The Diwali season is often seen as a golden opportunity for film releases, but history shows that timing alone doesn’t guarantee success. Looking back over the last decade, only a few Diwali releases have truly lived up to the hype.
This year’s festive lineup features Thamma from Maddock Films, starring Rashmika Mandanna and Ayushmann Khurrana, and Ek Dewaane Ki Deewaniyat (EDKD) starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa. Both films aim to capture the Diwali audience and box office attention.
While Thamma carries strong expectations, trade experts believe that its place in Maddock’s Horror Cinematic Universe (MHCU) gives it an advantage. The horror-comedy space remains popular with audiences since the massive success of Stree.
Ek Dewaane Ki Deewaniyat, however, faces a tougher challenge. It clashes directly with the MHCU franchise and stars relatively newer faces. Yet, fans see this as an important return for Harshvardhan, whose last Bollywood hit was Sanam Teri Kasam in 2016.
Despite both films showing promise, past Diwali releases tell a mixed story. Only a few, such as Happy New Year (2014), Golmaal Again (2017), Housefull 4 (2019), and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024), truly dominated the festive box office.
Others like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), Secret Superstar (2017), Sooryavanshi (2021), and Singham Again (2024) managed decent collections but fell short of blockbuster status.
Several big Diwali releases, including Shivaay (2016), Thugs of Hindostan (2018), Made In China (2019), and Tiger 3 (2023), performed poorly despite the festive advantage. For every hit, there have been multiple underwhelming results.
Industry observers say that while a Diwali release offers visibility, it doesn’t automatically translate into box office success. For Thamma and EDKD to stand out, they’ll need strong content, not just a lucky release date.
