The Lady Killer (2023 film)

The Lady Killer is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film directed by Ajay Bahl. The film stars Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar. It was released in theatres on 3 November 2023.

Upon release, the film was critically panned and grossed a measly ₹38,000 on its first day having sold just 293 tickets across India, making it the biggest box office bomb in Indian cinema. It is also said to have been released incomplete with several editing cuts and voiceovers.

Plot
Rajender Joshi runs a pharmacy in Nainital. Due to slumps in his life; he looks for a new frontier and has aspirations of opening his own diagnostic centre in the city. He is also in an affair with a married women Gajra. Dismayed when his loans keep on getting disapproved by the bank as he is a defaulter, a cop friend Rawat advises him to visit Vikram Burman also known as Maharaj; a former prince who is currently bedridden and is supplied oxygen tanks by Rajender.

There he meets Jansey who is Burman's daughter and starts a relationship with her. Upon finding out that Vikram sexually assaults Jansey, both decide to murder Vikram.

Cast

 * Arjun Kapoor as Rajendar Joshi
 * Bhumi Pednekar as Jansey Burman
 * Priyanka Bose as Gajra
 * S. M. Zaheer as Vikram Burman, Jansey's father
 * Ekavali Khanna as Madhuri
 * Denzil Smith as Dr. Khurana
 * Deepak Tokas as Rawat

Production
Principal photography commenced in April 2022. Some reports suggested that the film got over-budget and has been out on hold for reshoots, but producer Shaailesh R Singh debunked it and said that it is on track. The filming wrapped in July 2023.

Release
The film was released on 3rd November 2023 with only 12 shows nationwide. The movie is said to have been released incomplete due to: a cost-overrun, rains in Uttarakhand and a lack of reshoots. With the production team resorting to several editing cuts and voiceovers.

It is set to have an OTT release on Netflix.

Box office
The film on its first day grossed a measly ₹38,000 having sold just 293 tickets nationwide, making it one of the biggest box office bombs of Indian cinema.

Critical response
Upon release, the film was critically panned due to lack of shows and a haste editing. Bollywood Hungama rated the film 2/5 stars, criticising the screenplay of the second half with gaps and unexplained sequences in the narrative. However the performance of Bhumi Pednekar, Priyanka Bose and Arjun Kapoor are praised along with the background score by Ketan Sodha and cinematography by Anuj Dhavan.