Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Lamhe, Fire: Bollywood films which were way ahead of its time!

There are a few films in Bollywood which at the time of its release might not evoke the same kind of reaction and appreciation from the audience. Often, such films fail to do a steadfast business at the box-office, but after a few years of its release, many of these films get their due recognition from the audience and make a special place in viewers' heart. 

Here are a few films if released in later years would have been box-office successes: 

Mera Naam Joker

The Raj Kapoor film revolves around the life of a circus clown. Featuring the first ever nude scene, Mera Naam Joker took six years to be made. However, the film was both critical and commercial disaster. Though irony is, today the film is considered as a cult classic and a misunderstood masterpiece. 

Lamhe 

The 1991 film by Yash Chopra was a box-office debacle. The film starred Sridevi in a double role  - of a mother and daughter. Anil Kapoor falls in love with an older woman (Sridevi) who doesn't love him back. 18 years later, after Sridevi's death, her daughter Pooja falls in love with a middle-aged Anil without knowing he's also the man who once loved her mother. 

Over the years, Lamhe has been considered as a modern classic which years back tapped on the subject which was bold, liberating and something which Indian audience was not ready to accept!

Fire

Deepa Mehta's 1996 film was nothing less than sensational and provoking. Though Indian films had highlighted women sexualisation in the past, the Shabana Azmi-Nandita Das film explicitly showed a lesbian relationship between a younger woman and her older sister-in-law. A huge hue and cry was followed as political wings 'gay-bashed' the film, but it did set the precedence of public dialogue, homosexuality and freedom of speech. Fire, in years to come, was termed as path-breaking.

Filhaal

The film revolved around Sushmita Sen, who offers to be a surrogate mother for her BFF Tabu,as the latter miscarries her child. How an unwed Sush goes through the trial and tribulations because of societal pressures and from her boyfriend, weaves the plot of Filhaal. Helmed by Gulzaar-Rakhee's daughter Meghna, the 2002 release failed to mint money at the box-office, but in today's time, it is lauded for its sensitive yet bold subject. 

Phir Milenge 

AIDS, in general, is a topic shunned by the masses. The Abhishek Bachchan-Salman Khan starrer saw Shilpa Shetty as an HIV patient, who on her medical condition discovered by her bosses, is ousted from the company. Shilpa fights for her case in the court with Abhishek's help and wins the battle. A sensitive portrayal of an HIV sufferer handled by director Revathy, in later years became an example for the films ad society to look upon. 

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

The SRK-Preity Zinta-Rani Mukerji-Abhishek Bachchan starrer explored adultery and extramarital affairs in a bold fashion and that too on a mainstream canvas. Surprisingly, a Karan Johar film backed with a bold concept didn't go down well with the masses. But, the 2006 release certainly made a brave attempt with A-listers in its start cast, to tap on a territory which was then also not well accepted by the audiences. 

No Smoking

Starring John Abraham and helmed by Anurag Kashyap, the 2007 film was regarding a self-obsessed chain smoker who agrees to kick his habit to save his marriage and visits a rehabilitation center. However, John is caught in a puzzle game by Baba Bengali, who guarantees he will make him quit. What follows is a crazy, complicated ride! The film received applause and praise at film festivals, but it took audiences a few years down the line to wrap their head around the complicated and layered subject. 

Which is your favourite on this list? Let us know in the comments below!