For many years, the Bollywood box office has had an unwritten rule where Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘owned’ the Diwali release, Salman Khan had Eid and Aamir Khan took over Christmas celebrations. For a while now, festivals in India have been marked by the big-ticket film of the reigning superstar. And when it is someone like the Khans who have been around for a few decades now, the occasion is even bigger. But with Vijay Krishna Acharya’s Thugs of Hindostan releasing tomorrow, it seems like Aamir and SRK have exchanged their preferred release dates.
Thugs of Hindostan might be feeling the pressure of matching up to SRK’s stellar Diwali record, and on the other hand, Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero will have to follow suit on Aamir Khan’s Dangal. Before Aamir Khan’s film releases tomorrow, here are some of Bollywood’s biggest Diwali releases yet:
1. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge (1995)
Aditya Chopra’s seminal Bollywood romance was a Diwali release, more than two decades ago. It grossed a reported Rs 53.31 crore, that would amount to an approximate Rs 461.33 crore, if adjusted to inflation.
2. Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997)
Yash Chopra’s film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor earned a reported Rs 34.97 crore, that would amount to an approximate Rs 283.81 crore today, after adjusting for inflation.
3. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Karan Johar’s blockbuster debut also starring (who else but?) Shah Rukh Khan along with Kajol and Rani Mukherjee, earned a reported Rs 46.86 crore. The film’s collection (after adjusting for inflation) would amount to around Rs 342.92 crore.
4. Om Shanti Om (2007)
Shah Rukh Khan has a rebirth in this film by Farah Khan and shook the world with his six pack. And according to the director, if not for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya, the film would have been the first to touch the (then-fabled) 100-crore mark. It earned a reported Rs 78.16 crore, that would amount to Rs 172.85 crore after adjusting for inflation.
5. Krrish 3 (2013)
Rakesh Roshan’s film (not starring Shah Rukh Khan) was the third in the franchise that began with Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut grossed an approximate Rs 175.83 crore, that would amount to an approximate Rs 210 crore after being adjusted to inflation.
6. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)
That odd release date when Salman ‘Bhai’ Khan chose Diwali over Eid, was a gamble that paid off well. The film starring Sonam Kapoor and Salman Khan earned a reported Rs 210 crore, that would amount to about Rs 230 crore in 2018.
7. Golmaal Again (2017)
Rohit Shetty’s film managed to brighten up what seemed like an otherwise dark year for Bollywood. It brought with Diwali festivities an additional cheer of about Rs 206 crore.
8. Secret Superstar (2017)
Aamir Khan’s underdog Diwali release competing with Ajay Devgn’s heavyweight multi-starrer, Golmaal Again, and eventually came out on top. But for a film made for mere Rs 15 crore, the film festive cheer and Zaira Wasim’s strong central performance seemed to help the small film. And once the film reached China, the collections became history.
