1 of 11 Movies that win awards, adulations and a cult following don’t always create box office magic. Here’s a look at movies that are considered gems now but they flopped miserably when they first released.

2 of 11 Andaz Apna Apna (1994)

What went wrong? Perhaps it was just too screwball for anyone’s liking. Rajkumar Santoshi’s Andaz Apna Apna was a classic wacky comedy. It spoofed almost every bit of cinema formula we’d come to love through the ’70s and ’80s. But even though it had a few hundred laugh-out-loud moments, for an unfathomable reason, the audience never flocked to the theatres.

Consolation: Say hello to India’s biggest video store hit. Sales of now relic video cassettes and VCDs soared off all shelves. And even in the age of DVDs and BluRays Andaz Apna Apna continues to find an audience.

3 of 11 Lamhe (1991)

What went wrong? Ask Yash Chopra or anyone associated with Lamhe and they’ll tell you it was a film ahead of its time. It dealt with the restrained passion of a man. He falls in love with a woman older to him. When she gets married to someone else, he retreats.Years later, he meets the woman’s daughter and love is in the air. The audience it seems wasn’t too savvy about a progressive love story sans all the usual YRF frills.

Consolation: Amidst all the critical acclaim and becoming a cult classic, Lamhe also won five Filmfare Awards. Today, it’s widely considered as one of Yash Chopra’s best works.

4 of 11 Sadma (1983)

What went wrong? Sadma was the remake of a Tamil film called Moondram Pirai and like the original, it was a heart touching story of a woman who regresses into the mental state of a child because of an accident. Even though Kamal Haasan and Sridevi were popular stars at the time, the film’s off-beat theme proved to be a deterrent. Falling in love with a woman behaving like a pre-teen proved too much of a hiccup.

Consolation: Sadma has since found appreciation on the home video and TV re-run circuit. Also, international audiences in particular have taken a liking to the film, the impact of which can be found on numerous International blogs on Indian cinema.

5 of 11 MERA NAAM JOKER (1972)

What went wrong? It was Raj Kapoor’s magnum opus and if rumours are to be believed, a cut of the film ran for a whopping five hours. Well, it was certainly a lengthy film and the first Indian film to release with two intervals. The story was fairly simple — about a man who uses his profession of being a clown as a metaphor for being a simpleton in love. Perhaps there were too many themes, too many characters and too much of run time for the general movie viewer’s liking.

Consolation: Despite flopping dismally at the box office, Mera Naam Joker has managed to garner quite a following in subsequent years. It’s a big hit on the home video circuit as well as a top TV re-run favourite.

6 of 11 KAAGAZ KE PHOOL (1959)

What went wrong? Perhaps Kaagaz Ke Phool was a wee bit indulgent and introspective on Guru Dutt’s part, but the fact remains it is considered one of Indian cinema’s best. Back when it released, its progressive story of a married man and filmmaker becoming obsessed with his muse, an actress, offended quite a few patrons. Reportedly, the then President of India Rajendra Prasad walked out of a screening. Guru Dutt himself is known to have said that his film was slow and complex.

Consolation: With the rising popularity of Guru Dutt post his death, the film was re-released in the mid ’80s and it was then that it found a solid audience. The movie also won two Filmfare Awards in the year of its original release.

7 of 11 UMRAO JAAN (1981)

What went wrong? In spite of having some of Indian cinema’s most memorable tunes and lyrics, Muzzafar Ali’s Umrao Jaan could only manage a lukewarm response at the box office. Khayyam’s soulful music and Shahriyar’s poetry are still remembered by movie buffs across the globe. Most critics and cinema buffs werebaffled with the lack of interest for the film.

Consolation: Songs of the film continue to haunt movie buffs as music director Khayyam, lyricist Shahryar and singer Asha Bhosle take centrestage.

8 of 11 Saagar (1985)

What went wrong? A love triangle in the midst of a societal strata divide and a story of compassion and sacrifice. Saagar was a movie based on progressive emotions and it had some great music too. Dimple Kapadia was making a comeback after a long hiatus but none of that helped the film at all.

Consolation: Today, it’s considered one of the better works of Hindi cinema and is counted amongst the best works of Ramesh Sippy, the man who gave us Sholay.

9 of 11 Silsila (1981)

What went wrong? The hype around Yash Chopra’s Silsila was off the charts. The pairing of Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha in the same film had raised expectations sky high. But a complex love story full of unfaithful characters seemed a bit too much for the reserved sensibilities of Indian audiences of the ’80s. Consolation: Contemporary audience has associated with the theme of the film and today it’s considered to be one of the best works of most names associated with the film.

10 of 11 Agneepath (1990)

What went wrong? Arguably, Agneepath is Amitabh Bachchan’s most under-appreciated film. Reportedly, Amitabh had gone the Marlon Brando way, adapted a whole new persona and a coarse voice for his gangster role. But Mukul Anand’s offbeat theme about vendetta had no takers in the theatres.

Consolation: The dialogue, “Apun ka naam Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, baap ka naam Master Dinanath Chauhan” said in a deep baritone has become a holy prayer for many. And that is just the tip of the iceberg that got Agneepath a cult following.All the popularity has also inspired a reboot by Karan Johar.