Thamma vs Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Box Office: No big spikes, yet both emerge victorious

This Diwali brought an interesting face-off to theatres. Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s supernatural comedy Thamma took on Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa’s romantic drama Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat. The genres were worlds apart, but both films managed to find their share of the festive crowd. One delivered big-ticket numbers, while the other slowly built itself into a genuine success.

What started as a competitive release weekend has now turned into a situation where both teams can claim victory. Thamma has raced close to the 100-crore line, and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat has not only recovered its investment but also outperformed a few recent titles by more established stars.

Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’s Steady Climb

Milap Zaveri’s Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, written by Zaveri and Mushtaq Shiekh, opened with Rs 9 crore nett on day one. It maintained a respectable flow through its next two days, earning Rs 7.75 crore and Rs 6 crore respectively. The momentum continued into its first Friday, where it brought in Rs 5.5 crore, followed by Rs 6.25 crore on Saturday and Rs 8.30 crore on Sunday. That gave it a weekend total of Rs 18.19 crore.

By the end of the week, its domestic earnings stood at Rs 48.34 crore nett, comfortably beyond its production cost. It even overtook Kajol’s horror outing Maa, which had wrapped up at Rs 36.08 crore. For a mid-range romantic film released opposite a major comedy, that is a strong outcome. Produced by Desi Movies Factory, the film also features Shaad Randhawa, Sachin Khedekar, Ananth Narayan and Rajesh Khera in supporting parts.

Thamma Inches Toward the Century Mark

Aditya Sarpotdar’s Thamma started with fireworks. Its opening Tuesday, right after Diwali, saw a roaring Rs 24 crore. The numbers dipped slightly to Rs 18.60 crore on Wednesday and then to Rs 13 crore on Thursday, which happened to coincide with Bhai Dooj. The fourth day, Friday, witnessed a sharp slide to Rs 10 crore, but the weekend revived the mood again. Saturday brought Rs 13.10 crore, and Sunday followed with Rs 13 crore.

After six days, the domestic total stands at Rs 91.70 crore according to Sacnilk. Out of that, the dubbed Telugu version contributed around Rs 70 lakh, leaving the Hindi release responsible for the bulk of the revenue. Given this pace, the film is expected to enter the 100-crore club by the end of its first week unless it faces an unusual Monday drop.

The Clash That Worked for Both

What’s interesting about this particular Diwali clash is that neither film ended up hurting the other. They appealed to different segments entirely. Thamma drew younger crowds and families looking for festive entertainment, while Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat pulled in the romantic drama audience that usually prefers smaller, emotionally-driven films.

Instead of cannibalising each other’s numbers, both managed to carve out individual spaces. This balance is rare in Bollywood box office showdowns, where one film typically eats into the other’s revenue. Here, both walked away winners, which is a good sign for the industry heading into the year’s final quarter.

Why Word of Mouth Still Wins

The biggest takeaway from Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’s rise is that a strong narrative and solid performances can still overpower a crowded release calendar. There were no big marketing gimmicks or extravagant campaigns. What worked was the steady audience endorsement that kept people coming in over the weekend.

It also signals a gradual return of mid-scale romantic films that had nearly disappeared amid big franchises and action spectacles. With the film now surpassing the collections of several recent titles headlined by bigger names, Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa have earned a box office triumph they can genuinely call their own.

A Promising Festive Season

Together, Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat have ensured that this Diwali season was anything but dull for exhibitors. With one nearing blockbuster status and the other emerging as a profitable surprise, the trade has reason to be optimistic. The competition between genres and storytelling styles may just be what keeps audiences engaged and theatres thriving.

The coming week will determine how long both films can sustain their momentum, but for now, the numbers suggest a win-win situation for everyone involved.