Taapsee Pannu's Shabaash Mithu fails to impress: Here's how other sports biopics fared at the box office

The Taapsee Pannu starrer Shabaash Mithu, based on the former Indian skipper Mithali Raj, was released in theatres on Friday (July 15, 2022). However, the film has barely made Rs. 1.80 crore nett in the four days since its release, making it a complete failure. However, losses will be reduced because of fewer expenses and existing pre-release digital and satellite partnerships. The budget is still high for the kind of movie it is and the face value it has.

Biopics are not a new trend in Hindi cinema and several have been made for many years. In sports biopics, among the handful of them, a few have worked, while others have failed to create an impressive mark. Sadly, Shabaash Mithu comes in the latter category, along the lines of Soorma, Azhar, and others.

Listed below are the lists of sports biopics made in Hindi and how they fared among the masses as well as at the box office.

The Lord's Cricket Ground witnessed one of the greatest underdog tales in sports history on June 25, 1983. At the age of fourteen, these fourteen courageous men overcame all odds to lead India to its biggest sporting victory! Indian cricket is now the best in the world thanks to this victory, which put the country back on the map and gave it the foundation to grow. One individual led the team to a historic triumph by having faith in himself and his convictions.

The Kabir Khan directorial, starring Ranveer Singh in the lead role, was one of the most awaited films of 2020. However, due to the pandemic, it was delayed multiple times and finally released in December 2021. Despite great reviews and appreciation by the critics and the fans, 83 failed to make box office numbers.

The film's budget was Rs. 260 crore approx. and the total net profit it made in its lifetime was Rs. 103.68 crore at the box office.

Azhar is based on a few well-known occurrences and facts in the life of controversial sportsman and former Indian cricket captain Azharuddin.

Mohammad Azharuddin (Emraan Hashmi) rises swiftly to become one of India's greatest cricketers from modest beginnings in Hyderabad. He achieved international fame thanks to his shrewd batting approach. He led the Indian national team as captain during most of the 1990s. But temptations come with success, and he faces turmoil in his life.

Azharuddin later marries Bollywood actress and former Miss India Sangeeta (Nargis Fakhri) after his marriage with Naureen (Prachi Desai) falls apart. However, as his career comes to an end in 2000, he is implicated in his biggest scandal: match-fixing allegations.

The Anthony D'Souza directed biopic disappointed the masses brutally, especially for making a biopic of a fictional account. The film was reportedly called a "whitewash" on the former Indian skipper Azharuddin. In a budget of about Rs. 40 crore, Azhar made a lifetime business of Rs. 30.73 crore.

For some people, the name Milkha Singh brings back a hazy memory from the annals of history. Most people only know that Milkha Singh, known as the Flying Sikh, was an accomplished runner who notoriously finished last in his last race.

The movie explores Milkha's salvation through the darkness of humiliation while also attempting to explain a tragic defeat that was anticipated as a guaranteed victory. Atonement and catharsis result from his facing his past.

Milkha, ironically, finds himself in the exact location where he has lost everything. Pakistan He saw a scene where he saw his entire family brutally murdered. Demons that have been latent in some obscure part of his mind come to life. Through the ills of a violent civil war, a lost childhood, homelessness, and petty criminality, this iridescent story twists its way to hard-won and often lost victories. It creates a complex picture of how human struggles, setbacks, and fate are weighed against the strength of will. eloquently demonstrating that facing one's problems head-on rather than fleeing from them is the key to ultimate victory.

Milkha soars, tumbles, and rises; his spirit is wounded, but not his will to live. The 400-meter world champion, Milkha Singh, finished second in the 1960 Rome Olympics, but he prevailed in life.

The fantastic biopic had Farhan Akhtar playing the titular role and was directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The film passed with flying colours at the box office and was appreciated by those who watched it, especially Farhan for his incredible performance as Milkha Singh.

With a mere budget of Rs 53 crore, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag had a great run at the box office, making about Rs 109.18 crore at the box office.

Budhia Singh was born adjacent to a railroad track and was given to a street hawker by his poor mother when he was five years old. A young man named Budhia, who was destined to live a life of desperation as a beggar, is later saved by a compassionate local judo instructor who operates an orphanage for kids from the slums. While punishing the little child for cursing at one of the Judo classmates, Biranchi unintentionally discovers Budhia's aptitude for sprinting. As long as he doesn't order Budhia to stop, he asks him to sprint around the judo complex. After five hours, Biranchi returns and is startled to see Budhia still in motion.

In an effort to make Budhia a running sensation, Biranchi sets off on this mission. Budhia has completed twenty-five half marathons in just six months. He completed 48 full marathons in a year. The fact that Budhia is only five years old makes this accomplishment all the more amazing. Biranchi's plans are getting bigger and bigger. He makes the decision to issue Budhia an even tougher test that will go down in history. He'll run continuously for 70 kilometres (42 miles). If he is successful, he will set a record for being the youngest endurance runner ever, and there will be professionals on hand to document his accomplishments.

The Indian government decides to step in, accusing the coach of cruelty and threatening to take his recently adopted son into care because the entire world is watching them and a global storm is about to break out. Adults engage in a shrewd tug of war over Budhia's authority. He is caught in the crossfire between politicians and attorneys. But before any answers regarding Budhia's destiny can be found, a startling occurrence occurs. A gang member kills Biranchi.

Who murdered Biranchi Das, the coach? What was their exact motivation? What happens to Budhia Singh, the youngest marathon runner in history and the wonder boy of India?

Starring Manoj Bajpayee and Mayur Mahendra Patole in the lead roles, Budhia Singh was appreciated for the subject, and at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2016, it was recognised as the Best Children's Film.

However, at the box office, the film made about Rs. 1.92 crore, which turned out to be a disaster.

The story of Dangal centres on the unusual life of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler who was never able to realise his dream of winning an international gold medal for India in the sport of wrestling. Financial constraints force him to abandon his dream. Mahavir Singh calms himself and decides that his intended son will one day fulfil his dream, if not him. But destiny has other ideas. He and his wife have been blessed with four daughters over roughly two decades. Mahavir Singh gives up on life.

But when his oldest daughter Geeta, now 14, and his second daughter Babita, now 12, attack some grown men for making fun of them, he realises that his girls have what it takes to be professional wrestlers. His life has renewed hope. A gold medal is a gold medal, regardless of whether a guy or a girl wins it.

What happens next is Mahavir Singh's ten-year pursuit of his goal of developing his daughters into elite wrestlers. He leaves no stone untouched. He prepares them to defeat boys in various village wrestling competitions by training them with other boys. He keeps his daughters away from temptation so they can wrestle. He makes sure they fight to win rather than merely to survive.

Starring Aamir Khan in the lead role, the film directed by Nitesh Tiwari created an uproar when it was released in 2016. The film was loved and appreciated by all, and even won several accolades. Dangal went on to become an all-time box office smash. The film, made on a budget of about Rs. 132 crore, made about Rs. 374.53 crore in total nett gross.

Against all odds, a retired sports teacher played by Amitabh Bachchan, based on Vijay Barse, turns a group of troubled teenagers from the slums into disciplined football players.

The Nagraj Manjule directorial marked the filmmaker's first Hindi feature film. The film, made with a budget of Rs 38 crore, did a lifetime business of Rs 14.30 crore at the box office. However, once it dropped on ZEE5 after its theatrical run, Jhund became a massive hit and people couldn't stop raving about it.

M.S. Dhoni (Sushant Singh Rajput) must choose between pursuing his ambition of being a successful cricket player and staying in his secure position as a train station ticket collector. His choice will determine the course of the rest of his life. 

Watching the late actor Sushant on the big screen as Dhoni has a huge fan base even now. The film did commendable business at the box office and was a game changer for SSR as well. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story grossed Rs 119.09 crore in its lifetime.

Mary Kom is a modest Manipurean girl who aspires to be a successful boxer and to represent her nation in the world championships. However, her aspirations are hampered by her struggles with money and societal prejudice. As Mary Kom puts in a lot of effort with the help of her coach to turn her goals into reality, eventually taking home multiple medals and putting India on the map of the world.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas played the titular role in the sports biopic directed by Omung Kumar. The film drew flak and criticism over the casting of the actor as it failed the representation of North East India. Despite that, the film did a decent business at the box office by minting about Rs. 61.43 crore, and it was made on a budget of about Rs. 38 crore.

An athlete who dominated the steeplechase event at the Indian National Games for seven years in a row and whose record stood unbroken for ten years came from a little hamlet in Madhya Pradesh. He went by the name Paan Singh Tomar, but his renown didn't end there; instead, he gained notoriety after he abandoned his racing shoes to become a "Baaghi" and cause mayhem in the Chambal Valley. The real-life amazing journey of a gifted runner who became a rebel is Paan Singh Tomar.

The film, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, starred Irrfan Khan in the titular role. At the 60th National Film Awards in 2012, the movie was bestowed with Best Feature Film and Best Actor for Khan. Moreover, the film was well-appreciated for its content and the incredible performances of its lead actors. Made with a budget of Rs. 7 crore, Paan Singh Tomar went on to earn Rs. 14.61 crore.

A global champion. An Olympic gold medalist. And the premier Indian badminton player. All of these things and more describe Saina Nehwal. This biography tells the remarkable tale of a talented young person who, by sheer enthusiasm and tenacity, rose to the top of the badminton world; a journey that later inspired and empowered an entire nation.

Parineeti Chopra played the titular role in this biopic directed by Amole Gupte. The film had a short theatrical run until its OTT premiere on Amazon Prime Video. Saina received mixed reviews from the public and critics, while it only struck the right chord with a few. However, it was declared a disaster at the box office as the total nett gross was Rs. 1.27 crore. whereas, Saina was made on a budget of Rs. 26 crore.

Sandeep Singh, a great hockey player who made headlines for his amazing comeback following a terrible, accidental injury, is the subject of the inspirational true story Soorma, which celebrates the triumph of the human spirit.

Featuring Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, Soorma also starred Taapsee Pannu as the female lead. The film, although based on an important sports personality, failed to make an impressive mark on the audience. It didn't strike a chord with people and was declared a flop at the box office, despite making about Rs. 32.12 crore on a budget of Rs. 31 crore.