Amitabh Bachchan’s 1990 Film Ajooba: Shot in Russia, Made on ₹8 Crore Budget, Crew Carried 650 kg of Dal from India

Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor, best known for his acting legacy, once stepped into the director’s chair for a grand cinematic experiment starring Amitabh Bachchan. The film, titled Ajooba, was released in 1990 and remains one of the most ambitious — and curious — projects of its time.

Made on a reported budget of ₹8 crore, Ajooba was among the most expensive Indian films of the era. Despite its scale, international shoot, and star-studded cast, the film failed to impress Indian audiences and turned out to be a box office flop, earning only about ₹3.5 crore domestically. However, the film found unexpected success in Russia, where it reportedly performed well.

650 kg Dal Taken to Russia for the Shoot

Decades later, the film has returned to public conversation after Kunal Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor’s son, shared fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes in a podcast with Pooja Bhatt. Kunal revealed that the entire Indian crew had carried 650 kilograms of dal from India to Russia during the shoot.

He explained that Indian crew members found Russian food bland and missed home-style meals. As a result, the team decided to carry their own kitchen supplies, including lentils and cooking essentials, to sustain the long outdoor schedule.

A Massive Crew and Costly Logistics

According to Kunal Kapoor, nearly 200 people travelled for the shoot, including technicians and actors. All major actors flew club class and stayed on location for the entire duration of filming, even if their roles required them to shoot for only a few days.

“Some actors had just two days of work, yet stayed in Russia for almost three weeks,” Kunal recalled with laughter, adding that such decisions significantly contributed to the ballooning budget.

Life Beyond the Sets

The extended stay led to colourful personal experiences as well. Kunal shared that many Indian crew members received unexpected attention abroad, forming close bonds during their stay in cities like Yalta. When the shoot finally wrapped up, several farewells were emotional, marked by heartbreak and drama.

A Film Ahead of Its Time?

Ajooba was a lavish fantasy costume drama featuring an ensemble cast including Dimple Kapadia, Rishi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Dara Singh, Amrish Puri, Saeed Jaffrey, and others. The film also marked the debut of Russian actress Ariadna Shengelaya.

While Indian critics dismissed the film for its extravagance and unconventional storytelling, Ajooba has since gained cult curiosity for its scale, ambition, and international collaboration — standing as a reminder of a time when Bollywood dared to dream big, even at great risk.