Diwali 2025: The 2025 Diwali box office presents a markedly different landscape from traditional festival releases, with three Hindi films and multiple regional productions competing without a single pan-India blockbuster dominating the season, raising questions about the evolving significance of India’s most coveted release window.
Hindi Film Slate
Leading the Bollywood charge are ‘Thamma,’ Maddock Films’ horror-comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui; ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat,’ a romantic drama featuring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa; and animated family epic ‘Mahayoddha Rama.’ Southern releases include Tamil and Telugu mid-range titles like ‘Bison: Kaalamaadan,’ ‘Diesel,’ ‘Telusu Kada,’ and ‘K-Ramp.’
Expert Predictions
Movie trade expert Girish Wankhede called it “a well-balanced Diwali line-up that offers something for everyone.” He predicts: “A collective weekend haul of around Rs 200 crore across films is realistic this year.”
On ‘Thamma,’ Wankhede noted: “This is a pivotal release for Ayushmann Khurrana. If it works, it could redefine his trajectory as a bankable, big-screen star again.”
Market Volatility
Film producer Girish Johar highlighted changing dynamics: “There is roughly a Rs 50–70 crore nett window available just for Diwali day viewing. If audiences respond well, a film can easily earn Rs 70 crore on day one. But if it doesn’t click, that number could drop to Rs 20 crore overnight. We are living in what I call a ‘K-shaped’ curve — hits rise sharply, flops crash immediately.”
South Industry Shift
South trade expert Ramesh Bala explained the absence of major southern releases: “Unlike Bollywood, the South industries don’t plan releases strictly around festivals. Pan-India releases, especially, look for a free date — one without clashes with major Hindi or regional films.”
Bala predicted Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara-Chapter 1’ will maintain strong performance: “‘Kantara’ will hold at least 30 per cent of the box office share through Diwali.”
Historical Context
The season contrasts sharply with previous Diwali blockbusters from ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ to ‘Singham Again,’ while avoiding catastrophes like 2018’s ‘Thugs of Hindostan.’
Johar summarized the current landscape: “Diwali is still a time when the audience wants to celebrate — that part hasn’t changed. What’s changed is how they celebrate.”
