Flop-weary distributors have refused to touch films that are complete or in advanced stages of production. Of 118 films which have been wrapped up, 22 films have no takers, while others have been sold in only two or three out of seven major territories in India, excluding the overseas market. And of 218 films which are nearing completion, a whopping 83 may be consigned to the cans. (see visual)

The reigning Khan troika - Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir, Govinda and Anil Kapoor are the only actors who can rake in the moolah at the box-office, said Surinder Kapoor, president of the Film Producers Guild of India. All these stars have been bagged by producers whose own track records ensure that their venturessell.

But the stars of big names like Mithun Chakraborty, Jackie Shroff and even Sunjay Dutt seem to be on the ascendant. Mithun starrers like Aaj Ka Ravan, Duniya Meri Jeb Mein, Hiralal Pannalal, Jai Bolo Be-Iman Ki, Jung Ke Elan and Meri Adalat which are in advanced stages of production have no buyers. Nor do Adhikar, with Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, Suman Ranganathan and Mukul Dev or Baaghi, starring Sanjay Dutt, Aditya Pancholi, Inder Kumar and Raj Babbar. Another Dutt starrer Chakra is also waiting for a distributor, as is Gehrai, starring Sunil Shetty, Raveena Tandon and Naseeruddin Shah. Even the clout of music biggie Super Cassettes has not ensured it buyers for its Papa The Great, starring Shatrughan Sinha, Kishan Kumar, Nagma, Laxmikant Berde and Satish Kaushik.

These films have together blocked a massive Rs 66 crores of investment. Sources even say 25 to 50 per cent of the films may not be completed at all.Distributors are fighting shy ofpicking up films because 90 per cent of the releases turn out to be turkeys at the box office, pointed out N N Sippy, president of the Indian Motion Picture Distributors Association. Rising production costs are having to compete with large scale cable piracy, which is costing producers dear. Result: distributors refuse to touch a producer with a `flop' tag.

``When distributors start losing money in films, more so when the risk is so high, they obviously cannot afford to venture into buying new films.

Previously, distributors could scrape through even if a film did average business, but these days, the odds are higher,'' said prominent distributor Ramesh Sippy.

Distributors are also unable to collect money from exhibitors as they used to in the past as they are increasingly unable to absorb flops. ``The situation is so bad that of the 200 films on the floor, I would be happy if even 40 of them get completed,'' added Kapoor.