FILM · 2015 · INDIA
Bombay Velvet
33 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (33)
- #001
The film was originally planned as a trilogy in 2009, with Danny Boyle set to produce. The first part, set in the 1960s, was to star John Abraham (the role later played by Ranbir Kapoor). The second part, set in the 1970s, would have featured Aamir Khan, and the final part, set in the 1980s, would have starred Shah Rukh Khan. When Danny Boyle left the project, Anurag decided to scrap the second and third parts.
- #002
1960s Bombay was recreated in Sri Lanka, where a large portion of the film was shot.
- #003
Karan Johar, who plays the villain in the film, asked for a fee of only 11 rupees.
- #004
When Anurag wrote the script in 2006, he wanted Saif Ali Khan for the part. He later tried to approach Aamir Khan. In the end he settled on Ranveer Singh, but could not get the 60 crore he wanted from his producers.
- #005
The opening trumpet music heard at the start of the trailer is taken from the title music of Feroz Khan's Kurban; this instrumental piece was used in Kurban's title sequence.
- #006
Thelma Schoonmaker is one of the film's editors. She has won three Oscars for her work on Martin Scorsese's films.
- #007
The role of the main villain, Kaizad Khambhata, was first offered to Naseeruddin Shah before Karan Johar.
- #008
Before Ranbir, the role of Johnny Balraj had been offered to Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan.
- #009
The film is based on the historian Gyan Prakash's book Mumbai Fables.
- #010
The film's budget was 90 crore.
- #011
The film was released worldwide on 15 May 2015 across 2,600 screens.
- #012
It is Anurag Kashyap's most expensive film.
- #013
The film suffered a major collapse at the box office and did not even recover half of its money.
- #014
Anurag Kashyap worked for the first time with major stars such as Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma.
- #015
A minor error: all the actors are seen smoking Classic Mild cigarettes, a brand that did not exist in the 1960s.
- #016
It is Ranbir Kapoor's second on-screen death after Barfi! (2012).
- #017
Director Anurag Kashyap was unsure whether Ranbir Kapoor would take the film, since Anurag's brother Abhinav Kashyap's Besharam, which starred Ranbir Kapoor, had flopped and they had been heavily criticised over Ranbir's lead role. Ranbir, however, insisted to Anurag on taking the lead in Bombay Velvet.
- #018
Principal photography began in mid-July 2013 and continued until early September 2013. The first schedule was shot at the Ranmihitenna Mahinda Rajapaksa National Tele Cinema Park in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Filming also took place in Colombo, Galle and Pasikudah. The second schedule was also at the Mahinda Rajapaksa National Tele Cinema Park in Sri Lanka, where Sharma and Kapoor rejoined the shoot in February; the second schedule was completed in March. Part of the film's set was left at the National Tele Cinema Park rather than dismantled, as it was to be used for tourism. The third and final schedule was in Mumbai, where filming took place over ten days.
- #019
The film opened with occupancy rates ranging between 10 percent and 20 percent on its first day, as box office takings fell.
- #020
Raveena Tandon plays a jazz singer in the film, which she left midway through production, and her character was made to appear only as a cameo.
- #021
This was Karan Johar's second film as an actor after 20 years, following Dilwale Dhulaniya Le Jayenge (1995), in which he played Shahrukh Khan's friend.
- #022
This is the biggest box-office bomb in the Indian film industry.
- #023
This marks Karan Johar's first appearance as an actor/villain in a film. He had previously appeared as a guest actor in many films. He is originally a director and has produced many hit films.
- #024
Johnny Balraj's moustache is inspired by Ranbir's grandfather, Mr. Raj Kapoor.
- #025
Raveena Tandon left the film because her role in it was almost too short, and after changes to the sequence she decided to quit the film.
- #026
Raveena Tandon had a cameo appearance in the film.
- #027
The look of Ranbir Kapoor's character 'Johny Balraj' was inspired by Robert De Niro's look in 'Raging Bull', in which De Niro's character also plays a boxer.
- #028
Anushka Sharma's jazz singer character was inspired by Lorna Corderio, the Goan Nightingale, who has many Konkani hits.
- #029
The film's trailer was aired during the 2015 World Cup on Star Sports 3 studio, during the quarter-final match between India and Bangladesh, with Ranbir Kapoor in attendance.
- #030
The film faced major losses, as it could not recover even half of its money due to a weak script.
- #031
It is based on historian Gyan Prakash's book Mumbai Fables.
- #032
The film was released in cinemas in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
- #033
Anurag Kashyap wanted Ranveer Singh to play the lead role. However, no one was ready to put money on the new actor, who had not yet reached stardom.
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