Ratan Tata, the visionary behind the Tata Group, ventured into numerous sectors, from steel and aviation to food. However, the realm of Indian cinema remained untouched by his expansive business empire until a project with Amitabh Bachchan came along.
This film, which starred Amitabh Bachchan alongside John Abraham and Bipasha Basu, was inspired by the 1996 Hollywood thriller Fear. It aimed to explore themes of obsession and complex familial relationships. Despite the star-studded cast, Aetbaar failed to make an impact at the box office. With a production budget of ₹9.5 crore, the film garnered less than ₹5 crore in its opening week, concluding its run with a worldwide total of ₹8 crore, resulting in financial losses for Tata.
Critics were equally unimpressed, citing weak dialogues and cliched themes.