Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Five Nana Patekar Films That Flopped, Surprised or Found Fans Later
Nana Patekar acted in many films, and some are less remembered than his famous hits.
In Ankush, he played one of four young men struggling to find work.
Khamoshi: The Musical did not do well when it first came out, but people appreciated it more over time.
Wajood earned money but was rated below average.
Taxi No.
9211 paired Patekar as a taxi driver with John Abraham as a wealthy young man, and it later gained a group of devoted fans.
Aapla Manus was a successful Marathi mystery film.
These movies show different kinds of roles Patekar played.
Their stories include unemployment, family relationships and a mystery.
Ankush (1986), N. Chandra’s debut as a director, was made on about Rs 12 lakh and earned Rs 95 lakh, helping lift Patekar’s career.
Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, initially failed but later earned praise as an underrated film.
Wajood (1998) reunited Patekar with N. Chandra, earned about Rs 9.75 crore and was rated below average at the box office.
Taxi No. 9211 (2006) received positive reviews, did moderate business, ranked among 2006’s highest-grossing films and later gained a cult following.
Aapla Manus (2018), a Marathi mystery produced by Ajay Devgn and Patekar, was a critical and commercial success, finishing at Rs 25 crore.
- Who
- Actor Nana Patekar, alongside the filmmakers and casts of five films.
- What
- A retrospective highlights five Patekar films that flopped, were overlooked, or found fans later.
- When
- The films were released between 1986 and 2018.
- Where
- The films were made in India; Khamoshi: The Musical is set in Goa, and Ankush reflects life in Bombay.
- Why
- To draw attention to less-discussed works that reveal different sides of Patekar’s acting career.
Initial reception and performance
Later recognition and success
Khamoshi: The Musical
Initial reception and performance
The film failed when first released, and Bhansali said empty seats discouraged him.
Later recognition and success
It later received praise and was called one of Bhansali’s most underrated films in a 2026 list.
Taxi No. 9211
Initial reception and performance
The film did moderate business at the box office.
Later recognition and success
It was among 2006’s highest-grossing films and later acquired a cult following.
Ankush
Initial reception and performance
It was made on a small budget, with a largely non-star cast and funding partly raised by selling belongings.
Later recognition and success
It became a surprise hit, earning Rs 95 lakh against an estimated Rs 12 lakh budget.
- Films covered
- Ankush (1986); Khamoshi: The Musical (1996); Wajood (1998); Taxi No. 9211 (2006); Aapla Manus (2018).
- Ankush box office
- About Rs 12 lakh budget; Rs 95 lakh earnings.
- Khamoshi release
- 9 August 1996; Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directorial debut.
- Wajood box office
- About Rs 9.75 crore; rated below average.
- Taxi No. 9211 box office
- ₹321.7 million; described as moderate business and one of 2006’s highest-grossing films.
- Aapla Manus box office
- More than ₹20 crore in 50 days; finished at ₹25 crore.