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Bollywood producer who backed Govinda’s most popular hits lost ‘all his money’ after working with Anupam Kher: ‘Started from zero’

Bollywood producer who backed films like Coolie No 1 and Hero No 1, lost all his money after he backed Anupam Kher's directorial debut.

Anupam Kher directed Om Jai Jagadish caused Bollywood producer to lose all his moneyAnupam Kher directed Om Jai Jagadish caused Bollywood producer to lose all his money. (Photo: Express Archives)

Until a few years ago, the Hindi film industry worked like a traditional business where individual investors provided film budgets and not studios. They had everything to lose, because a bomb would often mean bankruptcy for them. This made filmmaking a dangerous financial game which is why many producers lost their fortunes because they bet on the wrong film or the wrong stars. Producer Vashu Bhagnani, who recently had a massive setback with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, faced a huge loss in early 2000s when one of his most ambitious projects sank and he lost all his money.

During a recent chat, Vashu’s son, Jackky Bhagnani, told IIMUN’s YouTube channel that his father lost all his money after he made the 2002 film Om Jai Jagadish. This was Anupam Kher’s directorial debut; it starred Anil Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Urmila Matondkar, Mahima Chaudhary, Waheeda Rehman, Parmeet Sethi, Annu Kapoor, and Om Puri, among many others. In fact, it was rumoured that the film was first being produced by YRF, and was first offered to Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, but the three stars refused. After their refusal, YRF backed out, and Vashu landed the project. As per Box Office India, the film was made on a budget of Rs 13 crore, but could only earn Rs 8.5 crore.

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