This Man Sold His House to Make a Film That Beat ‘Sholay’ at the Box Office

In 1981, legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar made one of the most significant sacrifices of his career. Determined to create a film that would make a lasting impact, he sold his bungalow to fund the making of Kranti, a period action drama. Despite the odds stacked against him, the film went on to become a massive success, surpassing even the legendary Sholay at the box office.

Kranti was produced with a hefty budget of Rs 3 crore, but during its production, many investors pulled out. Faced with mounting financial pressures, Manoj Kumar took extreme measures. He sold his Delhi bungalow and even rented out land in Mumbai’s upscale Juhu area, which he had planned to use for building a cinema hall after his retirement. This dream was sacrificed for the making of Kranti, which featured a stellar cast including Dilip Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, and Parveen Babi.

Released in February 1981, Kranti exceeded all expectations, breaking box-office records. The film marked Dilip Kumar’s return to the big screen after a five-year hiatus and quickly became a hit, playing in packed theatres for weeks. It ran for 96 consecutive days with full house shows at one theatre and continued its successful run for over a year. The film grossed Rs 10 crore nett in India and Rs 16 crore worldwide, surpassing Sholay’s record of Rs 15 crore to become the highest-grossing Indian film at the time. Though Disco Dancer later overtook it, Kranti remains one of the biggest hits of its era.