Bollywood’s obsession with festive releases is nothing new. Some of the most anticipated films release during Diwali and go on to mint huge moolah at the box office. Filmmakers even call dips on Diwali release dates months and even a year in advance. The box office collections of festive releases usually become the biggest grosser of the year. From Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om to Happy New Year to Akshay Kumar’s Housefull 4 and Sooryavanshi, here is a list of some of the biggest Bollywood releases during the Festival of Lights over the years.
Om Shanti Om
Shah Rukh Khan’s and Deepika Padukone’s Om Shanti Om was released in 2007 during Diwali weekend and went on to become the highest grossing film of the year. It earned Rs 215 crore worldwide and received positive reviews from the critics as well as lapped up all the awards at film award ceremonies.
Krrish 3
Hrithik Roshan’s Krrish 3 released in 2013 and set new benchmarks at the box office. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and Vivek Oberoi. The film grossed Rs 3.93 billion (US$50 million) worldwide.
Happy New Year
Shah Rukh Khan once again teamed up with Deepika Padukone and Farah Khan for Happy New Year that was released in 2014 during Diwali. The film became the second highest grossing Bollywood film of 2014 and among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time with Rs 408 crore worldwide.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
Salman Khan teamed up with Sonam Kapoor for Sooraj Barjatya’s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo that was released in 2015. The film also starred Neil Nitin Mukesh and Swara Bhasker. With earnings of Rs 3.88 billion (US$52 million) worldwide, the film emerged as a commercial success as well as the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2015 and one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Anushka Sharma’s and Ranbir Kapoor starrer Ae Dil Hai Mushkil directed by Karan Johar also proved to be a big draw on Diwali when it released in 2016. It had cameos by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. It went on to gross Rs 237.56 crore at the box office.
Golmaal Again
When we talk about big box office blockbusters how can we forget Rohit Shetty’s films. His Golmaal Again starring an ensemble cast of Tabu, Ajay Devgn, Parineeti Chopra, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Kunal Khemu released in 2017 and went on to collect Rs 205 crores at the box office domestically.
Housefull 4
Akshay Kumar’s madcap reincarnation comedy Housefull 4 released during Diwali in 2019 and went on to do a whopping business at the box office. It earned Rs 280.27 crores and became one of the biggest Diwali releases of the year.
Sooryavanshi
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Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif’s Sooryavanshi is all set to release on November 5, 2021, during Diwali weekend. The film is an extension of Rohit Shetty’s cop universe and is the most anticipated films of the year. Sooryavanshi is already touted to be a blockbuster hit and is expected to rake in moolah at the box office.
