Jaanwar (1999)
Before Hera Pheri and Dhadkan reinvented Akshay Kumar, he had Jaanwar in 1999 which gave him an elusive hit after so many flops.
Jaanwar had those elements which were missing from most of his films for the past few years- very good music (all the songs were chartbuster and perhaps one of the best albums of Akshay Kumar- Mausam ki Tarah badal to na Jaoge, Mera Yaar Dildar, Mere Sapno ke Rajkumar, Kasam se etc), emotional core (father son relation and mother son relation shown in the second half are highlights of the film). Akshay Kumar had a different look in the second half and he made efforts in distinguishing his character from run of mill action films. And lastly we had Karishma Kapoor in her prime belting out all the major hits of 1999- Hum Saath Saath hai, Biwi no 1, Haseena Maan Jayegi and then Jaanwar. Her presence greatly helped the film.
Akshay Kumar was down with self doubt because of continuous failures so the producers decide to promote him with big banners and posters showing him prominently. This success gave him the confidence and long rope required to make the comeback till Hera Pheri and Dhadkan happened in 2000. Jaanwar was particularly successful in the interiors doing record business in Bihar.