Top Hindi Movie Openers on Day 1 of Diwali in India: Thugs of Hindostan Remains on Top; Will Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 join the prestigious list?

We are all set for the clash of two big box office giants, Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. It’s not often that two broadly-appealing, family-friendly films are released in theaters on the same day. The day after Diwali (November 1, 2024) is going to be huge with a combined opening day of over Rs 50 crore. While we wait for Diwali 2024 Hindi releases, let’s take a look at the biggest Hindi Day 1 Net India openers during Diwali.

Thugs of Hindostan remains the biggest Diwali opener of Hindi films

Thugs of Hindostan, released in 2018, remains the biggest Hindi opener of Diwali. The film, starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Amitabh Bachchan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, collected around Rs 50 crore after Diwali. Word of mouth spread so quickly that it failed to triple its opening day numbers.

In Diwali 2023, Tiger 3 made a bang at the box office with around Rs 41 crore, that too on the day of Diwali which is not considered very good for business. The film recorded its biggest day on the second day after Diwali. The opening weekend was huge, but word of mouth remained mixed, preventing it from entering the Rs 300 crore club. It ended its journey with a net turnover of around Rs 260 crore.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo took a stellar start to Diwali 2015. This Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor starrer film did a net business of just over Rs 39 crore on the first day. It was a record opener, breaking the record of Happy New Year. The word of mouth of the film was mixed and it made a business of slightly less than Rs 200 crore. More than 2 crore people came to theaters to watch this film directed by Sooraj Barjatya.

Happy New Year took a record opening of over Rs 36 crore in Diwali 2014. This film was Shahrukh Khan’s next highest grossing film Chennai Express. The film did not receive the appreciation that the makers wanted. Still it did a superhit business of Rs 178.50 crore in India. The actor’s notoriously bad phase began after Happy New Year and Diwali.

Golmaal Again is one of the biggest openers of Ajay Devgan. Directed by Rohit Shetty, the 2017 Diwali release, in clash with Secret Superstar, collected Rs 30 crore nett on the day after Diwali and did a blockbuster business of Rs 205 crore. Rohit Shetty released another hit with Suryavanshi after Covid-19 and now he is ready for Singham again.

Sooryavanshi is the most recent Bollywood release which is a part of the prestigious list of most Diwali openers. Despite COVID-19 limitations, its post-Diwali earnings in 2021 reached Rs 26 crore. It did a net turnover of slightly less than Rs 200 crore, but considering the circumstances it was still a good result.

In 2013, Krrish 3 grossed less than Rs 20 crore. It literally exploded the day after Diwali and emerged as a blockbuster. Hrithik Roshan did bang bang after Krrish 3, but then went through a dull phase, which ended with Super 30 and War.

Here is the list of highest opening Hindi movies on Diwali

Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 in theaters in Diwali 2024

What are your opening day expectations from Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3? Do you think any of these films will make the list? let us know.