Ready Steady Po! Diwali in the recent times is certainly incomplete if Shah Rukh Khan’s film has not hit the theatres. The so called superstition is not limited to Badshah Khan only; his contemporaries Aamir and Salman have also flagged festivals for their mega releases. While Bhai has maintained wooing fans during Eid, perfectionist Aamir and the King of romance SRK have lately been going back and forth along Christmas and Diwali.
Shah Rukh Khan’s association with Diwali goes back a long way. Ever since the actor tasted success in 1993 with his first blockbuster release, Baazigar, the festival of lights has been lucky for him. He soared up with back to back Diwali hits like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Veer-Zara (2004), Don (2006), and Om Shanti Om (2007).
However from Ra.One (2011) the actor has seen a downward graph when it came to content of his movies. Although they grossed well at the box office thanks to his superstar element but if it weren’t for him, the flicks wouldn’t have made it well. Jab Tak Hain Jaan (2012) was high on the emotional side being Yash Chopra’s last film before his death and was probably the last Diwali release that proved to be lucky for SRK.
Lately the Indian audience has been scrutinising films beyond a public holiday. SRK has not had a Diwali release since Happy New Year (2014). His latest films like Fan (2016) or Raees (2017) for that matter have been released beginning of the year. Coming back to the festive connection, 2018 however will be different as Shah Rukh’s upcoming film Zero will be hitting the screen during Christmas as Aamir has already booked the slot for Diwali with Thugs of Hindostan.
With that being said, Ranveer Singh’s Simmba will release on December 28, a week post Zero. If we go back in time, it was Ranveer and Deepika Padukone’s Bajirao Mastani that released on the same date as Dilwale. The audience back then made a choice, but will Shah Rukh Khan claim his throne this year? Only time will tell.
