Box Office: 2 Films & 0% Success Ratio – Kamal Haasan Fails To Get It Right With Sequels?

Kamal Haasan, the legendary figure in Indian cinema, made a historic event at the box office with Vikram (2022). The film, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, was a huge blockbuster and also the grand comeback of Kamal Haasan to commercial films. After that crowning achievement though, Kamal appears to be floundering a bit – particularly in the area of sequels.

From ‘Vikram’ High to ‘Indian 2’ Disaster

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Note: The thunderous applause that greeted Vikram meant that the bar was set high as Indian 2 was the much-anticipated sequel to the 1996 cult classic Indian. But when Indian 2 released lastly, it gained mixed reviews and bombed at the box office. Though the movie was carrying a good anti-corruption message and the Senapathy character was back, the movie failed to resonate with the audience as compared to the original.

Indian 2 struggled due to:

Outdated storytelling
Lack of emotional depth
Weak screenplay despite strong visuals

Result? A major blow to Kamal Haasan’s success streak.

Then Came ‘Thug Life’… And It Tanked!

Kamal next major movie was to be another game-changer, ‘Thug Life’. Directed by Mani Ratnam, the movie had a star cast, a glossy look and great expectations. However, sadly enough, it did not manage to meet the hype and proved to be another fiasco, both in critical and commercial terms.

Back-to-back flops after Vikram have now raised a serious concern — is Kamal struggling with sequels and comeback vehicles?

Kamal Haasan & Sequels – A 0% Success Rate?

Let’s take a look at Kamal Haasan’s sequels in recent times:

Vishwaroopam II (2018) – FLOP
Indian 2 (2024) – FLOP
Thug Life (2025) – FLOP (technically not a sequel, but expected to be a brand relaunch)

While Vishwaroopam (2013) was a decent hit, its sequel failed miserably. Similarly, Indian 2 couldn’t match the impact of the original. And Thug Life, despite being a fresh concept, was expected to continue the ‘big comeback’ momentum but ended up being another misfire.

That makes it 2 big franchise films and 0 box office hits after Vikram. Not a good sign for someone of Kamal’s stature.

What’s Going Wrong?

Some possible reasons why Kamal’s sequels aren’t working:

Overambitious storytelling that lacks grounding
Outdated narratives not resonating with younger audiences
Poor pacing and editing
Fans feel nostalgia is not enough to make a film successful today

what Worked for ‘Vikram’?

Let’s not forget that Vikram succeeded not just because of Kamal Haasan, but due to:

Strong direction by Lokesh Kanagaraj
Modern action storytelling
Collaboration with younger stars like Fahadh Faasil and Vijay Sethupathi
A powerful cinematic universe feel (Lokesh Cinematic Universe)

This fresh approach gave a new-age twist to Kamal’s charisma, something that sequels like Indian 2 and Vishwaroopam II lacked.

Kamal’s Legacy Intact, But the Path Ahead Is Tricky

While Kamal Haasan remains one of India’s finest actors, these recent failures pose a serious question about his film choices, especially in the sequel and big-banner segment.

Is he depending too much on past glory? Or is the industry not supporting fresh narratives for legends like him?

Final Words

Despite the failures of Indian 2 and Thug Life, Kamal’s fanbase remains strong. But with two major box office disappointments, the next film could decide his commercial future. It’s time Kamal reinvents his cinematic strategy — just like he did with Vikram.

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🔔 Let’s hope Kamal Haasan bounces back soon — not with nostalgia, but with something bold, fresh, and unforgettable.