The Diwali releases hold a lot of significance. And the response to films in Overseas is as strong as the response in India.
A comprehensive study of the films released during the Diwali week in U.K. [since 1999] clearly indicates that the best years have been 2000 [MOHABBATEIN], 2004 [VEER-ZAARA] and 2005 [GARAM MASALA]. In fact, GARAM MASALA is the first film, outside the Yash Raj and Karan Johar camp, to strike gold at the U.K. box-office during the Diwali week.
Check out the facts…
2005 DIWALI
| FILM | OPENING [£] | SCREENS | AVERAGE PER PRINT |
| Garam Masala | 292,033 | 37 | 7,893 |
| Kyon Ki… | 171,566 | 55 | 3,119 |
| Shaadi No. 1 | 95,086 | 33 | 2,881 |
2004 DIWALI
| FILM | OPENING [£] | SCREENS | AVERAGE PER PRINT |
| Veer-Zaara | 484,993 | 60 | 8,083 |
| Aitraaz | 55,837 | 21 | 2,659 |
| Naach | 4,300 | 6 | 717 |
2003 DIWALI
| FILM | OPENING [£] | SCREENS | AVERAGE PER PRINT |
| Pinjar | 14,013 | 12 | 1,168 |
| Sssshhh… | 1,186 | 3 | 395 |
| Raja Bhaiya | 3,152 | 4 | 788 |
2002 DIWALI
| FILM | OPENING [£] | SCREENS | AVERAGE PER PRINT |
| Jeena Sirf Merre Liye | 41,704 | 15 | 2,780 |
| Waah Tera Kya Kehna | 2,997 | 5 | 599 |
| Annarth | 2,920 | 5 | 584 |
2001 DIWALI
| FILM | OPENING [£] | SCREENS | AVERAGE PER PRINT |
| Tera Mera Saath Rahen | - | - | Total: 50,652 |
| Deewanapan | - | - | Total: 19,413 |
| Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar | - | - | Total: 18,014 |
2000 DIWALI
| FILM | OPENING [£] | SCREENS | AVERAGE PER PRINT |
| Mohabbatein | 246,368 | 26 | 9,476 |
| Mission Kashmir | 89,265 | 27 | 3,306 |
1999 DIWALI
| FILM | OPENING [£] | SCREENS | AVERAGE PER PRINT |
| Hum Saath-Saath Hain | 110,026 | 28 | 3,930 |
