This film of Aishwarya was her biggest flop; even Salman Khan couldn’t save it from sinking. Find its name inside.
Published: September 10, 2025 12:24 PM IST
In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, many actors come and go, but there are a few actresses who not only attain massive stardom and love but also represent India on an international level. However, behind her gleaming and successful life is a world full of challenges and struggles that didn’t make it to the limelight. The actress that we are talking about is none other than Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but like every superstar, Aishwarya has faced her own set of challenges and struggles, so much so that at one point, one of her films flopped so badly that it became one of her most-talked-about failures.
Aishwarya Rai’s Mega Flop Film
Released in 2000, Aishwarya Rai starred in the film Dhai Akshar Prem Ke opposite Abhishek Bachchan. Even though the film was highly aspirational, and the makers had many expectations, it couldn’t make a mark as expected. Made on a budget of Rs 9 crores and with a stellar star cast, this film couldn’t pull in the audience. In fact, Salman Khan, who was one of the biggest stars back then and was also making headlines with Aishwarya Rai for their relationship, also made a cameo
How much did it earn?
Unfortunately, despite big banner production and a powerful star cast, the film couldn’t resonate with the audience. The film only earned Rs 8.5, failing to even recover its budget. Even Salman’s brief appearance as a truck driver, who helps the protagonists, couldn’t prevent the film from failing at the box office.
This film’s failure turned out to be a major setback, especially because it came right after Aishwarya had started to gain recognition for her acting skills. Critics and fans felt that while the performances were good, the story couldn’t strike a chord. Despite Raj Kanwar’s direction and the efforts put in during its making, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke quickly faded from theatres, leaving a trail of disappointment.
From setback to comeback.
But this setback didn’t let Aishwarya give up; in fact, she bounced back even stronger and better. Later, Aishwarya Rai appeared in a pivotal role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Mohabbatein, which was released in the same year and turned out to be a blockbuster. The film not only revived her career but also established her as one of the leading ladies of Bollywood.
This story shows that even the biggest star faces challenges and struggles that seem life-altering for the moment, but after every setback, there is a stronger and better comeback.
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