The Lady Killer is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film directed by Ajay Bahl.[4] The film stars Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar.[5][6] It was released in theatres on 3 November 2023.

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The Lady Killer
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Theatrical release poster
Directed byAjay Bahl
Written byAjay Bahl
Pawan Sony
Mayank Tewari
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAnuj Rakesh Dhawan
Edited byPranav Mistry
Music byKetan Sodha
Production
companies
T-Series Films
Karma Media & Entertainment
Jussawala Productions
Polaroid Media
Movies N More
Distributed byAA Films
Release date
  • 3 November 2023 (2023-11-03)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget45 crore[1]
Box office60,000 [2][3]
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Upon release, the film was critically panned and grossed a measly 38,000 on its first day having sold just 293 tickets across India, making it one of the biggest box office disasters in Indian cinema. After its poor theatrical run, no OTT platform acquired its streaming rights. Ultimately, the makers released the full film on T-Series YouTube channel.[7]

Plot

Rajender Joshi runs a pharmacy in Nainital. Due to slumps in his life; he looks for a new frontier and has aspirations of opening his own diagnostic centre in the city. He is also in an affair with a married women Gajra. Dismayed when his loans keep on getting disapproved by the bank as he is a defaulter, a cop friend Rawat advises him to visit Vikram Burman also known as Maharaj; a former prince who is currently bedridden and is supplied oxygen tanks by Rajender.

There he meets Jansey who is Burman's daughter and starts a relationship with her. Upon finding out that Vikram sexually assaults Jansey, both decide to murder Vikram.

Cast

Production

Principal photography commenced in April 2022.[8][9] Some reports suggested that the film got over-budget and has been out on hold for reshoots, but producer Shaailesh R Singh debunked it and said that it is on track.[10] The filming wrapped in July 2023.[11]

Release

The film was released on 3 November 2023 with only 12 shows nationwide. The film is said to have been released incomplete due to: a cost-overrun, rains in Uttarakhand and a lack of reshoots. With the production team resorting to several editing cuts and voiceovers.[12]

It was set to have an OTT release on Netflix. Later, Netflix cancelled its OTT release and the film was made available on T-Series youtube channel for free to watch.[7][13]

Reception

Box office

The film on its first day grossed a measly 38,000 having sold just 293 tickets nationwide, making it one of the biggest box office bombs of Indian cinema.[12][7][14][15][16]

Bahl blamed the incomplete script for the box-office failure.[17]

Critical response

Bollywood Hungama rated the film 2/5 stars, criticising the screenplay of the second half with gaps and unexplained sequences in the narrative. However the performances of Bhumi Pednekar, Priyanka Bose and Arjun Kapoor was praised along with the background score by Ketan Sodha and cinematography by Anuj Dhavan.[18]

References

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