The Diwali buzz is everywhere, and Bollywood joins in with full energy. Every year, filmmakers chase the festive spotlight, hoping to grab your attention with big box office releases.
You’d think Diwali is Bollywood’s biggest money-making season, but numbers tell a different story. Over the last decade, Diwali has produced only a handful of real blockbusters, and half of those belong to big franchises.
The lineup includes Happy New Year (2014), Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shivaay (2016), Golmaal Again and Secret Superstar (2017), Thugs of Hindostan (2018), Housefull 4 (2019), Laxmii, Ludo and Chhalaang (2020), Sooryavanshi (2021), Ram Setu (2022), Tiger 3 (2023), and Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024).
Out of these, only Happy New Year, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Golmaal Again, Housefull 4, Sooryavanshi, and Tiger 3 became successful. The rest barely made a mark.
Compare that with Christmas, and the contrast is clear. From PK in 2014 to Dunki in 2023, almost every year had at least one major hit, except Baby John in 2024. The holiday spirit clearly works better for Bollywood.
Eid, powered mostly by Salman Khan, tells a similar story. Films like Kick, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Sultan, and Bharat brought strong numbers. Others like Race 3, Radhe, and Heropanti 2 couldn’t match up.
So, despite the hype, Diwali isn’t Bollywood’s lucky charm. Eid and Christmas have delivered more consistent blockbusters. This year, everyone’s watching to see if the new Diwali releases can change that record.
