Indian films are enjoyed tremendously all over the world and this becomes the reason why a lot of Indian films have worldwide releases.
Movies like Leo, Jailer, Pathaan, Gadar 2 have worked well overseas. But do you know which independent film with no stars and a low budget managed to surpass the biggest hits of Bollywood superstars- Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan? Made in Rs 5 crore, the film we are talking about is called Monsoon wedding (2001).
How did the makers come with the idea of film Monsoon Wedding?
Helmed by noted filmmaker Mira Nair, the film starred a talented ensemble cast including actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Lillette Dubey, Parvin Dabas, Vijay Raaz, Shefali Shah, Rajat Kapoor, Soni Razdan, Roshan Seth, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. Newcomers Vasundhara Das, Randeep Hooda, and Ram Kapoor were also the part of the film. Backed internationally between companies from India, the United States, Italy, France, and Germany, Monsoon Wedding broke all box office expectations.
Interestingly, screenwriter Sabrina Dhawan wrote the storyline about an Indian Family in Delhi while she was at MFA film program at Columbia University. She then pitched the idea to Director Mira Nair, who came on board, and that’s how the film came to be known as Monsoon Wedding.
How much Monsoon Wedding earned overseas?
Monsoon Wedding became the first Hindi film to earn Rs 100 crore outside India. It saw a splendid success in North American Market and Europe, earning overall $30.8 million ( Rs 145 crore) worldwide. Before Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Aamir Khan’s Dangal took the spot of highest-ever grossers, Monsoon Wedding enjoyed its success overseas.
Monsoon Wedding was widely appreciated and received award nominations such as BAFTA and Golden Globe in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Moreover, it was highly applauded at 2021 Cannes Film Festival. It was also named as the 19th best romance of the 21st century by IndieWire in 2017.
Monsoon Wedding beat SRK and Aamir Khan’s hits
Apart from appreciations, the film also surpassed the hits of superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. In 2001, when Monsoon Wedding released, SRK’s Asoka and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham also had theatrical releases. Although, the films were successes overseas, but their combined overseas collection was just Rs 60 crore, lower than Monsoon Wedding. Even Aamir Khan’s Oscar-Nominated film Lagaan, couldn’t break Monsoon Wedding’s record, earning just Rs 13 crore overseas.