Tees Maar Khan, directed by Farah Khan and starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, did not receive the tag of blockbuster when it was released, but soon the movie received appreciation and is now considered
one of the cult classics in Bollywood history. The movie became a pop culture phenomenon even after a sluggish box office run, and time and again Farah has spoken about the same.
Recently, Farah Khan was joined by The Traitor fame and YouTuber Purav Jha, and during the discussion, Farah questioned Jha, “Jab Main Hoon Na release hui thi, tab kitne saal ka tha? Shayad 3 saal?” (When Main Hoon Na was released, how old were you? Maybe three years old?). To this, the YouTuber responded, “Haan, itna hi hoga” (Yes, I must have been around that age). When the filmmaker questioned him if he had watched the Shah Rukh Khan starrer, Purav quickly answered, “Haan, ma’am! Kitni baar” (Yes, ma’am! So many times).
The conversation then became interesting when Farah questioned Purav if he had watched the Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif starrer Tees Maar Khan. To this, Purav responded, “Arey yaar, kya movie hai!” (Oh man, what a movie!). This answer of Purav got a funny reaction from Khan, who said, “Highlight hai yaar. Arey yaar, tum log kahan the jab picture release hui thi? Meri band baja ke rakh di thi sabne.” (It’s a highlight, man. Where were you all when the film released? Everyone had completely trashed me back then.)
Farah on Tees Maar Khan
Earlier this year, Farah looked back at the aftermath of the film and admitted that many in Bollywood were happy about its failure. In her YouTube vlog, shot at producer Jackky Bhagnani and his wife, actor Rakul Preet Singh’s house, Farah said, “Tees Maar Khan is a legend with Gen Z. They don’t care for my other films. They think that (Tees Maar Khan) is the one.”
She added, “I remember during Tees Maar Khan’s release, there was literally a celebration in the film industry. People whom I have worked with were like, ‘Abhi aayi na line par.’ In our industry, more than being happy for your success, people are happy for other people’s failure.”
Today, clips from the film are widely shared on social media as meme templates, and for many, it has become an enjoyable watch that delivers laughs purely for its chaotic energy. Katrina Kaif’s chartbuster, Sheila Ki Jawani, was a massive hit then and continues to be a staple at parties and in reels even today.
