5 Bollywood stars who went broke but managed to bounce back: from Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan to Jackie Shroff, Raj Kapoor and Anupam Kher – but which of them had to sell their furniture?

Aug 21 , 2022

Anupam Kher, Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff and Kamal Haasan know the highs and lows of the film business more than most. Photos: @anupampkher, @rajkapoorsahab, @SrBachchan, @jackie_shroff20, @ikamalhaasan/Instagram

Amitabh Bachchan had financial debt from his production company, but landed Mohabbatein and game show Kaun Banega Crorepati to put him back on track

Kamal Haasan’s spy thriller Vishwaroopam was temporarily barred by the government, but it was a hit once released, as was 2022’s Vikram – but what about Jackie Shroff’s debts?

Being a movie star usually means big money. That’s the general assumption anyway, reinforced by celebs frequently flaunting their lavish lifestyles on social media.

But let’s not forget that they’re humans, too, and even the richest among them can fall on hard times. Here are five Indian actors who had a brush with bankruptcy but, in true Bollywood style, managed to bounce right back and get their happy ending.

1. Amitabh Bachchan

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was also dubbed “Angry Young Man” for his role in Zanjeer. Photo: AP

Bollywood’s “Angry Young Man” reigned the 70s and a good part of the 80s with blockbusters such as Deewaar, Sholay and Zanjeer. But in 1999, his entertainment company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited, ran up debts of over US$11 million (INR 90 crore), as per his 2013 interview with Mail Today.

Indian TV host Amitabh Bachchan in Kuan Banega Crorepati – aka the Indian adaptation of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Photo: Star TV

He then approached filmmaker Yash Chopra for a role, and subsequently bagged the movie Mohabbatein. Meanwhile, Bachchan also geared up for his television-hosting debut in Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Both ventures, out in 2000, fared brilliantly. Besides reinventing his career, they paved the way for him to pay his dues and reach his current US$400 million fortune, as estimated by Celebrity Net Worth.

2. Raj Kapoor

Raj Kapoor is known as Hindi cinema’s original “showman”. He died in 1988. Photo: @rajkapoorsahab/Instagram

Hindi cinema’s original “showman” is known for classics such as Shree 420, Awaara and Sangam. But Mera Naam Joker (1970), which he also directed, was his all-time favourite, according to Cinema Sangeet, even though it pushed the late actor-filmmaker to the edge of bankruptcy. The astronomically high budget film just didn’t attract film-goers at the time and was a colossal flop.

Raj Kapoor and Nargis in the 1951 film Awaara. Photo:

The crisis lasted until the movie acquired cult status on television and internationally. Kapoor’s next production, Bobby (1973), which launched the career of his second son Rishi, added further relief with its thunderous US$3.7 million takings at the box office that year, according to The Tribune. Kapoor eventually built up a net worth of around US$2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

3. Jackie Shroff

Jackie Shroff is a veteran actor in Bollywood. Photo: @apnabhidu/Instagram