Anupam Kher opens up about 'Tanvi the Great' box office clash with 'Saiyaara': "‘The world wanted a love story’

Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently reflected on the emotional impact of his passion project Tanvi the Great underperforming at the box office after its release coincided with the blockbuster Saiyaara. Speaking at the latest edition of Expresso by The Indian Express, Kher shared how the timing of the two films' release led to his film being overshadowed, despite years of hard work.

“I worked on Tanvi the Great for four years—one year writing, one year on music,” Kher said. “I wrote and directed the film myself. We released it on the same day as Yash Raj Films’ Saiyaara, and it got completely wiped out. It was deeply disheartening, not just for me, but for the new actor I cast from my acting school, and for the nearly 200 people who worked on the film.”

Kher also revealed that Tanvi the Great faced major financial setbacks just a month before its release, when the film’s financier unexpectedly disappeared. “So, I turned to friends—doctors, lawyers—and they helped fund the final stages. We even premiered the film at the Cannes Film Festival. In New York, Robert De Niro watched the film until the interval and said it was good. We also screened it for the President of India.” Despite these notable achievements, the film struggled to attract audiences in theatres. “Everything was on track, but the audience wanted a love story—and rightfully so,” Kher admitted. “There hadn’t been a youthful romance in a while, and the way the system works here, even if your film is in 400 theatres, if another film is doing well, yours will be pulled.”

When asked which film’s success surprised him the most, Kher named Saiyaara. “Even Aditya Chopra must have been surprised—everyone was. But it's okay. I’m grateful that Aditya and Yash Chopra are like family to me. I grew up in cinema with them. If it had been someone else’s film, it would’ve hurt a lot more.”

Directed by Mohit Suri and starring newcomers Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday, Saiyaara became a massive commercial success, earning approximately Rs. 569.75 crores worldwide. In contrast, Tanvi the Great collected just around Rs. 2.54 crore globally. The film featured Shubhangi Dutt, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Jackie Shroff, and Karan Tacker in key roles.

Also Read: Anupam Kher’s Tanvi The Great is set to re-release on September 26, two months after its original release on 18 July

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