12 Bollywood Movies From 90's You Didn’t Know Were Box Office Blockbusters!

The making of a blockbuster in India doesn’t just come with box office figures, the hype around it needs to be blown up equally well. What comes to your mind when you think of blockbusters from the 90’s? DDLJ, Border, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or Baazigar maybe? When we list down movies that set the cash registers on fire back in the day, we tend to miss out on a number of names.

Not every hit can always be remembered but there are blockbusters from the 90’s we just don’t talk about anymore. Films that created a ruckus at box office but were forgotten the moment they were taken of the theaters! Did you know the Sunny Deol starrer Ziddi was a rage at the time of its release? Maybe you don’t since there’s nothing you really recall about this action ride.

Anyway, while we keep going back to the likes of DDLJ, Raja Hindustani or Hum Aapke Hain Koun, let’s talk about the forgotten blockbusters from the 90’s.

Here are 12 Bollywood movies you didn’t know were box office blockbusters:

Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992)

The SRK starrer that marked a long and successful association of his with filmmaker Aziz Mirza was quite a success at the time of its release. The film that also starred Nana Patekar, Juhi Chawla and Amrita Singh is one of those forgotten blockbusters of Shah Rukh Khan that isn’t much talked about.

Agni Sakshi (1996)

While Aamir Khan’s Raja Hindustani was the highest grossing film of the year, this psycho drama was only second with a blockbuster status. The Nana Patekar, Manisha Koirala and Jackky Shroff starrer was a marvelously popular film in the 90’s but is visibly forgotten today.

Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)

This was a phase when Akshay Kumar was only known to do action and with this one he pushed all his limits. From fighting Under Taker to performing some never before seen martial arts, this Umesh Mehra directorial saw an unmatched craze in action lovers and became a huge success. However, we don’t think it gets talked about much now.

1942: A Love Story (1995)

Not only was this film extremely well made, it got its due recognition at ticket counters also. With superb music, mesmerizing performances and a fine story, this Anil Kapoor-Manisha Koirala story became a blockbuster. Something we don’t quite associate with this low key Vidhu Vinod Chopra directorial!

Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi (1991)

While we mostly remember this movie for its soulful tracks and leading performances, not many are aware this one also was a big box office success. While the Mahesh Bhatt directorial has been remade in a lot of different forms, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi isn’t quite looked back as a blockbuster.

Satya (1998)

For an underworld movie without stars, it never quite could be seen as becoming a blockbuster but Satya did. By earning more than 15 crores at box office, the film was spread fire at ticket counters and was able to leave a mark despite many biggies released at the same time. 

Ghatak (1996)

While Ghayal is fondly remembered as one of the most iconic films of Sunny and Santoshi, this one also was quite a success. Becoming the fourth highest grosser of 1996, the film earned somewhere in the range of 15-16 crores.

Raja (1995)

One of the only few blockbusters in Sanjay Kapoor’s career, Raja is perhaps just famous for a number of its hit tracks. However in a year of DDLJ and Karan Arjun, the film was only third in the top grossing movies of the year. While most people of our generation haven’t even watched this film once, it was of the biggest blockbusters of that time.

Mohra (1994)

One of the most stylish action thrillers of the decade, this multi-starrer is perhaps just remembered for its music with Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast in particular. However, not many are aware this project was also one of the biggest hits of the year and stayed fresh for a long time until we stopped talking about it all of a sudden.

Barsaat (1995)

The debut of two Bollywood stars who are not exclusively known for their acting happened in 1995 and became a blockbuster. Starring Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna, Barsaat was one of the highest grossing films of the year and ended up earning a blockbuster tag to its name.

Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998)

While this fun filled light hearted movie isn’t really forgotten in any context, PKTDK still however isn’t looked back as a blockbuster. Always reeling under the shadow of DDLJ, this Salman-Kajol starrer ran houseful for weeks.

Ziddi (1997)

While Border, Dil To Pagal Hai, Pardes and Ishq dominated 1997 like they were meant to, another Sunny Deol movies was a grand success at box office.  The action thriller Ziddi that went on to earn almost 20 crores at box office is hardly remembered today.

There you have it! As much as these movies can take pride in being box office blockbusters, we for some reason just don’t talk about them anymore.