From Ghayal Once Again to Satya 2: 10 worst-received sequels in Bollywood

By Rajiv Vijayakar -

December 8, 2023 - 10:30 AM IST

The new film, Khichdi 2: Mission Panthukistan is one of those rare films that did not have a screening for the media. Its prequel, Khichdi, 15 years ago, when the TV serial on which both films are based was still fondly remembered, had a rare press screening: the filmmakers had actually invited media persons along with their families. Quite evidently, on sheer content, the film became a sleeper success at a lower level.

From Ghayal Once Again to Satya 2: 10 worst-received sequels in Bollywood

This time, I trudged on Day 1 to the nearest multiplex, which advertised four shows of the Aatsih Kapadia-J.D. Majethia film. Shockingly, for its first show, a certain minimum attendance needed was not there and less than 10 minutes were remaining for the show. I was the only one asking for a ticket and the show was cancelled!

Sequels could also be among the worst-received films, and so I ruminated on the worst-received sequels of all time and came up with 10 more that had bit the dust.

The 1920 Franchise
Following the success of 1920 in 2008. a scary but message-oriented horror film, producer Vikram Bhatt made three more films in the franchise — 1920 Evil Returns, 1920 London and 1920: Horrors of the Heart — relentlessly, but each one had a frightening response at the box-office. Eerily, barely anyone knows about the latest film, released this year itself!

Ab Tak Chhappan 2
Apart from Nana Patekar, no one was common to the 2004 original that had got critical rather than commercial endorsement. The actor regretted doing the 2015 film as the sole intention was to capitalize on the first part, sans script and with poor direction, though it was supposed to be a continuation. Even the writers and director were completely different, and so was the main producer!

Aksar 2
When Himesh Reshammiya became a sensation as a singer as well with Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005), his career as a vocalist was consolidated by the 2006 musical thriller, Aksar, which was a hit. Director Ananth Mahadevan cashed in again on the brand to make a second film, 11 years later. But with the music by Mithoon a disaster and the content tepid, the sequel bombed.

Bheja Fry 2
Bheja Fry (2007) was based on the 1998 French movie, Le Dîner de Cons. The satire, made on a wafer-thin budget of under Rs. 4 crore, made Rs. 13 crore and thus qualified for a hit tag in terms of return on investment (ROI). The story was ‘continued’ in Hindi cinema four years later with the main character of Vinay Pathak cast again in Bheja Fry 2¸ an expensive film shot abroad. Now, who is the wise soul who has said that sequels should be primarily better, not just bigger?

Ghayal Once Again
This film came a full 26 years after the 1990 blockbuster original Ghayal. The main characters were reprised in a racy, slick drama, directed this time by hero Sunny Deol himself. But there was a fatal catch: Sunny himself was low-key and sober, disappointing his rabid fans. Those who had never liked Sunny’s fury and machismo, stayed away assuming the film was one more such vehicle for the dhai kilo ka haath hero. And the final clincher was the lack of a solid villain and thus, a terrific climax.

Hungama 2
This film was so tepid that it was released on OTT and not in movie halls amidst the pandemic. It marked Priyadarshan’s “return” to Hindi films after 8 years and Shilpa Shetty’s comeback too after a sabbatical. But the film remained a sad example of lost form on everyone’s side and could barely be termed funny, unlike the riotous 2003 original.

Jaana Pehchana
Released a full 23 years after the hit 1978 original, Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se¸ which was a sort of Indian version of the Hollywood classic Love Story, Jaana Pehchana had a somewhat imaginative concept. However, times had changed, so had trends, and the songs (by Ravindra Jain again) were far from the caliber of those the original film had. The film also used excessive footage from the earlier film. The net outcome was a disaster.

Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal
When offered the sequel to his classic, Hera Pheri, Priyadarshan had loftily turned down the film, expressing his aversion to deal with the same characters twice. But after directing his 2006 delight, Malamaal Weekly, which made seven times its budget at the box-office and was remade twice by him, he decided to make a story in a similar tenor, based on another Malayalam film. Some of the actors were in common to the original, but the 2012 film’s fate was so bad that most people today are unaware of such a film’s existence!

Phoonk 2
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma decided to cash in on his 2008 sleeper hit but came undone. He even boasted that Phoonk 2 (2010) was scarier than Phoonk and that he would pay five lakh rupees to any person who can watch the film without getting scared! But the most terrifying part about this horror sequel was its chilling rejection at the box-office!

Satya 2
The brand that was the 1998 Satya was reprised by the director with a new story and cast. Once again, Ram Gopal Varma made a grandiose statement: that this would be his last film on the underworld and he would now make only romantic films. Despite some mixed reviews and decent opening, the film collapsed immediately. Missing this time were the pithy one-liners, gritty screenplay and catchy music.