India’s Costliest Film Flopped After Same-Sex Kiss Controversy, Ended Director’s Career, and Plunged Bollywood Into Debt
The Ambitious Dream of *Razia Sultan
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The 1970s and 80s ushered in a new era in Hindi cinema, marked by grander storytelling and larger-than-life productions, spurred by the rise of Amitabh Bachchan’s “Angry Young Man” persona. Amidst this evolution, filmmaker Kamal Amrohi embarked on creating a period drama to rival the legendary *Mughal-e-Azam*. His ambitious project, *Razia Sultan*, aimed to be an epic biopic of India’s only female Muslim ruler. Spanning seven years of production and a massive budget of ₹10 crore, the film ultimately failed spectacularly, pulling much of the Bollywood industry into financial turmoil.
*Razia Sultan*: The Downfall of an Epic
Released in 1983, *Razia Sultan* starred prominent actors like Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Parveen Babi, Sohrab Modi, and Ajit. Despite the stellar cast and anticipation surrounding its release, the film underperformed, earning just ₹2 crore at the box office. Audiences found the film’s use of complex Urdu difficult to follow, and its lengthy runtime was also criticized. Additionally, the portrayal of Dharmendra in blackface as the Abyssinian slave Yakut drew negative attention, further affecting the film’s reception.
The Same-Sex Kiss Controversy
The story of *Razia Sultan* delved into themes of isolation and power, depicting Razia’s romance with Yakut and her bond with her aide, Khakun (played by Parveen Babi). The relationship between Razia and Khakun featured a love song that ended with a tender peck on the cheek. This scene was perceived as a same-sex kiss, drawing widespread attention and negative publicity. The portrayal led to a backlash from family audiences and objections from some Muslim clerics, who disapproved of the depiction of Muslim women in the film.
A Financial Disaster for Bollywood
*Razia Sultan* was more than just an expensive film; it represented a colossal investment involving hundreds of technicians and thousands of extras. Amrohi had financed the film through substantial industry loans and delayed crew payments, promising compensation after release. The film’s monumental 80% loss left distributors, exhibitors, and several enterprises in Bollywood grappling with financial instability. Amrohi did his best to pay many crew members from his own funds, but the industry’s debt lingered.
Kamal Amrohi’s Unfulfilled Legacy
The failure of *Razia Sultan* marked a turning point in Kamal Amrohi’s career. Plans for his next film, *Majnoon* starring Rajesh Khanna, were shelved due to financial constraints. He began drafting a script about Mughal emperor Bahadurshah Zafar, titled *Aakhiri Mughal*, but it remained incomplete at the time of his death in 1993. *Razia Sultan* thus stood as Amrohi’s final film, a cautionary tale of ambition, risk, and the enduring impact of failure in the world of cinema.
