Diwali Box Office 2025: Thamma Scores Big, But Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Surprises Fans

Diwali 2025 opened with a clash at the box office as two films vied for audience attention. On one side was the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe’s latest entry, Thamma, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. You can read our review here. On the other, the romantic drama Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, featuring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, hit theatres on the same day. The day became a test of audience preferences and festive footfall across screens nationwide.

Thamma started its run on a positive note. Morning shows in key cities reported strong occupancy, and this momentum continued through afternoon and evening screenings. Riding the post-Diwali festive energy, the buzz around Maddock’s horror-comedy universe, and star appeal, the film drew audiences in significant numbers. Analysts observed that genre recognition and a combination of suspense and humour contributed to a confident opening for the production.

Thamma Dominates Opening Day

Trade tracker Sacnilk reported that Thamma earned Rs. 25.11 crore net in India on its opening day. The Hindi version contributed Rs. 24 crore, while the Telugu dubbed version added Rs. 0.25 crore. The film also recorded the eighth-highest morning occupancy of 2025 for a Bollywood release.

These numbers make Thamma the second-biggest opener in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, only behind Stree 2. It also secured a position among the top five Bollywood openings of the year.

For Ayushmann Khurrana, this represents his personal best opening day collection, while Rashmika Mandanna continues to consolidate her growing popularity. Observers note that the combination of star power, brand recognition, and genre appeal worked in the film’s favour.

Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Holds Its Ground

While Thamma clearly led the conversation, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat delivered a surprisingly good start for a romantic drama without major star backing. The film earned Rs. 8.50 crore net on opening day, performing particularly well in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Earlier estimates had suggested a possibility of a double-digit opening, but Rs. 8.50 crore still marked one of the largest openings for a romantic film this year.

Despite competing for screens with Thamma, the Harshvardhan Rane-Sonam Bajwa starrer managed a strong start. It also outperformed other 2025 releases such as Dhadak 2 (Rs. 4 crore) and Metro In Dino (Rs. 3 crore), proving that content-driven romantic dramas can find their audience even during festive periods dominated by bigger productions.

First-Day Comparisons and Takeaways

The first-day collections highlighted the gap between the two films but also underscored their respective strengths. Thamma benefited from franchise recognition, star appeal, and the established popularity of Maddock’s horror-comedy format. Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat relied on story appeal and audience word-of-mouth, managing to secure notable numbers without high-profile stars or aggressive promotions.

The results illustrate how varied genres can coexist successfully, even in competitive windows. While Thamma appears poised to maintain momentum in the coming week, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat could see growth in smaller cities where audience engagement and niche interest can sustain long runs. The clash demonstrates the evolving dynamics of the Diwali box office, where content and timing can challenge star power.

What This Means Moving Forward

With Thamma leading the opening day and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat making a solid mark, the Diwali 2025 box office sets up an interesting week. Both films have carved distinct spaces, reflecting audience readiness for variety. Thamma’s success cements the strength of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, while the performance of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat signals that fresh romantic dramas can still thrive alongside blockbuster franchises.

It is certain that Thamma will be taking a huge leap furthermore in the upcoming few days owing to the extended Diwali weekend but Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat will have to be holding strong against Thamma to make a continued impact. Which film do you think will surprise from the lot? Let us know in the comments down below.