Mumbai: When a movie gets delayed, besides the finances the relevance and curiosity around the film also die down. But, the maker whose money has almost drowned takes the chance to get it released even after years in hoping the ROI which has bleak chances to happen if the performance of delayed films is anything to go by.
While Genelia D’Souza and Harman Baweja's It's My Life is all set for small screen premiere after 13 years, here's a look at few films with big names that took long to hit the screens.
- It's My Life (2020)
Genelia D’Souza and Harman Baweja's It's My Life which was shot back in 2007 is set for television premiere on November 29. The father-son relationship drama, starring Nana Patekar, Harman Baweja and Genelia D'Souza, is a remake of the 2006 Telugu hit, Bommarillu.
While the film will finally see the day of light after 13 years, its lead actor Harman has almost bid adieu to his acting career and the leading lady, Genelia, is happily married while Nana Patekar is keeping a low profile following the #MeToo allegations against him.
- I Love NY (2015)
Filming commenced for this Sunny Deol and Kangana Ranaut starrer in 2011. After numerous delays, the makers decided to unleash the film on the audience when Kangana was going through a dream phase after the release of Tanu Weds Manu Returns.
Upon its release, I Love NY received lukewarm response and critics had already realised why Kangana didn't want this film to see the light of day.
- Zamaanat (2014)
The scripting for Zamaanat was done in 1986 which got reworked after a decade and took another six years to be completed.
Sadly, S. Ramanathan, who directed the film with Amitabh Bachchan, Karishma Kapoor and Arshad Warsi in the lead, passed away in 2013 before he could see his labour of love reaching the audience.
- Deewana Main Deewana (2013)
Deewana Main Deewana starring Govinda and Priyanka Chopra was a glorious example of how gimmicks to encash actor's popularity to save delayed films fall flat on the face.
PeeCee even agreed to do a special item song 'Kala Doriya' for creating a buzz around K. C. Bokadia's film but that too did not serve the purpose as in the film the Desi Girl is in her early twenties but when the film hit theatres in 2013 she was already a reigning queen of Bollywood.
- Sanam Teri Kasam (2009)
Lawrence D'Souza romantic drama Sanam Teri Kasam starred Saif Ali Khan, Pooja Bhatt, Atul Agnihotri and Sheeba Akashdeep in lead roles. The makers had to wait for good 15 years to release the film which was entangled into a legal mess.
The makers apparently tried to encash Saif's popularity and released the film less than a month prior to Saif’s Love Aaj Kal. As a result of the delay, the film looked jaded when released and even Saifu's charm couldn't save the disaster.
- Mehbooba (2008)
Directed by Afzal Khan, Mehbooba starred Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn, and Manisha Koirala in lead roles. The film went on floors in 1999 but the shooting process had to be stalled as Ajay, reportedly had other projects going on simultaneously and Sanju Baba's legal matters had come in between which caused further delay.
Film's shooting was completed approximately in 2003 but then there were distribution issues that kept the film in limbo till 2008.
- Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004)
Well, Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke is a film that Shah Rukh Khan had signed during his early days in Bollywood. But the makers of his long-in-the-making film decided to release the film when he was not a 'Delhi guy from television' but a superstar.
Back then, reports suggested that SRK and his leading lady form the film Raveen Tandon left the halfway through in 1994 and didn’t even dub for their parts. The makers then altered the script and revived the project with new actors and released 10 years later in 2004.
- Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002)
Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam is again a K. C. Bokadia production which had to face hurdles before making it to theatres. The film was announced in 1996 with Sunny Deol, Juhi Chawla and Aamir Khan in the lead.
The film was finally headlined by Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. As if in production for six years was not enough, the film hit the screens on the same day when Marvel's Spider-Man was set for release.
- Aatank Hi Aatank (1995)
The Aamir Khan starrer Aatank Hi Aatank was highly inspired by Francis Ford Coppola's blockbuster crime drama, The Godfather. Though Sunny Deol was maker's first choice for the film, Aamir ended up doing the film which he deeply regrated later.
While admitting to taking up not-so-good roles at the beginning of his career, Aamir in an interview had said that he was very disappointed with his performance in the film. It took three years for Aatank Hi Aatank to hit the screens as scenes were either removed from the film were being re-shot.
- Pakeezah (1972)
Pakeezah, the Kamal Amrohi directorial was launched as a black and white venture but when colour technology came in, Kamal started it all over again in the new colour format. Amrohi, who was known for his perfectionism, then developed fancy for then-new technology, cinemascope and decided to reshoot the film.
The film that began in 1957 was still being made when in 1964 Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari separated due to differences. The project came to a halt for some time when it was more than halfway complete. Finally, Pakeezah was released after 15 years in 1972.
