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| Thama vs Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Box Office War: Ayushmann’s Magic Fades as Harshvardhan’s Romantic Drama Takes the Lead in Week 1! |
Box Office Shock! Thama Slows Down at ₹91.70 Crore While Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Emerges as the Dark Horse of Diwali 2025
Diwali is traditionally one of the biggest seasons for Indian cinema, with production houses strategically scheduling their releases to cash in on the festive spirit. The 2025 Diwali weekend was no exception, featuring two highly anticipated films — ‘Thama’, a horror-comedy led by Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, and ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’, a romantic drama starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa. Both films hit theaters on October 21st and have since been the center of box office discussions across the country.
While ‘Thama’ opened strong due to Ayushmann’s star power and the success of director Aditya Sarpotdar’s previous hit Munjya, the film’s box office performance has started to slow down. On the other hand, ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’—despite being a smaller film—has demonstrated consistent growth, driven by positive word of mouth and strong audience connect. Let’s dive deep into the detailed box office report and see how both these Diwali releases are performing.
Thama Box Office Performance: A Strong Start, But Losing Momentum
A Grand Opening Week
‘Thama’ opened to impressive numbers on its first day, benefiting from the Diwali weekend and Ayushmann Khurrana’s dedicated fanbase. The film managed to pull crowds to theaters despite competition, collecting ₹17.25 crore on its opening day. With positive initial buzz and family-friendly content, the movie maintained decent traction throughout the weekend.
By the end of its first weekend, ‘Thama’ had earned over ₹60 crore, showing strong potential to enter the coveted ₹100 crore club within the first 10 days. However, things took a different turn as weekdays began.
Decline in Collections During Weekdays
The real test for any film begins after the weekend rush, and ‘Thama’ started showing signs of slowdown by mid-week. Collections dropped significantly on Tuesday and Wednesday, hovering around ₹7–8 crore per day.
Industry analysts point out that while the film’s concept of horror-comedy intrigued audiences initially, it lacked the emotional depth and novelty to sustain repeat viewership. The humor worked in parts, but the overall narrative did not leave a lasting impact.
As of Sunday (Day 6), the film has managed to collect around ₹91.70 crore, according to early estimates by Sacnilk. Though respectable, it’s far from what was expected given the hype and scale of the release.
Why ‘Thama’ Is Struggling to Maintain Its Hype
1. Mixed Audience Reactions
Despite an interesting premise, ‘Thama’ received mixed to average reviews from both critics and audiences. While Ayushmann Khurrana’s performance and comic timing were appreciated, the screenplay and pacing were widely criticized.
Social media reactions reflect this divide — some found the film entertaining and light-hearted, while others felt it lacked the punch of a blockbuster.
2. High Expectations from Aditya Sarpotdar
Aditya Sarpotdar, who previously delivered a sleeper hit with Munjya, set high expectations with Thama. However, comparisons between the two films worked against him. Viewers expected the same level of suspense and freshness, but Thama’s humor-driven narrative failed to recreate that magic.
3. Strong Competition from ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’
Interestingly, the romantic drama Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat emerged as a dark horse, pulling a segment of the audience that might have otherwise gone for Thama. This overlap in audience base further affected its weekday performance.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Box Office: A Surprise Winner
A Romantic Story That Clicked with Audiences
While Thama banked on star power and scale, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat relied on emotion and storytelling. Directed by Ramesh Verma, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa in lead roles, and its heartfelt story of obsessive love struck the right chord with audiences.
The film opened modestly at around ₹7 crore but witnessed remarkable growth over the weekend, especially on Sunday, where collections jumped significantly due to strong word-of-mouth.
Close to Recovering Its Budget
Made on a modest budget of ₹50 crore, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat has already earned ₹41.25 crore within six days, as per Sacnilk reports. Its steady growth trajectory suggests that it will recover its production cost in the next few days, making it a financially safe venture.
Harshvardhan Rane’s intense performance and Sonam Bajwa’s charm have been widely praised, making the film a sleeper hit of the season.
Comparative Box Office Breakdown (First Six Days)
Audience and Critical Reception
Thama: Entertaining but Predictable
Critics called Thama an “entertaining but predictable” film. While performances and production design earned praise, the writing and second-half pacing drew criticism.
Average IMDb rating: 6.4/10
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat: Emotionally Engaging
Reviewers described Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat as “an emotional rollercoaster that blends passion and tragedy beautifully.” The chemistry between Harshvardhan and Sonam added authenticity to the romantic narrative.
Average IMDb rating: 7.8/10
Weekend Takeaways: Clash of Two Contrasting Genres
The Diwali box office clash offered audiences two distinct cinematic flavors — horror-comedy versus romantic drama. Interestingly, while Thama started strong due to its genre and star appeal, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat slowly captured hearts and grew through positive feedback.
The ongoing trend suggests that Thama might touch the ₹100 crore mark soon, but its pace has certainly slowed. Meanwhile, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat could surpass expectations if its strong word-of-mouth continues.
Industry Insights: What These Numbers Indicate
Audience Shift Toward Content-Driven Cinema:
The steady success of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat highlights how modern audiences increasingly prefer emotionally engaging, well-written films over purely commercial ones.Importance of Post-Release Word-of-Mouth:
Both films prove that the initial weekend isn’t everything. Sustained collections depend heavily on reviews and organic social buzz.Genre Diversity During Festive Releases:
Releasing two contrasting genres during Diwali gave viewers more options, ensuring healthy competition and broader audience engagement.
Future Projections for Both Films
Thama’s Outlook
If Thama manages to hold its ground during its second weekend, it can cross ₹120–125 crore lifetime. However, if the decline continues, it may wrap up around ₹105–110 crore, barely meeting profit margins after marketing costs.
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’s Growth Potential
With rising audience traction, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is expected to cross ₹70 crore lifetime, turning into a clear winner among mid-budget films this season.
Conclusion
Both ‘Thama’ and ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’ have proven that Diwali remains a lucrative time for the Indian box office. However, content continues to be the ultimate differentiator. While Thama dazzled initially with star power, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat stole the spotlight through emotional depth and storytelling finesse.
As the post-Diwali weekdays unfold, it will be fascinating to see whether Thama can regain its lost momentum or if Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat continues its upward climb. Either way, audiences have been treated to two vastly different yet entertaining experiences.
FAQs
1. How much has ‘Thama’ earned so far at the box office?
As of Day 6, Thama has earned approximately ₹91.70 crore. Despite a strong opening, its daily collections have begun to slow down, making its journey toward ₹100 crore slightly challenging.
2. What is the total collection of ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’?
The romantic drama Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat has grossed around ₹41.25 crore within six days of release, performing steadily and nearing its budget recovery.
3. Which film performed better during the Diwali weekend?
In terms of initial numbers, Thama led the weekend with higher earnings. However, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat gained momentum post-weekend due to strong audience word-of-mouth.
4. What are the critical reviews for both films?
Thama received mixed reviews, with praise for performances but criticism for its weak second half. Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat earned favorable reviews, especially for its emotional narrative and music.
5. Will ‘Thama’ cross the ₹100 crore mark?
Yes, it’s expected to cross ₹100 crore soon, though it might take longer than anticipated. Its second-weekend performance will be crucial to determining its final box office fate.
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