Boney Kapoor was very upset and shocked by the Maidaan film’s poor box office performance.
I was very upset and shocked by how Maidaan performed at the box office. We had a lot of positive feedback during the screenings, and everyone seemed to appreciate the film, but the audience turnout just wasn’t there. That really surprised me.
The film was delayed for so long due to COVID‑19. We couldn’t shoot, there were lockdowns, and then a cyclone destroyed our stadium set, which added to the problems. We had to spend a lot more money than planned, following safety protocols, providing medical staff, and even on things like food and bottled water. The costs kept piling up.
Honestly, I lost money on this film. We spent over ₹200 crore, but the returns were nowhere near that. I even had to borrow money to pay some vendors after the release.
I keep wondering why, despite early praise, the film didn’t reach the audience. Maybe the marketing wasn’t strong enough, or the long delay made people lose interest. It’s something I wish I had understood better.
Despite all this, I’m proud of the film. Ajay Devgn’s performance was outstanding, and the entire team put in a lot of effort to make it realistic and powerful. I believe Maidaan will be remembered and appreciated over time, even if it didn’t succeed commercially right now.