As Diwali approaches, movie enthusiasts are gearing up for a box office clash between Ajay Devgn’s Singham Again and Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Both films are slated for release during the festive period, promising fireworks at the box office. But before these two major releases hit the screens, let’s take a look back at how Bollywood films released during Diwali in the last five years have fared.
Diwali 2023: Tiger 3 Roars Loudly
In 2023, the Diwali box office belonged to Salman Khan. His film Tiger 3, co-starring Katrina Kaif, took over the holiday season, making it a memorable Diwali for fans of the YRF franchise. Directed by Maneesh Sharma, Tiger 3 emerged as the biggest Diwali hit in recent years, collecting a massive ₹336 crore in India and ₹466.63 crore globally. Salman’s spy thriller proved that the Tiger franchise still has a lot of firepower left.
Diwali 2022: Disappointing Outcomes for Ram Setu and Thank God
The 2022 Diwali period saw two releases, both of which underperformed. Akshay Kumar’s Ram Setu, a film based on the mythological and historical significance of the Ram Setu bridge, was highly anticipated but fell flat at the box office. Despite a production budget of ₹150 crore, the film managed to earn only ₹92.94 crore, marking a significant disappointment for both the makers and fans.
Ajay Devgn’s Thank God, released in the same period, faced a similar fate. With a budget of ₹63 crore, it grossed only ₹31.25 crore, making it a box office flop. Both films failed to capitalize on the festive mood, leaving the Diwali box office relatively dull in 2022.
Diwali 2021: Sooryavanshi Rescues Bollywood Post-Pandemic
In 2021, after a year of pandemic-induced closures, Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi brought back the festive cheer. Starring Akshay Kumar as part of Shetty’s cop universe, the film had a budget of ₹160 crore and raked in a respectable ₹294.91 crore worldwide. While not a blockbuster, Sooryavanshi marked a significant moment for Bollywood, as it helped revive cinema attendance post-lockdown.
Diwali 2019: A Mixed Bag with Housefull 4 and Saand Ki Aankh
Diwali 2019 saw two distinct releases: Housefull 4, a comedy helmed by Akshay Kumar, and Saand Ki Aankh, a biopic starring Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar.
Housefull 4 continued the successful comedy franchise’s run at the box office, collecting ₹280.27 crore. The film, with its star-studded cast and slapstick humor, was a crowd-pleaser. On the other hand, Saand Ki Aankh, despite its critical acclaim and strong performances, managed to earn only ₹30.7 crore, marking it as a financial underperformer.
As the stage is set for another big Diwali clash in 2024 between Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, it will be interesting to see how these films perform compared to their predecessors. Diwali has always been a crucial period for Bollywood, offering filmmakers a golden opportunity to release their biggest projects. Time will tell if Ajay Devgn and Kartik Aaryan can light up the screens or if the festive season will bring surprises yet again.
