Numerous Bollywood films grace the big screen annually, achieving remarkable box office success. Some of these movies thrive even with minimal promotional efforts, relying on word-of-mouth and compelling narratives to attract audiences. These successes demonstrate the power of captivating stories and organic publicity in the industry.
Here are a few such movies that became a hit because of positive word-of-mouth:
Mera Naam Joker
When the classic movie, Mera Naam Joker hit the theatres in the year 1970, it did not create much hype and saw very less footfalls. It was directed by Raj Kapoor and starred Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Simi Garewal, Manoj Kumar, Padmini and Dharmendra to name a few. Initially, the film faced a sparse audience on its release day. But, it gained momentum through word-of-mouth and eventually achieved cult status.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
A slapstick comedy and satire, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro is directed by Kundan Shah. It features Naseeruddin Shah, Satish Shah, Ravi Baswani, Satish Kaushik, Pankaj Kapur and Neena Gupta among many others. The movie hit the theatres in 1983 and is considered to be one of the top dark comedies of its era. The movie was considered to be a flop initially upon its release but later gained momentum and once again achieved classic status.
Andaz Apna Apna
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Andaz Apna Apna starred Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Karishma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon in the lead. The movie received a great response from the cine-goers at the theatres. But, commercially it did not do much and was declared a flop. But in the subsequent years, it ended up becoming a massive hit and achieved cult status amongst Hindi movie lovers.
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
In 2009, audiences were introduced to Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year, starring Ranbir Kapoor and directed by Shimit Amin. With minimal promotion, the film initially flopped at the box office. However, its TV release garnered strong audience appreciation, particularly for Ranbir Kapoor’s acting prowess.
Pyaar Ka Punchnama
Luv Ranjan’s rom-com movie Pyaar Ka Punchnama hit the theatres in 2011. The movie starred Kartik Aaryan and Nushrratt Bharuccha in the lead. On the very first day, the movie received an underwhelming response from the viewers. By the weekend, the movie picked up pace after word-of-mouth publicity. Later, the movie ended up being a super hit and was well-received when it aired on TV.