Four Films, One Name in 33 Years: Three Blockbusters and a Controversial Flop

In Bollywood, few film titles have stood the test of time like “Don.” Over the past 33 years, four movies have been made with this iconic name. While three became superhits, one drew criticism and laughter for showing the Indian flag upside down.

The original “Don” (1978), starring Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman, is still remembered fondly. Directed by Chandra Barot and produced by the late N. E. Irani, the film was made on a modest budget of ₹25 lakh but earned around ₹7 crore worldwide, becoming a landmark in Bollywood history.

The legacy continued in 2006 when Farhan Akhtar remade the film with a modern twist. Featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Isha Koppikar, the movie retained the essence of the original while appealing to contemporary audiences. Originally written with Hrithik Roshan in mind, the director later chose Shah Rukh Khan for the lead role. Made on a ₹38 crore budget, the film grossed over ₹100 crore at the box office.

The success story didn’t end there. In 2012, “Don 2” hit theaters, again directed by Farhan Akhtar and starring Shah Rukh Khan alongside Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Kunal Kapoor, Lara Dutta, and Om Puri. With a budget of ₹76 crore, the film went on to earn more than ₹200 crore worldwide, setting the stage for a potential “Don 3” featuring Ranveer Singh.

However, not all films with this title fared well. Mithun Chakraborty’s “The Don” (1995) was a flop. Shot in Ooty and directed by Farook Siddiqui, the film starred Mithun Chakraborty, Sonali Bendre, Jugal Hansraj, Asif Sheikh, Prem Chopra, Kader Khan, and Sadashiv Amrapurkar. Despite a budget of ₹2 crore, it earned just around ₹5 crore globally. The movie also courted controversy when the Indian national flag was displayed upside down in one scene, drawing public outrage.

Thus, in 33 years, the name “Don” has seen triumphs, a blockbuster sequel, and one notable misstep—proving its lasting impact and cultural significance in Indian cinema.