Bollywood films usually do huge business when it releases during some festivals. National Holidays, Eid, Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas usually spell box office gold for films released on these occasions. Out of these, Diwali has always proved to be a blockbuster and most films with leading superstars are released on the festival. Over the years we have seen Diwali as the favourite spot of Shah Rukh Khan with films like Om Shanti Om, Ra.One, Veer-Zaara, Don and Jab Tak Hai Jaan, all arriving on this festive weekend.
This year Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan starrer Thugs of Hindostan is slated to release and even before its release, it is already touted to be a blockbuster with the advance bookings and the allure of seeing Amitabh and Aamir together for the first time. However, before the actual box office verdict arrives for this much-awaited film, here’s a look at the box office collections of some of the films of recent years which made them no less a pataakha.
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Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan in Thugs of Hindostan[/caption]
Secret Superstar (2017)
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Secret Superstar[/caption]
Aamir who has always been partial to the Christmas weekend seems to have shifted his preference for the Festival of Lights. Last year, his home production starring Zaira Wasim in the lead was released on October 19, the day of Diwali. The film fetched Rs 63.40 crore at the box office but was a stupendous hit in China where it garnered a cool Rs 750 crore releasing four months later.
Golmaal Again (2017)
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Golmaal Again[/caption]
Rohit Shetty also is partial to Diwali as most of his films release during the festival. The fourth film in his Golmaal franchise was released in 2017 giving a tough fight to Secret Superstar. The film had Ajay Devgn in the lead and fetched a whopping Rs 205.69 crore.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)
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Ae Dil Hai Mushkil[/caption]
Karan Johar’s last directorial which featured Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in the lead was enough to get the audience swarming to the theatres. The film opened to Rs 13.30 crore on its first day and had a total of Rs 112.48 crore at the box office.
Shivaay (2016)
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Shivaay[/caption]
Ajay Devgn’s directorial Shivaay also released during Diwali and gave a fight to Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. However, it did not do much at the box office but still managed to cash in on the festive cheer and raked in Rs 100.33 crore.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)
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Prem ratan Dhan Payo[/caption]
Salman Khan gave his favourite festival Eid a miss to release his family drama on Diwali, probably because it was a Sooraj Barjatya venture. He also reunited with the producer-director after 16 years. The film made a lifetime collection of Rs 210.16 crore at the box office.
Happy New Year (2014)
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Happy New Year[/caption]
Shah Rukh Khan made sure that 2014’s Diwali was his year. His film Happy New Year starring Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood and Boman Irani released on the festival. The film fetched a cool Rs 203 crore as its lifetime business.
Krrish 3 (2013)
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Krrish 3[/caption]
Hrithik Roshan starrer Krrish 3 released two days prior to Diwali and had its target audience as young kids. The superhero film collected Rs 244.92 crore as its lifetime business.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)
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Jab Tak Hai Jaan[/caption]
Yash Chopra’s last directorial Jab Tak Hai Jaan reserved the Diwali weekend in 2012. The film brought Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif for the first time together. Although the film received mixed reviews it still earned Rs 101.59 crore at the box office.
Son of Sardaar (2012)
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Son of Sardaar[/caption]
Ajay Devgn’s film that also had Sonakshi Sinha and Juhi Chawla in the lead was also released during Diwali in 2012. There was an ugly spat between Yash Raj Films and Ajay’s production house as Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son of Sardaar clashed at the box office. Ajay’s film proved a hit and raked in Rs 163 crore worldwide.
Ra.One (2011)
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Ra.One[/caption]
Shah Rukh’s ambitious sci-fi film Ra.One was released in 2011 during Diwali. The film made at a budget of Rs 150 crore was one of the costliest films at that time. The film made only Rs 113.94 crore at the box office in India but made Rs 221 crore worldwide.
