PremiumAkshay Kumar’s Ram Setu and Salman Khan’s Jaan-E-Mann to Ranbir Kapoor’s Saawariya: Big Bollywood Diwali releases that failed at the box office
With Salman Khan's Tiger 3 just around the corner, here's a look at major Diwali releases that were box office debacles
Last Updated: 01.40 PM, Nov 07, 2023
Seems like 2023 ran two times faster on our calendars, and we are now already in the last leg of the year celebrating the most vibrant festival of them all, Diwali. While the country is gearing up for celebrating the festival of lights, the Diwali euphoria has also found its place in Bollywood. After what seemed like a century, the vibe of the collective viewing experience without any fear is back, and Salman Khan is gearing up to welcome us in with Tiger 3.
But the Hindi film industry has had a very interesting trajectory with the festival, and over the years, we have seen massive movie stars, including Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and more, try their luck in this significant release window. But some couldn’t live up to the expectations and suffered disastrous runs at the box office. Today, we list down the movies post-2000 that couldn’t make a thud with their release on Diwali.
Jaan-E-Mann: Let’s Fall In Love… Again (2006)
It was Farah Khan’s husband, Shirish Kunder, making his directorial debut with Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Preity Zinta as his muses. What would possibly go wrong? They clashed with Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas starrer Don. The movie couldn’t survive the clash and ended its run with a collection of a bit over Rs 25 crores gross.
Saawariya (2007)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali painted a dream; he roped in two new faces to bring it alive. Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor made their debuts, with Rani Mukerji making an extended cameo. Everything seemed grand for this Magnum Opus that clashed with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s Om Shanti Om. But, the audience failed to get hooked on this idea that was much ahead of its time. Saawariya, released in Diwali 2007, could only earn Rs 20 Crores gross.
Main Aur Mrs Khanna (2009)
Salman Khan & Kareena Kapoor Khan together entered a triple clash in 2009. Akshay Kumar’s Blue and Ajay Devgn’s All The Best released on the same day. While the latter took home the success trophy, the other two had to face a tumultuous journey at the box office. Main Aur Mrs. Khanna could only manage a bit over Rs 7 crores gross in its domestic release and couldn’t even touch half of the budget it was made in with its worldwide numbers.
Blue (2009)
Another competitor in the aforementioned trio clash, Akshay Kumar’s Blue, was an experimental movie on a massive budget. With AR Rahman on music, and Kylie Minogue singing a song and also performing it in the film, the packaging was indeed lucrative. But it wasn’t lucrative enough to bring the footfalls in Diwali 2009. The Bollywood movie went on to earn Rs 38.5 crores gross.
Thugs Of Hindostan (2018)
Who could have thought a YRF Magnum Opus starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Amitabh Bachchan, and an ensemble would underperform to an extent where it gets labeled one of the biggest flops? Thugs Of Hindostan released on Diwali 2018 and was instantly bashed by both audience and critics both. The movie earned Rs 138 crores gross but couldn’t reach its massive budget.
Ram Setu (2022)
Akshay Kumar’s Ram Setu was among the most buzz-making movies last year. As the country was still coming to terms with the fact that they could return to the theatres, the movie tried to lure them in. But it turns out Kumar couldn’t do much, and the movie suffered a flop run. Released on Diwali last year, it earned over Rs 72 crores gross.
Thank God (2022)
Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra, and Rakul Preet Singh marked Diwali 2022 with their comedy-drama Thank God. The movie that did manage to create some buzz on the internet couldn’t translate the same at the box office. Adding to it, it even clashed with Akshay Kumar’s Ram Setu. It could only manage to earn close to Rs 33 crores gross.
Now, as we gear up for Diwali 2023, it will be exciting to see what fireworks Salman Khan manages to show us with Tiger 3, also starring Katrina Kaif & Emraan Hashmi.
(As per Box Office India).