Bollywood to Hollywood: Star-studded crossovers that didn't click

Aishwarya Rai was already a global icon when she landed the role of Sonia in The Pink Panther Fans were thrilled to see her sharing screen space with Steve Martin, expecting a glamorous and impactful role. However, her part turned out to be underwhelming and forgettable. The film failed to impress at the box office and was panned by critics. Instead of launching Aishwarya as a Hollywood regular, it became just another blip in her illustrious career.

When Amitabh Bachchan was cast in The Great Gatsby, fans expected a powerful crossover moment. But Big B’s role as Meyer Wolfsheim, though pivotal, lasted just a few minutes. His performance was solid, but the cameo-sized appearance left audiences wanting more. It was a prestigious project, no doubt, but didn’t do justice to his stature.

Anil Kapoor’s entry into the Mission: Impossible franchise seemed like a big win for Bollywood. However, his role as an eccentric, womanizing Indian billionaire was poorly written and borderline cringey. He barely had any screen time, and his character added little value to the story. For a seasoned actor like Kapoor, the role felt more like a gimmick than a global breakthrough.

Mallika tried hard to go international, first with Jackie Chan’s The Myth and later with Hisss, a film aimed at global audiences. Unfortunately, neither movie did well. Her role in The Myth was brief and forgettable, while Hisss was a critical disaster, despite being heavily promoted. The crossover didn’t quite take off, and her Hollywood ambitions quietly faded out.

Irrfan Khan had far more success in Hollywood than most of his peers, starring in hits like Life of Pi and Jurassic World. However, his role in Inferno was a misstep. Cast alongside Tom Hanks in the Dan Brown thriller, Irrfan played the head of a secret organisation. While he brought his usual charm, the film flopped, and his character felt underutilized in an otherwise convoluted plot.

When Priyanka Chopra landed the villain’s role in Baywatch, opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron, expectations were sky-high. It was her first major Hollywood film after her successful TV stint in Quantico. But the film turned out to be a mess. Despite Priyanka’s sizzling presence, Baywatch flopped both commercially and critically. Her role was flashy but paper-thin, and the weak storyline didn’t help her make a lasting impression in mainstream Hollywood cinema.