logo
Zayed Khan says he felt his flop Blue was ‘Fast & Furious ka baap' while reading script: ‘We spent Rs 100 cr on it, Kylie Minogue sang'

Zayed Khan says he felt his flop Blue was ‘Fast & Furious ka baap' while reading script: ‘We spent Rs 100 cr on it, Kylie Minogue sang'

Indian Express18-06-2025

Unlike his cousin Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan is still waiting for a comeback on screen. Both the actors were part of some memorable films back in the 2000s before their careers began deteriorating. Fardeen has made a comeback now with Heeramandi and Khel Khel Mein last year, and the hit Housefull 5 this year. But Zayed's last stint was the TV show Haasil in 2018.
Zayed feels he did films which were way ahead of their time, which explains why they didn't work at the box office back then. He specifically named Leena Yadav's 2005 psychological drama Shabd, his home production and Sahil Sangha's 2011 romantic comedy Love Breakups Zindagi, and Anthony D'Souza's 2009 action adventure dud Blue as films ahead of their time.
'If you'd read the script of Blue, you'd have felt ye Fast & Furious ka baap hai (this is superior to Fast & Furious). It was fantastically done, and I felt Blue is really going to break all barriers. With that cast — Akshay, Sanju, Lara, and Katrina — I felt it's going to go in the direction of a franchise,' said Zayed on Siddharth Kanan's podcast.
Produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision, Blue starred Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Lara Dutta, and Zayed, with Katrina Kaif in a cameo. With large portions shot underwater, the film bombed at the box office. 'The failure surprised me because I don't think we caught the script like how it was written. I had told Anthony. You can shoot amazing things and feel like a badshah (king), but when you don't stitch the narrative correctly with thehrao (poise)… the action scenes can be done well without even a fist being raised, it can all be in the screenplay. There was a difference between cup and lip, of how that should've translated on screen,' argued Zayed.
Blue was indeed intended to be a franchise as D'Souza had even revealed his plans to make a sequel titled Aasman in 2012. However, Zayed hinted that there were creative differences between the cast, particularly Kumar, and the makers on the sets of Blue. He said, 'I wouldn't want to say because there were some creative differences between people on set, but doesn't that happen all the time?'
Zayed also revealed that the makers left no stones unturned while making the film. 'We'd spent Rs 100 crore then, it was unheard of. And I have to say they did a fantastic job at the production, with the best of action directors from Hollywood and Kylie Minogue coming in,' recalled Zayed. The popular Australian singer crooned the dance song 'Chiggy Wiggy' alongside Sonu Nigam in Blue, and also featured in the song alongside Kumar.
Also Read — Sanjay Khan's house was mortgaged, cars sold after Tipu Sultan fire accident, recalls son Zayed Khan: 'His skin was melting on the hospital sheet, couldn't recognise'
Zayed's parallel between Blue and Vin Diesel's long-running blockbuster action thriller franchise Fast & Furious may remind one of the time when Varun Dhawan compared his film, Rohit Shetty's 2015 romantic saga Dilwale, to Christopher Nolan's 2010 cult sci-fi thriller Inception. Later, he clarified he was joking about the same.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sonakshi Sinha REACTS to pregnancy rumours and buzz around her marriage with Zaheer Iqbal: 'I have found a way of shutting out the noise'
Sonakshi Sinha REACTS to pregnancy rumours and buzz around her marriage with Zaheer Iqbal: 'I have found a way of shutting out the noise'

Time of India

time6 hours ago

  • Time of India

Sonakshi Sinha REACTS to pregnancy rumours and buzz around her marriage with Zaheer Iqbal: 'I have found a way of shutting out the noise'

Sonakshi Sinha's personal life faces media scrutiny. It started with her relationship with Zaheer Iqbal. Then came wedding plans and family approval questions. Now pregnancy rumours are surfacing. Sonakshi focuses on her happiness. She tunes out the noise and handles scrutiny with calm. She married Zaheer after seven years of dating. She focuses on her life and moves forward. From buzz about her relationship with Zaheer Iqbal to questions about family approval, wedding plans, and now pregnancy rumours—Sonakshi Sinha has been at the centre of it all. The actress, who married longtime partner Zaheer Iqbal a year ago in a low-key civil ceremony, continues to face intense media scrutiny over her personal life. Before Sonakshi Sinha went public with her relationship with Zaheer Iqbal, speculation around their dating status was constant. Once confirmed, the focus shifted to their wedding plans. After they tied the knot, the spotlight moved to her family's approval. Now, the headlines have taken a new turn—questioning if the actress is expecting. Responding to the constant chatter about her personal life, Heeramandi star Sonakshi Sinha shared a composed and grounded take. She explained that she's learned to tune out the noise, choosing instead to focus on her off-screen happiness. Her sense of peace, she said, helps her handle the scrutiny with calm and clarity when she's at work. Sonakshi Sinha, who tied the knot with actor Zaheer Iqbal after seven years of dating, reflected on how experience has brought her emotional resilience. She noted that no matter what you say or do, there will always be someone ready to question it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cặp EUR/USD: Đà Tăng? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Instead of getting caught up in constant opinions, she believes in focusing on her own life and moving forward without letting the noise affect her. Sonakshi also spoke about the viral video capturing her emotional moment during the marriage registration, where she was seen overwhelmed with joy. She explained that she couldn't hold back her happiness on what was the most special day of her life. While brides are often expected to be reserved, for Sonakshi, it was the moment she had been waiting for—a chance to finally begin a new chapter with the partner she chose for herself.

Vin Diesel pens heartfelt note as son Vincent turns 18; Says, "A gentle giant stepping into manhood"
Vin Diesel pens heartfelt note as son Vincent turns 18; Says, "A gentle giant stepping into manhood"

Time of India

time12 hours ago

  • Time of India

Vin Diesel pens heartfelt note as son Vincent turns 18; Says, "A gentle giant stepping into manhood"

Picture Credit: Facebook Hollywood actor Vin Diesel 's son Vincent Sinclair is officially an adult now as he celebrated his eighteenth birthday on Saturday. Commmorating his little one's new journey into adulthood, the 'Fast & Furious' actor penned a nostalgic note on his official IG. He wrote, "Dear Son, Eighteen years ago, I could hold you in my arms, haha. . all nine pounds of you. I knew then you were destined to be a gentle giant. Today, watching you step into manhood, that prediction has come true." 'The Pacifier' actor also shared an adorable throwback photo holding his little one in his arms. The image showed Diesel adoring his little bundle of joy. Reliving some precious moments from Vincent's childhood, Diesel added, "From you learning to swim with me there to catch you, to watching you go from riding bicycles to driving with confidence... Through quiet moments on film sets where you observed and learned, to discovering our rich Scottish and Zulu heritage together, you've developed not just skills but character. Every experience, from moonlit ocean conversations on a canoe, to family stories around fires. .. they have shaped you into someone who understands that true strength protects, wisdom listens, and gentleness leads." "The many paths you've crossed with different cultures and people, each encounter has expanded your heart and deepened your empathy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo You naturally use your size and presence to make others feel safe rather than intimidated, your voice to encourage rather than diminish," he wrote, proud of the man his son has become. "As you step into adulthood, I see a man ready to use his strength and wisdom to protect those who have no voice, to unite rather than divide. Keep being that gentle giant who makes everyone feel valued, because the world needs your unique blend of strength, compassion, and heart. Happy 18th birthday, son. Being your father has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. With boundless love and pride, Dad," Diesel concluded his post.

Bollywood 2025 mid-year box office: Chhaava won, Sikandar lost - any lessons learnt?
Bollywood 2025 mid-year box office: Chhaava won, Sikandar lost - any lessons learnt?

India Today

time13 hours ago

  • India Today

Bollywood 2025 mid-year box office: Chhaava won, Sikandar lost - any lessons learnt?

The year 2025 began on a mild note for Bollywood at the box office. January didn't see any exceptional performances from a Hindi film, and it was only when 'Chhaava' arrived in February that the industry began to take a sigh of half-yearly box office report is not exceptional, despite big titles taking over the ticket window in the first half of the year. This has to do more with the amount of choices available to the audience via OTT platforms, and their direct rejection of watching anything running in theatres which is mediocre, redundant and sometimes, plain spoke to various industry experts, including directors, producers and trade analysts, to gauge how the Hindi film industry really performed from January-June, with the current week marking the end of the first year.'Chhaava' all the way! 'Chhaava' is the clear winner, it seems, when it comes to discussing the flagbearer of Bollywood in 2025 so far. The Vicky Kaushal film wasn't just historically relevant - it also resonated with the audience emotionally and provided dramatic relief to them - something a big-screen entertainer is supposed to Laxman Utekar directorial collected around Rs 601.54 crore nett in India, and grossed over Rs 800 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 so far. 'Sitaare Zameen Par', starring Aamir Khan, is another clear winner - a film still running in theatres - further cementing the fact that emotions are still the best way to connect to the that box-office response in the first half can clearly be summed up as 'unpredictable', film producer and trade analyst Girish Johar told "If we analyse the first six months of last year vis a vis this year, we have done a little better. We are around 8 to 10 per cent higher, because films like 'Chhaava' did well and other films, even 'Housefull 5', have done good business."He underscored the importance of mid-budget films not finding their audience at the box office. "By and large, the first six months are a little better but, what is worrisome is the medium and the small films are not doing exceptionally well. These are the critical ones which are not working at the box office. We have a stronger second half of the year which we really hope does well and adds value to the box office," Johar explained.A 'mixed-bag' of a year so far!For Anand Pandit, one of the leading film producers, it was all what he called a "mixed bag". While speaking to us, he elaborated, "The first half of 2025 was a mixed bag for Bollywood. While a few tentpole films performed well, many others struggled to make an impact. It's becoming increasingly clear that audiences are getting more selective. They're looking for fresh narratives, emotional depth, and a sense that their time and money are well spent. A star-studded cast alone no longer guarantees success. Even big-budget films can fall short if the content and execution aren't strong."advertisementPandit also focussed on 'Chhaava' leading from the front. "That said, there were standouts like 'Chhaava,' which delivered grounded storytelling with detailed production design, and 'Raid 2,' which successfully expanded on an existing franchise. These films did well at the box office, showing that when there's a unique element and genuine interest is sparked, audiences respond," he said."The first six months can be seen as a period of recalibration for the industry," he does this mean that the industry has now understood what has worked for the audience? The answer is not there - nothing specific or cumulative, at least. The industry still seems to be struggling with identifying the taste of the audience.A clear sense of what worked and what didn't'Oh My God' producer Hemal A Thakkar seems to have a bit of an answer, though. In a conversation with he said the audiences demand sincerity. He had a three-point list to explain what worked for the audience in the first-half of the rooted in emotion and purpose — where the story felt personal, not manufactured.""Relatable drama and family-centric narratives with a clear voice.""Content that respects audience intelligence, especially the youth."Thakkar, who is also a writer and a director, and the co-founder of Funder of Playtime Creations with actor Paresh Rawal, also clarified that the audience is not looking out for unnecessarily stretched grand spectacles on the big screen. So, what needs to be rejected then? Thakkar has a three-point list:Over-produced spectacles with thin are designed around star images rather than human to force nostalgia or recreate past magic without the soul.'Sikandar' remains the biggest disappointmentOne of the biggest tentpole movies of the year, and visibly the biggest Bollywood disappointment so far, was 'Sikandar'. The Salman Khan-starrer happened to be the big Eid box office release this year, but was rejected by the audience left, right and centre.A grand spectacle, directed by AR Murugadoss, collected only Rs 110.1 crore nett in India - a figure that doesn't really match the mammoth screen presence of Salman looked at the failure of grand releases at the box office and analysed, "We are still making films for a 50+ sensibility, while India's true box office audience today is between 18 and 30 - and we're failing to write for them with honesty or urgency."The only film that created some ripples at the box office after 'Chhaava's release in February was 'Sanam Teri Kasam', which was a re-release. The Harshvardhan Rane-starrer performed like a winner from the word go. It was almost like a surprising letter full of love and poetry left at the industry's film ended up collecting Rs 42.2 crore nett in its lifetime run, making more than most of the fresh Bollywood releases this year. What was this phenomenon? Does this mean re-releases have got a future at the box office this year?'Sanam Teri Kasam' - a mystery winnerAnand Pandit said the success of 'Sanam Teri Kasam' re-release doesn't guarantee a confirmed trend. "That was fascinating. Sometimes, a film that doesn't perform well during its initial release may receive a better response later during a re-release. In this case, it is a romantic story with drama, tragedy, and sacrifice. It shows that if a film connects emotionally, it can still find its audience years later," he filmmaker behind films like 'Sarkar 3', 'Total Dhamaal' and 'Chehra', among others, added, "Nostalgia plays a big role for those revisiting the film in theatres, while for younger audiences, it offers a chance to experience what they missed during the original run. However, whether it's a film that went unnoticed or a blockbuster returning to screens, I wouldn't call it a guaranteed trend. It needs careful curation, proper timing, and promotion that makes it feel like a shared event worth revisiting."Mansi Bagla, the producer of Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor's upcoming film 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan', credited 'Sanam Teri Kasam's' sheer luck behind its box office elaborated, "There is a good line-up of releases in the second half. So, I don't think re-releases will work. 'Sanam Teri Kasam' was lucky that it got released in February. If it had been released around the Pahalgam attack, it would never have worked. Post the dreadful event, it would not have seen the light of re-release. So, sometimes it's about luck."What is also clear is that stardom is fading. Having a star in a film might get you a few initial eyeballs, but it doesn't guarantee a longer and more sustainable traction at the box Johar agreed when he said, "We should want the film industry as a whole to flourish. The theatrical window has to do well - that is a foregone conclusion. Yes, makers need to ensure that their content is more lapped up by the audiences. Stars are important at the box office, but they are no longer a critical element."Audience has got the game rightAnother lesson that has to be taken from the first half of Bollywood is how the audience has got wider access. "Even regional lines have blurred. We see a lot of southern languages and other language films doing well at the box office. That needs to be said because the audiences are now also even watching those kinds of films. We need to learn, we need to pull up our socks accordingly," Johar said, while explaining the corrective measures that the industry can take to expect a better audience response.'Jaat', 'Kesari Chapter 2', 'Sky Force', 'Raid 2', and 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' were a few Hindi films that kept the ship from sinking entirely. These films kept the industry's hopes up for a strong second half. Things might not have looked absolutely sparkly for Bollywood in the first half, but the second half seems to be shinier and brighter than an interview with us, Anand Pandit shared a few titles that can be trusted to help Bollywood recover what was lost in the first half."We can see a wide range of films across genres lined up for the second half of the year, with 'Alpha,' 'War 2,' 'Thama,' 'Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past', 'Param Sundari,' and 'Jolly LLB 3' being some among the ones to watch out for. What I want to say is that in Bollywood, there's space for everyone if the story and narration are compelling. As an industry, we should remain cautiously optimistic," he shared on a positive talked about her own film, which is releasing on July 11. She said, "Right now, 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' is to be looked forward to. It's a musical love story. It's unique and has the freshness, a superb pairing, and an old-school base with modern sentiments. Nothing can beat a love story. It's a universal topic. Moviegoers will always love cinema, so I'm sure good work will come back."The way ahead? Honesty, authenticity and a good heartIt all comes down to finding an honest soul at the end of the day - in your work, stories, what you are trying to offer to the audience, and what you are asking them to spend their hard-earned money put it in a brilliant way when he said that the need of the hour is to realise that "authentic stories always find a way."He summed up the way ahead for the industry and shared, "We are not just in a phase of change — we're in a moment that demands reinvention. The audience is ahead of us. It's time we stopped playing poker and started building a business based on vision, craft, and respect for the viewer - especially the viewer who will shape the next 20 years: Young India."The need for fresh stories - not remakes, not recycled narratives - but original, creative and bold ideas. "We need stories that speak to their aspirations, fears, humour, and emotional complexity. Not just recycled ideas with updated costumes," he though, a better strategy is definitely needed. One of the best things that Pandit emphasised included investing in better said, "We also need to invest more in writing. This includes script development, revisions, and having a solid shooting script as the foundation of the project. At the same time, collaboration between producers, exhibitors, and digital platforms can help design the right release strategy for both theatres and streaming platforms."There is hope. The second half looks promising for Bollywood - but only if we are staying honest - in pushing the right kind of story, by not cheating the audience, and by not selling absolute boredom and fallen creativity to them in the name of a big Bollywood knows the drill already. It will be interesting to see if we rise or go further downhill by the end of the year. See you again then!- Ends IN THIS STORY#Vicky Kaushal#Akshay Kumar#Aamir Khan#Kajol Devgan#Ajay Devgn

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store