This film's failure led Rishi Kapoor to depression, he couldn't face camera for months, Feroz Khan's Qurbani killed his movie, it later became cult classic

IN 1980, Rishi Kapoor collaborated with filmmaker Subhash Ghai in romantic drama Karz. The movie is based on the theme of reincarnation, and it also stars Tina Munim, Raj Kiran, Pran, Premnath, and Simi Grewal in key roles.  

Despite having a chartbuster music from Laxmikant-Pyarelal, an engaging revenge drama, and superlative performances of Rishi, Simi, and Raj Kiran; Karz was a commercial flop. Made in the reported budget of Rs 1.50 crores, the movie grossed only Rs 2.75 crores. The movie was the ninth-highest grossing film of the 1980, and the failure of Karz broke Rishi Kapoor inside out. 

Karz was released in cinemas on June 11, 1980. A week later, Feroz Khan's Qurbani released in cinemas on June 20, 1980. Qurbani wave affected Karz, and it became the major reason why Rishi Kapoor-starrer crashed from the second week itself. 

The late actor, Rishi Kapoor, had great hopes from Karz. However, when the film flopped, he was shattered. Rishi, in his autobiography Khullam Khulla, revealed that Karz's failure made him fall into 'deep depression'. He said, "I lost my nerve, sinking into a deep depression. I would tremble on the sets and feel faint. I’d sink into my chair, go to the makeup room and ask for water. I felt every ounce of confidence drain out of me. Karz had held great promise, I had thought it would do wonders for my career. When that didn’t happen, I was shattered."

Over the years, Karz found its reputation, and gained the status of cult classic. Decades later, Karz was also remade with Himesh Reshamiya as Karzzz (2008). However, it was a bigger box office disaster than the original.