This is the first Diwali in a long time, when none of the top superstars have a release in the theatres.
The festive day is usually dominated by the likes of Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn but this time, none of them have a film ready.
This leaves the stage wide open for Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna's Thamma, and Harshvarshan Rane and Sonam Bajwa's Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat.
While Ayushmann has had his share of multiplex hits, pre-pandemic, with Dream Girl 2 being his only post pandemic hit, Rashmika is the biggest star between the two films with her recent releases Animal, Pushpa 2 and Chhaava being huge hits.
Harshvardhan Rane got a new lease of life with Sanam Teri Kasam's re-release whereas popular Punjabi actor Sonam Bajwa recently found success in Bollywood with Housefull 5.
This means content, instead of star power, will take centrestage this Diwali.
So what will be the opening look like for the two films?
Thamma would have aimed for an opening of Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 million) on a regular Friday but the festive occasion raises that to Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore (Rs 250 million to Rs 300 million).
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat has superhit music as its USP and while that would have ensured an opening day of Rs 5 crore to Rs 7 crore (Rs 50 million to Rs 70 million) on a regular Friday, but the Diwali season means that Rs 8 crore to Rs 10 crore (Rs 80 million to Rs 100 million) are on the cards.
Let's see what the festive box office finally brings us.
Photographs curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff
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