The Lady Killer (2023 film)

Not to be confused with The Ladykillers (2004 film) or Lady Killer (disambiguation).

The Lady Killer
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAjay Bahl
Written byAjay Bahl
Pawan Sony
Mayank Tewari
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAnuj Rakesh Dhawan
Edited byPranav Mistry
Music byKetan Sodha
Production
companies
T-Series Films
Karma Media & Entertainment
Jussawala Productions
Polaroid Media
Movies N More
Distributed byAA Films
Release date
  • 3 November 2023 (2023-11-03)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹45 crore[1]
Box office₹37,670 [2][3]

The Lady Killer is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film directed by Ajay Bahl.[4] The film stars Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar.[5][6] It was released in theatres on 3 November 2023.

Upon release, the film was critically panned and grossed a measly ₹38,000 on its first day having sold just 293 tickets across India, making it one of the biggest box office disasters in Indian cinema. After its poor theatrical run, no OTT platform acquired its streaming rights. Ultimately, the makers released the full film on T-Series YouTube channel.[7]

Plot

Rajender Joshi runs a pharmacy in Nainital. Due to slumps in his life; he looks for a new frontier and has aspirations of opening his own diagnostic centre in the city. He is also in an affair with a married women Gajra. Dismayed when his loans keep on getting disapproved by the bank as he is a defaulter, a cop friend Rawat advises him to visit Vikram Burman also known as Maharaj; a former prince who is currently bedridden and is supplied oxygen tanks by Rajender.

There he meets Jansey who is Burman's daughter and starts a relationship with her. Upon finding out that Vikram sexually assaults Jansey, both decide to murder Vikram.

Cast

Production

Principal photography commenced in April 2022.[8][9] Some reports suggested that the film got over-budget and has been out on hold for reshoots, but producer Shaailesh R Singh debunked it and said that it is on track.[10] The filming wrapped in July 2023.[11]

Release

The film was released on 3 November 2023 with only 12 shows nationwide. The film is said to have been released incomplete due to: a cost-overrun, rains in Uttarakhand and a lack of reshoots. With the production team resorting to several editing cuts and voiceovers.[12]

It was set to have an OTT release on Netflix. Later, Netflix cancelled its OTT release and the film was made available on T-Series youtube channel for free to watch.[7][13]

Reception

Box office

The film on its first day grossed a measly ₹38,000 having sold just 293 tickets nationwide, making it the biggest box office bombs in the history of Indian cinema.[12][7][14][15][16]

Bahl blamed the incomplete script for the box-office failure.[17]

Critical response

Bollywood Hungama rated the film 2/5 stars, criticising the screenplay of the second half with gaps and unexplained sequences in the narrative. However the performances of Bhumi Pednekar, Priyanka Bose and Arjun Kapoor was praised along with the background score by Ketan Sodha and cinematography by Anuj Dhavan.[18]

References

  1. ^ "more than 29300 Tickets Sold! The Lady Killer is Reportedly 1st Incomplete Film to Release in Theatres". 5 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar's the Ladykiller collects just Rs 38000 on day 1". The Times of India. 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  3. ^ "The Lady Killer – Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ "The Lady Killer trailer: Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar starrer seems chaotic, gory and mysterious". OTT Play. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ^ "The Ladykiller trailer: Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar embark on a dangerous and destructive romance". The Indian Express. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  6. ^ "The Lady Killer Trailer OUT: Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar share passionate romance in mystery thriller". Pinkvilla. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Only 293 Tickets Sold! The Lady Killer Is Reportedly 1st Incomplete Film To Release In Theatres". The Times of India. 5 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Arjun Kapoor & Bhumi Pednekar begin shooting for 'The Lady Killer' in Himachal". India Today. 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar Begin Shooting For The Lady Killer in Manali". News 18. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Arjun Kapoor's The Ladykiller is on track, reports of budget constraints are fake – Exclusive". The Times of India. 20 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar's 'The Ladykiller' Last Shoot Schedule To Wrap Post Monsoon Showers". Zee News. 20 July 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar's The Ladykiller collects just Rs 38000 on day 1". The Times of India. 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  13. ^ "The Lady Killer, one of Bollywood's biggest flops in recent years, lands silently on YouTube". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  14. ^ "The Lady Killer Box Office Collection: Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar Sold Only 293 Tickets On Day 1?". zeenews.india.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  15. ^ "The Ladykiller Box Office Report: Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar's film sold just 293 tickets on Day 1". India TV News. 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar Starrer 'The Lady Killer' flopped at Box Office, earned only ₹38 thousand on the first day | पूरे देश में बिके सिर्फ 293 टिकट, अर्जुन-भूमि की सबसे खराब कलेक्शन वाली फिल्म - Dainik Bhaskar". Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Director Ajay Bahl blames incomplete script of Ladykiller for box office failure, clears Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar of fault". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  18. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (3 November 2023). "The Lady Killer Movie Review: THE LADY KILLER fails to entice". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.