Shakti Kapoor claims one of 'Bollywood's biggest flops'

Veteran actor shares film's failure was swift, decisive—within 15 minutes of its release, it was pulled from theatres

In a candid revelation, veteran Bollywood actor Shakti Kapoor recently discussed his career's most infamous moment, the 1982 film Zakhmi Insaan, which remains one of the biggest flops in Indian cinema history.

Directed by Deepak Balraj Vij, Zakhmi Insaan featured Kapoor in a leading role for the first time, alongside Rita Bhadhuri and Aruna Irani. However, the film’s failure was swift and decisive—within 15 minutes of its release, it was pulled from theatres, setting an unprecedented global record.

Recalling the disaster on The Great Indian Kapil Show, Kapoor shared, "I thought it was time for me to be a hero, so I took the lead in Zakhmi Insaan. But the film ended up injuring everyone—producers, directors, and audiences alike. It released at midnight and was pulled by 12:15."

The actor also noted that prior to the film's release, he had turned down several villain roles, but after Zakhmi Insaan's failure, he had to request the same parts again. This film was Kapoor's first and last attempt at a leading role.

Kapoor’s illustrious career spans over three decades, during which he appeared in over 700 films. Recently, he made a notable return to the big screen in the 2023 blockbuster Animal, which grossed over ₹900 crore at the box office, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Rashmika Mandanna.