Entertainment / Our Favourite Diwali Bollywood Blockbusters

Our Favourite Diwali Bollywood Blockbusters

Entertainment Oct 13, 2016

by Vallisa Chauhan

Happy Diwali! We take a look at memorable Diwali releases from past years with some pretty rivetting backstories!

Ajay Devgan's biggest film to date, Shivaay, an action thriller, is going head to head with Karan Johar's love story Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starring the beautiful Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor as well as Fawad Khan and Anushka Sharma.

Pending the Diwali battle we thought we would take a look at some of the biggest Bollywood Diwali blockbusters of all time (in no particular order simply because each holds its own in terms of star power and success and awesomeness).

Happy New Year
Director: Farah Khan
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, Vivaan Shah and Jackie Shrof
Year Of Release: October 24, 2014

^{Photo Credit: www.songs.mp3.com}

This Diwali film was directed by Farah Khan, whom Shah Rukh has collaborated before with on films such as Main hoon Na and Om Shaanti Om, and was produced by wife Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment. The musical action comedy drama film had an ensemble cast, however it received negative reviews although it was commercial success. To help promote the film, the cast, rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh and actress Madhuri Dixit collaborated on a promotional tour, Slam!, which toured a number of countries. There was also a social media-friendly interactive game which was released. With the multimedia marketing approach, Happy New Year pushed the boundaries promotion wise.

^{Happy New Year trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Krrish 3
Director: Rakesh Roshan
Cast: Hritik Roshan, Vivek Oberoi, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut
Year Of Release: November 1st, 2013

^{Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.com}

Krrish 3 was a science fiction film directed by Rakesh Roshan for his third installment in the Krrish franchise following Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish. Of course Krrish 3 starred his son Hritik Roshan in the lead role with brother Rajesh Roshan composing the film. The film released on over 4,000 screens worldwide with 3,500 being in India alone.

^{Krrish 3 trailer

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Son of Sardaar
Director: Ashwni Dhir
Cast: Ajay Davgan, Sonakshi Sinha, Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Dutt
Year Of Release: November 13, 2012

^{Photo Credit: www.in.com}

If anyone thought 2016 was the only year an Ajay Devgan film and Shah Rukh Khan film went head to head, they're wrong. Son of Sardar was released at the same time as Jab Tak Hain Jaan. The action comedy was a remake of the Hollywood film Our Hospitality which had already been remade in a Kannada film Balagalittu Olage Baa. The film was released in 2,000 cinemas in India as well as 350 overseas yet Devgan sent an intimation notice to Yash Raj films accusing them of monopolizing the market due to their dominant position in Bollywood. This confused many as Jab Tak Hain Jaan was released in 1,500 single screens in India and there are around 10,500 available. Yash Raj had also announced the release date of the film in advance giving Devgan enough time to change his date if necessary.

^{Son of Sardaar trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Ra One
Director: Anubhav Sinha
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Arjun Rampal, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Armaan Verma
Year Of Release: October 25, 2011

^{Photo Credit: www.pinterest.com}

Ra One was the first attempt of making a superhero film for Bollywood and due to its nature took a lot longer post-production than estimated. This pushed the SRK summer release to a Diwali release in both 2D and 3D. Although the script and direction was criticized the visuals and music was praised immensely and the film still managed to win a number of awards. The film was released in over 4,000 screens in India, breaking the record of the largest number of screen releases previously held by none of other then rival Salman Khan's Bodyguard from the same year.

^{Ra One trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Om Shanti Om
Director: Farah Khan
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade and Kirron Kher
Year Of Release: November 9, 2007

^{Photo Credit: www.impawards.com}

Dubbed as a supernatural romantic melodrama this film was set in two different eras: the 1970s and 2000s. And its Deepika Padukone's Bollywood debut. It is the only film to have more then forty well known Bollywood stars in one film especially in the iconic title song. The film itself pokes fun at the Indian film industry and was released in 2,000 prints worldwide making it the largest Indian cinematic release at the time.

^{Om Shanti Om trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Don

Director: Farhan Akhtar
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Rampal
Year Of Release: October 20. 2006

Ever wished there was two of Shah Rukh Khan? Well this is the film that makes it come true, although this isn't the first time SRK has played a double role. Don is the remake of the 1978 film with the same name that starred Amitabh Bachchan. The film screened at the Berlin Film Festival although it was only the fifth highest grossing film of that year as Krrish, Dhoom 2, Lago Raho Munna Bhai and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna released in the same year. Khan did however win the award for best actor at a number of awards ceremonies.

^{Don trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Garam Masala
Director: Priyadarshan
Cast: Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Paresh Rawal, Rimi Sen and Neha Dhupia
Year Of Release: November 2,2005

^{Photo Credit: www.sunogaane.com}

This was very different to some of the other films mentioned in the top ranking Diwali films as it was actually a full on comedy but this did not stop the ensemble cast film doing extremely well at the box office. Akshay Kumar won the award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for this particular film and something many may not know is the film was a remake of Priyadarshan's Malayalam film Boeing Boeing.

^{Garam Masala trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Veer Zaara
Director: Yash Chopra
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Manoj Bajpayee, Kirron Kher and Boman Irani
Year Of Release: November 12, 2004

^{Photo Credit: www.moviepostershop.com}

Setting a film on the backdrop of the India/Pakistan war and releasing it around Diwali may not be the best idea. However, Yash Chopra knew exactly what he was doing when he announced Veer Zaara would be releasing in time for Diwali 2004. The film is based on the character pilot Veer Pratap Singh who falls in love with Pakistani Zaara Hayat Khan who is from a rich political family. They are split up for 22 years when Veer is jailed without charge. This epic love story touched the hearts of millions and went on to become the highest grossing Bollywood film of the year.

^{Veer Zaara trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Mohabbatein
Director: Aditiya Chopra
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwariya Rai Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Jugal Hansraj, Jimmy Shergill, Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani and Anupam Kher
Year Of Release: October 27, 2000

^{Photo Credit: www.gaana.com}

Mohabbatein was actually the second highest grossing film of 2000 domestically but actually surpassed Kaho Na… Pyaar Hain internationally as the highest grossing Hindi film of that year. It was the second directorial by Aditya Chopra after his first release Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The film won a number of awards including Filmfare's Critics Choice Award for Best Actor (Shah Rukh Khan) and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Amitabh Bachchan). The musical romantic drama has been loved since the day of release.

^Mohabbatein^trailer.
^{Photo Credit: YouTube}

Hum Saath Saath Hain
Director: Sooraj. R Barjatya
Cast: Mohnish Behl, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Karishma Kapoor
Year Of Release: November 5,1999

^{Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.com}

Hum Saath Saath Hain is an Indian drama film based on a big family living together and the ups and downs they face. This film became the highest grossing film of the year and received an overwhelming response from both the audience and critics. The film was then dubbed in Tamil under the title Premaanuraagam. Salman Khan received an award for best actor and Mohnish Behl fpr best supporting actor.

^{Hum Saath Saath Hain trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Kuch Kuch Hota Hain

Director: Karan Johar
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji
Year Of Release: October 16, 1998

^{Photo Credit: www.fanpop.com}

Kuch Kuch Hota Hain was a Hindi coming of age romantic comedy drama film written and directed by Karan Johar. This was the fourth film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol together which made sure it was already going to be a hit. This was Karan Johar's directorial debut and it set the bar for the types of films he later went on to direct. The film was extremely successful and was the highest grossing Indian film of the year and the their highest grossing behind Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Hum Aapke Hain Koun! It also went on to win a number of awards including eight Filmfare awards and it was the only film to win all four acting categories best actor, best actress, best supporting actor and best supporting actress.

^{Kuch Kuch Hota Hain trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Dil Toh Pagal Hain
Director: Yash Chopra
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karishma Kapoor
Year Of Release: October 20, 1997

^{Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.com}

You can forget Yash Chopra's superhit musical film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Karishma Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit. This film was Khan's third film with Yash Raj Films following Darr and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The film was actually screened as part of the International Film Festival of India in 2014 as part of their Celebrating Dance in Indian Cinema. This particular film has attained a cult status over the years and has been said to be one of Yash Raj's best.

^{Dil To Paagal Hai trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Director: Aditya Chopra
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol
Year Of Release: October 20.1995

^{Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.com}

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a film that changed the face of Indian cinema and was praised for connecting different sections of society whilst promoting strong family values. This film set the bar for other film makers basing films on non resident Indians and became one of the most succesful Indian films of all time. DDLJ was also featured in the book 1001 Movies you must see before you die as one of the three only Bollywood films. After 20 years of release this film is still shown at the Maratha Mandir today making it in the Guiness Book Of World Records for the longest running cinematic release. Raj and Simran became the ideal characters for young Indian's where every girl wished they would meet their own Raj one day.

^{Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge trailer.

Photo Credit: YouTube}

^{Main Photo Credit: www.indianexpress.com}

Vallisa Chauhan

Author

Vallisa Chauhan (@vallisachauhan) presents the Flagship breakfast show on Lyca Radio 1458. She has scripted and produced a full feature film called "Those 4 Walls" and is currently working on other projects. She loves travel and movies and tries to fit in both as much as she can.

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Our Favourite Diwali Bollywood Blockbusters

by Vallisa Chauhan

Happy Diwali! We take a look at memorable Diwali releases from past years with some pretty rivetting backstories!

Vallisa Chauhan

COMMENTS

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