Top 5 Most Expensive Kamal Haasan Films That Flopped at Box Office

Top 5 Most Expensive Kamal Haasan Films: Kamal Haasan, India’s finest and most experimental actor-filmmaker, has continued to test the limits of cinema with unorthodox narratives, unorthodox performances, and costly productions. Although his dedication to the art is not in doubt, none of his ambitious projects could be converted into box office hits. Some of his costliest films did not go down well with the masses, and they incurred losses in terms of huge amounts of money. Let us consider the top 5 most costly Kamal Haasan flops, assessing their budgets, failure reasons, and what they were left with.

1. Dasavathaaram (2008)

Budget: ₹75–100 crore
Dasavathaaram was a success upon release, Kamal acting out ten roles. The film, however, was overdependent on its special effects, particularly the climax, the tsunami sequence, which became dated. The film ran far longer than 3 hours, and the release was too close to that of Rajinikanth’s Kuselan, splitting fan attention.

Estimated Loss: ₹20–30 crore

2. Vishwaroopam (2013)

Budget: ₹95 crore
This spy thriller was well-received with positive anticipation but was soon caught in controversy by being banned in Tamil Nadu due to protests by Muslim communities. The delay damaged its momentum. The expensive 3D ticketing and complex plot of the film deterred family viewers as well as conventional viewers.
Estimated Loss: ₹40 crore+

3. Uttama Villain (2015)
Budget: ₹50 crore
A film that deals with the life of a aging superstar, Uttama Villain did have a niche audience base but did not reach the masses. It came out at the same time as Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the absence of mass-appealing content such as action or drama diluted its box office traction.
Estimated Loss: ₹25 crore

4. Manmadhan Ambu (2010)
Budget: ₹40 crore
This romantic comedy did not have the ‘mass’ appeal that was anticipated in Tamil cinema. The Kamal-Trisha chemistry was lacking, and the under-whelming climax disappointed viewers.
Estimated Loss: ₹15 crore

Also Read: Kamal Hassan’s Thug Life Fined for Breaking OTT Window Rule

5. Marmayogi (Shelved, 2007)

Budget: ₹100 crore (planned)
Marmayogi was planned as an epic historical big-budget film but was shelved half-way. Disney parted ways due to script problems, and Kamal’s shoulder injury led to further delay.
Estimated Loss: ₹30 crore (pre-production)

Lessons Learned

Ambitious scripts require editing: From Dasavathaaram, we know that even great ideas must be tightly executed.

Controversies can upset momentum: Vishwaroopam taught us how external agencies can ruin a film.

Regulate budgets for market-specific films: Uttama Villain swore that all stories may not be worth splurging.

Did You Know?

Kamal invested in Vishwaroopam 2 out of his own pocket to offset losses, only to flop as well. His saga is the gamble and determination of a genuine movie trailblazer.