After a disappointing box office performance and rejection by major streaming platforms, Bhumi Pednekar and Arjun Kapoor’s thriller The Lady Killer found unexpected success on YouTube, where it has since attracted 2.4 million views and received praise from viewers.
Produced on a budget of ₹45 crore, the Bollywood thriller The Lady Killer, featuring Bhumi Pednekar and Arjun Kapoor, is now considered one of Indian cinema’s largest box-office flops, with an estimated 99.99% loss after earning only ₹60,000. Released in 2023 and directed by Ajay Bahl, the film managed to sell just 293 tickets across India on its opening day. This meager turnout, coupled with a wave of negative reviews, led streaming platforms like Netflix to withdraw from their initial plans to distribute the movie, amid speculation that the film’s theatrical release was merely a formality, and that even its climax had not been fully completed.
Ultimately, after failing to secure a digital platform, The Lady Killer was made available for free on YouTube in September 2024. In just under a month, the film garnered more than 2.4 million views, with many viewers praising it as surprisingly good. Audience comments highlighted both Pednekar and Kapoor’s performances, with some noting, “Arjun Kapoor did a great job in this one; it’s worth appreciating.”
Others echoed this sentiment, saying, “This film was way better than typical Bollywood releases,” and several viewers questioned the harsh criticism it initially received: “I genuinely don’t understand why it got so much hate. If you watch it, the direction and performances are strong.” Another commented on the movie’s promotion issues, noting, “It could have been more successful if there’d been better PR. It’s a solid thriller.”
In a twist, viewers’ praise on YouTube is now reshaping The Lady Killer‘s reputation, with many calling it an underrated gem and expressing surprise at its positive impact despite its commercial failure.
