This film was once mocked, labelled cheap and even banned, today it’s hailed as a cult classic, film was.., lead actor was…

In the unpredictable world of Bollywood, the secret ingredient of a successful film is still unknown. While some films are declared flop at the box office, others turn out to be blockbusters. But there are only a few films that are both mocked and worshipped. One such example of this is a film that was released in the year 1998, called Gunda. Initially, when the film came out, people mocked it and called it cheap and crass, it was also banned for vulgarity. Yet years later, it is celebrated as a cult classic by the internet generation.

A Film Too Bad to Be Ignored

Released on 4 September 1998, Gunda was meant to be an action entertainer. It featured impeccable actors like Mithun Chakraborty, Mukesh Rishi, Shakti Kapoor, and a host of supporting actors. From its dialogues, exaggerated performances, and poetic one-liners, the film turned into an unintentional comedy gold. Its over-the-top villains, strange rhymes, and bizarre logic made it the kind of movie people couldn’t stop watching.

Banned, Mocked… and Then Re-released

When Gunda reached the Censor Board, the makers were asked to do 40 cuts for its excessive violence and obscenity. Kanti Shah agreed but later released the original version in theatres.  This led to outrage from college students and parents, which caused it to be temporarily banned, but later the film was re-released due to growing curiosity. What was once called “trash cinema” slowly became a pop-culture marvel.

Part of Meme Culture

Soon after the digitalisation evolved in the 2000s, Gunda found new life online. Engineering students discovered its unintentional humor, sharing dialogues like “Mera naam hai Bulla, main hamesha khulla rakhta hoon!”
and “Mera naam hai Chutiya, achhe-acchon ki main khatiya khadi karta hoon!”. These funny dialogues soon became a part of memes, even before it was a thing. Today, the film holds a surprising IMDb rating of 7.3, proving that this film has aged like fine wine.

Even the Actors Were Shocked

Mukesh Rishi, who played the iconic villain Bulla, once admitted he regretted signing the film initially, saying he didn’t even get a script, “Bas ek line suna dete the, set par hi dialogues likhe jaate the.” Years later, he now laughs about it, proud that the same role makes him relevant even today because of the meme history.

Story Highlights

  1. Gunda was released in 1998, directed by Kanti Shah, starring Mithun Chakraborty.
  2. The film was banned after protests for vulgarity, but later re-released.
  3. Iconic dialogues turned it into a cult internet sensation in the 2000s.
  4. Once ridiculed, it now enjoys a 7.3 IMDb rating and legendary status among meme lovers.

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