional impact on him. During a gathering to celebrate his birth anniversary on April 13 of the previous year, several of his colleagues and friends gathered to honor his memory, with actress Shabana Azmi sharing a poignant and heart-wrenching revelation.
Azmi disclosed that Kaushik had contemplated suicide after the film’s disastrous performance. Describing him as a ‘dukhi aatma’ (sad soul) post the film’s release, she recalled an incident where he was so despondent that he considered jumping from a first-floor balcony. His contemplation was disrupted when he saw a party being held below, where potatoes and brinjals were being fried. In a moment that captured both his despair and dark humor, Kaushik thought to himself, “If I fall between potatoes and brinjals and die, it’ll be a bad death.”
As Azmi narrated this with teary eyes, it became clear how deeply the film’s failure had scarred Kaushik. Though he eventually moved on, taking on other roles and directorial projects, this incident highlighted the pressures and emotional toll that failure in the film industry can exert on artists.
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja serves as a cautionary tale in Bollywood’s history. A movie that promised to be a grand spectacle but instead became synonymous with extravagance gone awry. The film’s spectacular failure didn’t just affect the box office figures but also left indelible marks on the lives and careers of those involved. As the industry evolves, the story of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja will continue to be a reminder of how unpredictable the world of cinema can be.
In today’s age, where filmmaking technology and audience preferences change rapidly, the movie remains a testament to the challenges and risks inherent in the creative process. For all the glamour associated with Bollywood, stories like these remind us of the fragility and resilience of those who bring these cinematic dreams to life.
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