Bollywood’s most cursed movies: When reel life faced real-life chaos

What started as a dream project for Anurag Basu and Ranbir Kapoor turned into a logistical nightmare. Jagga Jasoos was plagued with repeated delays, budget issues, and reshoots. Adding to the mess, the lead actors—Ranbir and Katrina—broke up midway through filming, making things even more awkward. The film was in production for over three years and by the time it released, it failed to meet sky-high expectations.

Director Subhash Ghai’s Karma brought together legends like Dilip Kumar, Anupam Kher, and Naseeruddin Shah. But during its shooting, multiple crew members were injured in accidents on set. There were also reports of equipment failing mysteriously and scenes needing to be reshot due to lost footage. The eerie pattern of mishaps led many to believe the film was jinxed.

Starring Bipasha Basu and John Abraham, Madhoshi was loosely based on post-9/11 trauma. What should’ve been a psychological thriller ended up being remembered for its troubled shoot. Technical issues, delayed schedules, and reports of tension between the cast and crew gave rise to whispers that the film was cursed. It flopped miserably and was forgotten almost instantly.

Anurag Kashyap’s directorial debut Paanch has long been considered cursed. Based on real-life serial killers, the film was hit by censorship issues and never saw a theatrical release. The cast, including Kay Kay Menon and Tejaswini Kolhapure, gave stellar performances, but the movie’s dark theme and production troubles kept it locked in the vault. Despite high anticipation, Paanch still remains unreleased, adding to its mystery.

One of the most expensive films of its time, this Sridevi-Anil Kapoor starrer was meant to be a blockbuster. Instead, it turned into one of Bollywood’s biggest flops. But what made it truly eerie was the misfortune surrounding its production. Director Satish Kaushik reportedly fell ill during filming, and the movie’s producer, Boney Kapoor, suffered huge financial losses. The film’s poor performance also marked a temporary low in the careers of everyone involved.

This Aamir Khan starrer was surrounded by eerie rumours. The storyline dealt with supernatural elements, and reports claimed that strange things happened on set—including unexplained equipment failures and crew members falling ill without reason. Though the film was a critical success, the buzz around its “haunted” vibe refused to fade.