Flashback 1994: 10 Highest Grosser’s Which Turn 25 In 2019
Posted On: 21 Jul 2019 | Last Updated : 07 Mar 2022 | Views : 540
Looking back at the years gone by in Bollywood, 1994 was the year where the term ‘Blockbuster’ had emerged. It was the year when Amitabh Bachchan had taken a sabbatical from acting which gave the ‘Khan’ trio to establish their monopoly at the box-office. Cable TV viewing was at its peak with action films and double-meaning songs dominating the marquee and golden jubilee runs becoming extinct. A new crop of directors with interesting story ideas was given breaks while songs started releasing on CD’s as well. Stars like Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Ajay Devgn, and Saif Ali Khan were trying to get a foothold in Bollywood while Karisma Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Kajol, and Divya Bharti were giving competition to the likes of Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, and Sridevi. So, which flicks ruled the box-office in 1994 and emerged as the top 10 highest grossers of 1994, let’s find out.
1. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (66.93 Crore)
Rajshri Productions Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! starring Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit brought back the audiences along with their families to the theaters in hordes. A remake of Rajshri Productions Nadiya Ke Paar, HAHK became the blockbuster of the 1994 year collecting a massive 127.96 Crores, worldwide. The number of songs and length of the film worked in favour of this family drama. Director Sooraj Barjatya delivered his second blockbuster with Salman Khan after Maine Pyar Kiya which released in 1989. HAHK shattered all then-existing box-office records and gave Salman Khan a much-needed hit to his then sagging career.was
2. Mohra (15.70 Crore)
Producer Gulshan Rai’s action thriller Mohra directed by son Rajiv Rai was a big hit from day one. Starring Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Raveena Tandon and Naseeruddin Shah, Mohra ended up as the second-highest grosser of Bollywood in 1994 after HAHK. The film’s success established the careers of its lead stars who were desperate for a hit those days especially Akshay Kumar who got his first certified hit after Khiladi in 1992. The songs of Mohra composed by Viju Shah became chartbusters of which Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast was the pick of the lot.
3. Krantiveer (12.71 Crore)
Director Mehul Kumar followed his 1993 Tirangaa’s success with Krantiveer, which had Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia, Atul Agnihotri, Mamta Kulkarni, Paresh Rawal, and Danny in prominent roles. Krantiveer was Nana’s first solo hit which ranked among the top 10 successful movies of 1994 that helped him bag that year’s Best Actor Filmfare trophy. His monologues in the climax of the film were total paisa vasool for the audiences while the movie served as a revelation to many. The rest of the cast did not have much to do but the song Love Rap composed by Anand-Milind became a big hit.
4. Raja Babu (12.14 Crore)
A remake of K. Bhagyaraj's Tamil comedy movie Raasukutti, Raja Babu completed a hattrick of hits for director David Dhawan and actor Govinda after Shola Aur Shabnam (1992) and Aankhen (1993). Released in January 1994, Raja Babu initially got into controversy for its songs and dances including Sarkailyo Khatiya Jaada Lage. The on-screen pair of Govinda and Karisma Kapoor spelled success for the film at the box office while David Dhawan cemented his place as a top-notch director in Bollywood.
5. Main Khiladi Tu Anari (11.48 Crore)
A rip-off of the Hollywood hit The Hard Way and Lethal Weapon, Main Khiladi Tu Anari was the surprise hit of the year, which was directed by Sameer Malkan. The second film for Akshay Kumar in the Khiladi series, this action-comedy marked the arrival of Saif Ali Khan whose comic timing garnered a lot of praise. The song Chura Ke Dil Mera became one of the highlights of the film while the album became one of the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack albums of 1994.
6. Yeh Dillagi (10.55 Crore)
Loosely based on the 1954 Bollywood movie Sabrina where two brothers fall in love with the same girl, Yeh Dillagi, which was released before Main Khiladi Tu Anari that year was the first time that saw the pairing of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan on screen. Kajol played the female lead while the Saif song Ole Ole became the actor’s signature tune. The other songs composed by newcomer music duo Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen were also equally popular which added to the success of this romantic comedy-drama., where two brothers fall in love with the same girl, Yeh Dillagi, which was released before Main Khiladi Tu Anari that year,
7. Laadla (9.75 Crore)
A remake of Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi’s hit film Gharana Mogodu, Laadla had Anil Kapoor playing the lead role in this action comedy-drama along with Sridevi, Raveena Tandon, Farida Jalal, Shakti Kapoor, Aruna Irani and Anupam Kher. Initially, Divya Bharti was signed on to play the female lead but her untimely death got in Sridevi to play the role. Powerful performances by the leads and hard-hitting dialogues spelled success for this Raj Kanwar directorial at the box office. The songs composed by Anand-Milind were popular as Anil Kapoor started making Bollywood remakes of south Indian hits.
8. Suhaag (9.64 Crore)
The surprise box-office hit of 1994, Suhaag once again saw Ajay Devgn teaming up with director Kuku Kohli after Phool Aur Kaante in 1991. The comedy-action flick, which was released on Diwali also saw Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar sharing screen space for the first time. It also starred Karisma Kapoor, Nagma, Aruna Irani, Suresh Oberoi and Dalip Tahil in prominent roles but the action and comedy sequences between the male lead's served as the highlight of the film.
9. Dilwale (8.88 Crore)
Dilwale was yet another film that surprisingly went on to become one of the top 10 highest box office collection movies in 1994. This action romantic drama starring Ajay Devgn, Suniel Shetty, and Raveena Tandon was directed by Harry Baweja that had some magical tunes by the then reigning music director duo Nadeem-Shravan which included Kitna Haseen Chehra, Jeeta Tha Jis Ke Liye, Mauka Milega To Hum Bataa Denge, Saaton Janam Mein Tere and others.
10. Vijaypath (8.41 Crore)
Time Magnetic Pvt. Ltd. had entered big-time film production with Vijaypath. Directed by Farouq Siddiqui, this action film, which made it to the top 10 grossers of 1994, is still remembered for Tabu’s Ruk Ruk song. The film established Ajay Devgn as an action hero while some of the stunts performed by him in the film were breathtaking. The film’s success catapulted him into the big league while the songs by Anu Malik became popular as well.
