Despite megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan putting their might behind the project, this year's Diwali offering — Thugs Of Hindostan — has turned out to be a box office washout. The magnum opus that was reportedly mounted on a budget of over Rs 300 crore, has managed to collect Rs 145 crore over its 11-day run at theatres since its November 8 release. Since Yash Raj Films (YRF) distributed the film on a commission basis, it is the exhibitors that are staring at serious losses. Having lost more than 50 per cent of their investment in the project, the exhibitors, we hear, are considering approaching the studio for compensation.

An exhibitor, on the condition of anonymity, says, "As is the practice with YRF, the studio had taken on the distribution responsibilities. The exhibitors agreed to the minimum-guarantee deal as they expected handsome profits from the big-budget film, but the tables have turned. So, we are planning to approach the sub-distributors [YRF] to get a refund. We hope YRF, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan will help us in this situation, else there is a possibility of a few theatres having to even shut down."