What a letdown

Here's a look at the highs, lows and surprise winners of 2010 at the box office. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo reports…

Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in 'Dabangg'

Raavan : Big names, sky-high expectations, big budget and lots of hype couldn't salvage it. Unlike the Tamil version that won accolades for Vikram and Prithviraj, the Hindi version was a damp squib and Abhishek's histrionics got equated to mimicry.

Kites : Hrithik's dance moves and Mexican beauty Barbara Mori were just not enough to make the film soar high. The film sunk and so did Barbara Mori's Bollywood dreams.

Veer : Salman was annoyed and blamed critics for panning the film, leading to its disaster. Veer did do well in some segments but overall, it did call for some ‘veer' to sit through it.

Guzaarish : The film finds itself among flops thanks to its huge budget (an estimated Rs. 80 crore) and speculations of Sanjay Leela Bhansali walking away with a payment of Rs. 27 (or was it 35?) crore, Hrithik with Rs. 15 crore and Aishwarya Rai with Rs. 5 crore. Critics and the niche segment audience in the multiplex loved the film and Hrithik's earnest performance though.

My Name Is Khan : It's one of the biggest Bollywood hits overseas but in India, the response was divided. The fabulous opening weekend ensured that the makers didn't incur losses. It warmed a few hearts and left many others dissatisfied, not a thumping response Karan Johar would have expected to receive.

Action Replayy : The 70s hangover continues in Bollywood but not every filmmaker is Farah Khan to pull off an entertainer. Akshay's caricaturish hairdo and Ash's ice maiden act just didn't cut ice with the crowds.

Teen Patti, Ayesha, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se and We Are Family are among the other duds.