Vashu Bhagnani pins 'BMCM' failure on Ali Abbas Zafar: "He didn’t understand the soul of the title"

In a candid new interview, veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani has opened up about one of his biggest career regrets, the 2024 version of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Speaking to Ronak Kotecha on the YouTube channel Reviewron, Bhagnani didn’t hold back as he called the rebooted action film a “mistake” and revealed what really went wrong behind the scenes.

The original Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, released in 1998, was a laugh riot featuring the unbeatable duo of Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda. Directed by David Dhawan, the film became a fan favourite for its perfect blend of comedy, catchy music, and masala entertainment. Two decades later, Bhagnani attempted to recreate that charm with a modern-day version starring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff but the result was far from what fans expected.

“I should’ve never made the film with Ali Abbas Zafar,” Bhagnani admitted in the rapid-fire segment of the interview. “He didn’t understand the soul of the title. We kept reminding him, this is a comedy brand. You can add action, but don’t remove the comedy.”

The 2024 version shifted genres entirely, turning into a sci-fi action extravaganza with high-end VFX and a global scale. Despite having a star-studded cast that included Akshay, Tiger, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manushi Chhillar, and Alaya F, the film couldn’t connect with audiences. Critics slammed it for its weak storyline and lack of emotional depth. What made things worse were the behind-the-scenes controversies.

From budget blowups to payment delays, the film was surrounded by chatter. Reportedly made on a jaw-dropping Rs 350 crore budget, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan opened to decent numbers but crashed soon after. It wrapped up its worldwide theatrical run at just Rs 111.5 crore, a major loss for the makers.

Bhagnani also expressed a strong desire to revisit the film again but only with David Dhawan and comedy writer Rumi Jaffery on board. “It’s a beautiful brand. If I do it again, I’ll bring back the original minds. David ji has a sharp comedy instinct, if not directing, I’ll ask him to produce with me.”

With honesty and humility, Vashu Bhagnani has taken full responsibility for the film’s failure, showing how even the biggest names can sometimes misread the audience's pulse. Whether the classic comedy franchise will rise again remains to be seen.