Diwali brought an exciting clash at the box office with two big Bollywood movies releasing on the same day. Fans were excited to see Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, two of the most awaited movies of 2024, go head-to-head.
Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty and part of his popular cop series, had an early advantage by taking 60% of the available screens. Starring Ajay Devgn, the movie also features a star-studded cast, including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor. With an opening day earning of ₹43.50 crore, Singham Again became the clear leader, marking the biggest opening of Devgn’s career, according to Sacnilk.
Anees Bazmee's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 also had a strong start, earning ₹35.5 crore on its first day. The horror-comedy stars Kartik Aaryan as Rooh Baba and marks his biggest opening so far. Vidya Balan returned as her famous character Manjulika from the 2007 movie, which thrilled fans. The mix of scary moments and laughs is hitting the mark with audiences.
Film expert Taran Adarsh is excited about both releases. “Both movies are fantastic,” he told ANI. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 offers a funny, spooky experience, while Singham Again brings intense action. Audiences love both, which is exactly what we want. If both keep doing well, a combined celebration would be awesome.”
Cinema owners are hopeful, with Singham Again expected to stay in the lead. Ashish Kanakia, CEO of MovieMax Cinema, said, “Festival blockbusters have always drawn big crowds. We’re hoping these movies can help the industry bounce back, as they appeal to loyal fans and offer something special on the big screen.”
Both movies have a lot riding on them. Singham Again, part of Rohit Shetty’s popular cop series, brings big stars and action-packed scenes to the screen. Meanwhile, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 hopes to attract fans of horror-comedies, a genre that's been popular with recent hits like Stree 2.
With Devgn’s intense action scenes and Aaryan’s funny-yet-spooky vibe, this Diwali box office clash promises an exciting experience for movie lovers. Both films are competing to be the top choice during the festive season, making it an exciting battle for fans.
Director Anees Bazmee was thrilled with how well Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was received, especially since it coincided with his birthday. “It’s the best birthday gift I could ask for,” he told ANI. He shared that he enjoys watching movies with the audience to see their reactions in real-time and is happy they’re enjoying it. He also mentioned he doesn’t see it as a rivalry with Singham Again, saying, “I don’t think of it as a clash. Both movies released the same day, and I hope both do well.”
The movie performed strongly in major cities. According to Sacnilk, Mumbai had an 81.75% occupancy rate across 789 shows, while the National Capital Region (NCR) saw 79.50% for 957 shows. In other cities, Pune had 57.25% occupancy for 357 screenings, and Bengaluru reported 69.50% for 250 shows. Hyderabad was at 56.00% for 202 shows. Kolkata had a solid 77.00% occupancy across 257 screenings, while Ahmedabad reached 78.75% over 558 shows. Chennai had an 81.50% occupancy across 59 shows, Surat had 65.75% for 302 shows, and Jaipur led with 86.00% over 118 shows. Chandigarh had 74.75% occupancy for 131 screenings, Bhopal was at 75.25% for 61 shows, and Lucknow saw 84.75% across 170 shows.
Singam Again introduces new faces to Shetty’s well-established cop universe. Deepika Padukone joins the cast as Shakti Shetty, alongside Tiger Shroff as Satya. Adding to the excitement is Salman Khan’s much-anticipated cameo as Chulbul Pandey. Arjun Kapoor makes an appearance as the film’s antagonist, while the core ensemble of Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, and Akshay Kumar continues to draw audiences.
Occupancy rates were high across key regions. Mumbai led with a strong 73.50% across 1,101 shows, followed by Ahmedabad at 76.25% for 751 screenings. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the film recorded 63.00% across 1,310 shows. Jaipur saw the highest rate at 85.25% for 165 screenings. Other cities reported varied turnout, with Chennai at 74.25% over 104 shows, Lucknow at 77.50% for 228, and Bengaluru at 58.00% across 369.
Despite being banned in Saudi Arabia due to concerns over religious conflict depicted in the film, Singham Again has captivated audiences in India. Director Rohit Shetty's vision, often described as a "Desi Avengers," integrates a Ramayana-themed storyline that promises to keep viewers engaged throughout the holiday weekend.
Ajay Devgn expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the film's tremendous start. “It’s always a special feeling when the audience showers love on a project we put our heart into,” he remarked. The film's record-breaking opening is a testament to the enduring appeal of Shetty’s cop universe and Devgn’s lead performance.
