Pooja Entertainment, Vashu Bhagnani and his son Jackky Bhagnani's home banner, is going through a major crisis right now. The employees working for the company have been calling out their boss for lack of payment of salaries and other dues. There have been reports that even actors have not been paid their dues, which even includes major stars like Akshay Kumar. Some of the employees took to Insta to call out the double standards of the producers, who claim they are short of funds but still have money to have lavish wedding ceremonies (Jackky had married actress Rakul Preet in February 2024) and go for exotic vacations. Vashu Bhagnani’s Pooja Entertainment in Financial Trouble? Production Company’s Juhu Office Sold To Pay Off Rs 250 Crore Debt – Reports.

Their last film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan was made on a huge budget but was a major failure at the box office. Some reports are blaming Akshay Kumar, who has delivered back-to-back duds with the banner, as the reason for their financial decline. However, that's not entirely true. If you just look back at the films produced by Pooja Entertainment over the years and see their box office performances, you will be shocked to learn that the dwindling returns are not just restricted to Akshay; in fact, you would also be wondering how the banner has sustained itself over the years, especially when you realise when they had delivered their last major hit and with whom.

Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan

When Vashu Bhagnani began producing films in the '90s, Lady Luck was smiling at him in terms of the box office. It was an era when Govinda-David Dhawan combo meant gold at the box office, and Pooja Entertainment, then Pooja Films, benefitted from that with the successes of Coolie No 1 and Hero No 1. In fact, the five films that the banner made in the '90s were all hits.

Karisma Kapoor and Govinda in Coolie No 1

But the advent of the 21st century brought trouble for the banner when it earned its first commercial flop with Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa in 2000. From thereon, Pooja Entertainment made about 30 odd Hindi theatrical runs, but it only scored one hit and one average grosser. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Box Office Hit or Flop: Akshay Kumar-Tiger Shroff's Film is Turning Out to be Colossal Disappointment - Here's Why.

Don't believe us? Check out the filmography of Pooja Entertainment and see the box office fates of each movie. We are not counting 2020's Coolie No 1 remake and 2022's Cuttputlli, as they were direct OTT releases.

List of all Hindi Films Produced By Pooja Entertainment:

1. Coolie No 1 (1995) - Superhit

2. Hero No 1 (1997) - Superhit

3. Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998) - Hit

4. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) - Hit

5. Biwi No 1 (1999) - Superhit

6. Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa (2000) - Flop

7.  Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001) - Hit

8. Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) - Flop

9. Deewaanapan (2001) - Flop

10. Om Jai Jagadish (2002) - Flop

11. Jeena Sirf Merre Liye (2002) - Flop

12. Out of Control (2003) - Flop

13. Vaada (2005) - Flop

14. Silsiilay (2005) - Flop

15. Shaadi No 1 (2005) - Flop

16. Kal Kissne Dekha (2009) - Flop (Jackky Bhagnani's Acting Debut)

17. Do Knot Disturb (2009) - Flop

18. F.A.L.T.U (2011) - Average

19. Ajab Gazabb Love (2012) - Flop

20. Himmatwala (2013) - Flop

21.  Rangrezz (2013) - Flop

22. Humshakals (2014) - Flop

23. Youngistaan (2014) - Flop

24. Welcome 2 Karachi (2015) - Flop

25. Sarbjit (2016) - Flop

26. Tutak Tutak Tutiya (2016) - Flop (bilingual)

27. Carbon (2017) - Flop

28. Welcome To New York (2018) - Flop

29. Dil Juunglee (2018) - Flop

30. Khamoshi (2019) - Flop (Bilingual)

31.  Ghost (2019) - Flop

32. Jawaani Jaaneman (2020) - Flop

33. Bell Bottom (2021) - Flop (Restricted Release Due to COVID-19 Lockdown)

34. Mission Raniganj (2023) - Flop

35. Ganapath (2023) - Flop

36. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024) - Flop

As you can see from the above, Bhagnanis' last proper hit as a producer was Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai in 2001! Ignoring the fact that it was Tusshar Kapoor's debut film that gave them their last money-spinner at the box office, 'nepotism' hasn't always worked for the banner. Abhishek Bachchan, when he was going through a spate of flops early in his career, gave the banner their first flop in Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa. Riteish Deshmukh, before he endeared himself to the audience with films like Masti and Kyaa Kool Hai Hum, also gave a flop as the main lead in Out of Control.

Even Jackky Bhagnani's acting aspirations didn't turn into box office respite for the banner, with films like Kal Kissne Dekha, Ajab Gazabb Love, Rangrezz, Youngistaan, Welcome 2 Karachi, Carbon all flopping at the box office. However, his F.A.L.T.U. was an average grosser.

Arshad Warsi and Jackky Bhagnani in Welcome 2 Karachi

Even when the banner worked with superstars like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, and even Govinda, that didn't change their luck. So it is definitely an interesting mystery of how Bhagnanis have sustained themselves over the years despite having delivered their last big hit in 2001.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2024 08:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).