In Bollywood, where titles often set the tone for a film’s success, Qarz (Debt) has earned a reputation as the most cursed name in cinema history. Over the years, every movie with this title has done justice to its name—leaving producers drowning in financial debt.
The streak of misfortune began with Subhash Ghai’s 1980 disaster Qarz, starring Rishi Kapoor. Despite its promising cast, it was eclipsed by the blockbuster Qurbani. Things didn’t improve with the 2008 remake featuring Himesh Reshammiya and Urmila Matondkar, which made just ₹16 crore on a ₹24 crore budget. Even Reshammiya’s musical prowess couldn’t save this sinking ship.
The cursed list doesn’t stop there: Qarz Tere Khoon Ka (1988), Doodh Ka Qarz (1990), Pyaar Ka Qarz (1990), Qarz Chukana Hai (1991), Mahan Qarz (1991), and Doodh Ka Qarz (2016) all fell flat at the box office. Incredibly, six of these films couldn’t even touch ₹5 crore in collections.
The 2008 Qarz remake even marked the end of Urmila Matondkar’s Bollywood career, forcing her to transition to reality TV as a judge—a career pivot few would have predicted.
By now, Bollywood producers should have learned one thing: some titles come with more strings attached than a bank loan. It’s best to leave Qarz unpaid—at least in the title credits!
