Well, well, well, if it isn’t Khel Khel Mein, the comedy-drama that could have used a good laugh track—not because it’s funny, but because it’s anything but a box office hit. Despite a promising cast and the well-timed release, this film has stumbled so badly it’s on the verge of becoming Bollywood’s next big joke. Let’s be real%3A Akshay Kumar’s comedy-drama, directed by Mudassar Aziz, was meant to be a breezy ride through hilarity and drama. Instead, it’s been more of a crash course in “How Not to Make Money at the Box Office 101.” With its first two weeks rolling in slower than a turtle on sedatives, the film seemed destined to be another addition to Akshay Kumar’s “Oops, I Did It Again” collection.

In the realm of Bollywood flops, Khel Khel Mein is now on track to surpass Mission Raniganj (2023)—a feat that would be impressive if it weren’t for the fact that Mission Raniganj itself was a catastrophic misfire. For those who might have forgotten, Mission Raniganj collected a staggering 34.32 crore nett in its lifetime run. Khel Khel Mein, despite its catastrophic start, is expected to cross this number and might even scrape past the 40 crore mark. That’s right—it's like being the fastest kid in the slow lane.
Here’s the scoop%3A while Khel Khel Mein is meandering towards an impressive defeat, it’s still way behind the curve. It’s almost poetic in its mediocrity. Compare this to Stree 2, which is currently on a tear and set to become the highest-grossing Bollywood film ever. Khel Khel Mein's performance is like showing up to a grand feast with a soggy sandwich.

So, what went wrong? For starters, Khel Khel Mein’s decision to clash with Stree 2 was like bringing a rubber knife to a gunfight. Stree 2 is mowing down records, and Khel Khel Mein seems to be barely making it past the concession stand. With a lifetime total currently at a meager 33.90 crore, it’s clear this film missed the memo about what constitutes a successful release.

Directed by Mudassar Aziz and boasting a cast that includes Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Pragya Jaiswal, Fardeen Khan, Aditya Seal, Ammy Virk, and Taapsee Pannu, Khel Khel Mein had all the ingredients for success—minus the recipe. It’s an adaptation of the Italian film Perfect Strangers (2016), but if this film was meant to be a perfect stranger to success, mission accomplished. The movie’s box office numbers may be a punchline in itself, but it’s worth noting that Khel Khel Mein will not be remembered for breaking records but for its spectacularly ordinary performance. As Bollywood continues to churn out blockbusters, Khel Khel Mein will be fondly remembered as a reminder that not all that glitters is gold—sometimes, it’s just a very shiny disappointment.