Ratan Tata Once Produced a Bollywood Film Starring Amitabh Bachchan

Ratan Tata, the titan of Indian industry, passed away on Wednesday, October 9, at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after a prolonged illness. While many know him as a successful industrialist, few are aware of his venture into Bollywood film production.

The 86-year-old Ratan Tata was an avid film enthusiast. In 2004, he co-produced a romantic psychological thriller titled Aetbaar. Directed by Vikram Bhatt, the film starred Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham, and Bipasha Basu.

Ratan Tata co-produced the movie alongside Jatin Kumar. Aetbaar was inspired by the 1996 Hollywood film Fear and was produced under the Tata BSS banner. The movie delved into themes of obsession and family relationships, portraying the darker side of romantic obsession.

Despite its promising cast and pre-release buzz, Aetbaar struggled at the box office, grossing only ₹7.96 crore against its production budget of ₹9.50 crore. This film remains the only one ever produced by Ratan Tata.

Critics were also unimpressed, with many pointing to the clichéd dialogue and overused themes as reasons for its failure.

The news of Ratan Tata’s death has sent shockwaves across the business world. Political leaders, business figures, and personalities from around the globe have offered their condolences.

He will be accorded a state funeral by the Maharashtra government, and as per Parsi traditions, his last rites will be conducted in accordance with the community’s rituals.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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