In January 2000, Mela, starring Aamir Khan and Twinkle Khanna, hit theaters on the 7th—but it quickly became infamous for its disastrous performance at the box office. The film’s failure was so significant that it not only marked the end of Twinkle Khanna’s acting career but also led Aamir Khan to label it as one of the worst films of his career. The film’s lackluster reception ultimately overshadowed Twinkle Khanna’s promising Bollywood debut and impacted her career trajectory.
Twinkle Khanna, daughter of Bollywood icon Rajesh Khanna, entered the film industry following in her father’s footsteps. She debuted in 1995 with the hit film Barsaat, alongside Bobby Deol. The movie was a commercial success, and Twinkle’s early career seemed promising, with several films following, including Jaan opposite Ajay Devgn and Dil Tera Deewana with Saif Ali Khan. However, her films began to underperform at the box office after a few years.
In 1999, she signed on for Mela, a film that would ultimately be her swan song. Despite the film’s high-profile cast and budget, Mela proved to be a massive disappointment. Released in 2000, it was panned by critics and audiences alike, leading to a wave of negative feedback. The backlash was so intense that Twinkle Khanna decided to retire from acting shortly after, effectively ending her time in Bollywood.
Directed by Dharmesh Darshan, Mela was produced with a budget of 18 crore rupees but only managed to gross 29 crore worldwide—barely covering production costs. Despite the star power of Aamir Khan, who was already an established name in the industry, the film’s poor execution and uninspired storytelling led to its commercial failure. Aamir Khan himself has often spoken candidly about Mela, admitting that it stands out as one of the biggest missteps of his career. In a recent interview, he acknowledged, “It was one of the worst films I have done.”
Twinkle Khanna’s exit from Bollywood after Mela was a quiet but definitive one. Today, she is better known for her successful career as an author and interior designer, but Mela remains a key moment in her brief, tumultuous acting journey.
