Last year, Bollywood was in the throes of depression as one big-budget film after another wilted at the box office, barring notable exceptions like Dil, Ghayal, Aaj Ka Arjun, Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri, Baaghi, Pratibandh and Kishan Kanhaiya.
Despite stiff competition and box-office pressures, the year 1991 brought good tidings to the industry. As many as 12 films have struck gold at the box office. The first in line was Saawan Kumar Tak's Sanam Bewafa starring heartthrob Salman Khan. The film did a worth business of 1 crore per major circuit and about a business of 1.5 crore in northern circuits like Delhi-U.P. and East Punjab. Amitabh Bachchan carried Hum through on his shoulders and the film was a huge hit especially in the Bombay territory, where it made over Rs. 1.5 crore business and worth of 1 crore to 1.2 crore in other territories. Phool Aur Kaante starring newcomer Ajay Devgan magic worked at the box office, which has raked in whooping 80 lakhs to 1 crore business in almost all major circuits and it is still performing very well at the box-office. Considering the fact that film was sold at 15 lacs per major circuits and has done bumper business and definitely it is the most profitable picture of the year. Lawrence D Souza love triangle Saajan starring Salman Khan, Madhuri and Sanjay Dutt has turned out to be the biggest grosser of the year. The film was sold at the ratio of 40 lacs to 60 lacs per territory and it's still performing phenomenally well at the box-office. It has raked rs. 2.5 crore alone in Bombay territory and is still doing business of over worth rs. 1.5 crore to 2 crore in all major circuits. G.P.'s Patthar Ke Phool managed to a business of 60 lacs to 70 lacs in Bombay and it's a superhit in South India circuits but the film has not done the same kind of business elsewhere and has barely managed to do average business outside Bombay and South India circuits. Deepak Balraj Birj's Hafta Bandh did exceedingly well in Maharashtra by raking over 50 lacs to 60 lacs but like Patthar Ke Phool,it has also not done the same kind of business and is an average fare outside Maharastra. Randhir Kapoor's ambitious attempt to step into Raj Kapoor's shoes with Henna too proved successful, the film did a business of about 60 lacs to 70 lacs per territory and is among the top hits of the year. Mahesh Bhatt's both films Sadak and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin did good business. Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, a small budget film with did good business at the box-office. But there was nothing earth-shattering to write home about. The film did a business of 40 lacs per major circuits as against it's price of 15 lacs to 20 lakhs. Sadak starring Sanjay Dutt ,who is going through professionally and technically the best phase of his life, is doing whooping business of 70 lacs to 80 lacs per major circuits and is expected to be a blockbuster hit in the same category as Saajan, Sanam Bewafa and Phool Aur Kaante. Subhash Ghai's much awaited Saudagar sold at the ratio of about 60 lacs to 80 lacs per major circuits managed to do bumper business at the box-office .The film did fantastic business of 1.2 crore person major circuits and 1.5 crore to 2 crore worth business in Bombay territory.
Kurbaan, Izzat, 100 Days, Phool Bane Angaraay and Prem Qaidi have raked in 45 lacs to 55 lacs in all major circuits and are among the hits film of the year. Films like Ramgarh Ke Sholay, Prahaar, Aye Milan Ki Raat, Narsimha, Pyaar Ka Devta, Saathi and Benaam Badshah have done moderately well at the box-office by doing business of about 30 to 35 lacs per major circuits.
BUT as just where hits and unexpected success stories, the sun dipped on the what market considered sure hits. On the darker side of spectrum were Amitabh Bachchan's Ajooba, Indrajeet and Akayla which were sold at high price and are the biggest disasters of 1991. Even Love, Shankara, Farishtay, Khoon Ka Karz, Do Matwale, Yodha, Qurbani Rang Layegi failed miserably at the box-office.
Madhuri Dixit charisma has kept her in the top slot with highest grossing hit of the year Saajan and fairly successful hit 100 Days. The failure of Pratikar and not-so very successful Pyaar Ka Devta and Prahaar hasn't made much difference to her newly-earned reigning queen status. Among the hero undoubtedly it's Salman Khan , the Rajesh Khanna of current generation, the most successful star of 1991. With Saajan becoming the highest grossing film of 1991, he has completed a rare distinction of six hits in a row out of which Maine Pyar Kiya (Rs.20 Crore) is the highest grossing film of Indian Cinema and Sanam Bewafa , Baaghi too have proved to be mega hits at the box-office. But the year so far has been harsh for megastar Amitabh Bachchan. With the debacle of Indrajeet, Ajooba and Akayla in a row and stiff competition from youngers, more svelte stars, Amitabh's undisputed position seems to be fading as far as box-office numbers matters. Since 1988 only Aaj Ka Arjun and Hum have performed well at the box-office and even much talked and hyped Shahenshah felt flat at the box-office. With three hits (100 Days, Izzat and Hafta Bandh) Jackie has restore his position among the top solo heroes. With Saajan and Sadak, Sanjay Dutt is going through the best phase of his life , which he has never seen in his 10 years old career. Nadeem Shravan are the top-most musicians of 1991. Ajay Devgan, Pooja Bhatt, Madhoo, Zeba and Karishma Kapoor among the best debut. Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol consolidated. Anil Kapoor after back-to-back disasters was hoping Lamhe to revive his career but unfortunately the film too flopped miserably. As of now Anil is out of the equation and he needs one solid hit to be again in top heroes race.
Territory breakdown wise , Saajan has proved to be year 1991's far bigger grosser in Bombay, West Bengal, East Punjab and South India circuits while Sanam Bewafa has toppled the box-office in Delhi-U.P., Nizam , Rajasthan and in some parts of East Punjab. Phool Aur Kaante has proved to bigger hit than both in C.I. and C.P. and definitely it's a bigger hit than both Saajan and Sanam Bewafa as far as profit matters.
Source - Trade Guide
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