Shah Rukh Khan Biggest Flop? The Story Behind the Disaster Called Trimurti

Even the biggest stars have faced low points in their careers, and for Shah Rukh Khan, one of the darkest moments came with the 1995 film Trimurti. Despite a dream team behind and in front of the camera, the film turned out to be a colossal box office disaster.

The Build-Up: All the Right Ingredients

Directed by Mukul S. Anand and produced by Subhash Ghai, Trimurti had everything going for it—an ensemble cast featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, and Priya Tendulkar, along with high expectations from both audiences and critics. The budget was massive for its time, and the hype was real.

With Ghai’s banner Mukta Arts backing the film, Trimurti was seen as a sure-shot blockbuster in the making. Shah Rukh Khan was already riding high on the success of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, released just months earlier. Everything pointed to another box office hit.

What Went Wrong?

Despite all the anticipation, Trimurti turned out to be a massive failure—financially and critically.

The film’s storyline was considered outdated and disjointed. The script failed to connect with audiences, and the narrative struggled to make an emotional impact. Critics slammed the film for its weak plot and over-the-top melodrama, which felt more suited to the 1980s than the mid-90s.

The performances, despite the star power, couldn’t save the film from its sinking ship. Even Shah Rukh Khan’s rising popularity couldn’t pull the audience into theatres after the initial buzz wore off.

Subhash Ghai’s Shocking Loss

For a filmmaker like Subhash Ghai, who had previously delivered hits like Karz, Ram Lakhan, and Saudagar, the failure of Trimurti was both unexpected and devastating. The film suffered massive losses, making it one of the biggest financial setbacks for Ghai’s production house, Mukta Arts.

This failure left a scar on Ghai’s otherwise golden track record and made producers more cautious about investing blindly in star-studded projects.

SRK’s Career? Unaffected

Interestingly, Trimurti did little to dent Shah Rukh Khan’s career trajectory. His charisma and back-to-back hits in the same era, like DDLJ and Karan Arjun, kept him firmly on top. But Trimurti remains a reminder that even the most bankable actors can’t save a poorly executed film.

Trimurti had the cast, the money, and the ambition—but not the soul. It stands as a classic example of how star power alone can’t guarantee success. Even for someone as iconic as Shah Rukh Khan, Trimurti remains a bitter chapter in an otherwise legendary filmography.