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Diwali is synonymous with family, lights and festivities. But for film aficionados, it is also a time for watching movies on the big screen. Nothing hits
the right notes than an evening out with like-minded friends and family for a movie night out on Diwali. Over the years, the King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan has made Diwali a time of cinematic celebration, giving the audience everything from grand romances to superhero fantasies. From romancing in mustard fields to battling digital villains, SRK's Diwali releases have often lit up the box office with the same energy as the fireworks that mark the festival. Here’s a deep dive into SRK’s biggest Diwali releases - films that turned the Festival of Lights into a festival of fandom for our very own pataka Shah Rukh Khan.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995
Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) which released in the Diwali period of 1995 marked a turning point in Hindi Cinema. Days before the festival, a young Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol appeared on screen in a film that would go on to become the longest-running movie in Indian cinematic history. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge wasn't just a hit, it became a movement, redefining romance for a new generation as it blended Indian tradition with global aspirations.
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Dil To Pagal Hai in 1997
In 1997, Shah Rukh Khan’s Dil To Pagal Hai became a Diwali box office hit. Directed by Yash Chopra and co-starring Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor (with a cameo by Akshay Kumar), the film was a celebration of good old-fashioned Bollywood music, melodrama, and timeless romantic ideals. The film struck a chord with the festive audience and even won Shah Rukh Khan another Filmfare Best Actor Award.
Veer-Zaara in 2004
In the early 2000s, Shah Rukh Khan returned to Yash Raj Films for Veer-Zaara. A kind of love story only SRK could pull off - epic, emotional, and rooted in human values, the film had soul-stirring music, sweeping visuals, and heartfelt performances. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji, the box office responded in kind, turning Veer-Zaara into a massive commercial and critical success.
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Om Shanti Om in 2007
Perhaps the most extravagant of SRK’s Diwali outings remains Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om. Bollywood’s answer to pathakas in full filmy form, the film which was also Deepika Padukone’s debut was a glitzy tribute to 70s cinema with modern masala storytelling. Shah Rukh Khan played a double role, danced to chart-busting music, and pulled off a six-pack in his mid-40s - all while anchoring a story of reincarnation, revenge, and romance.
Ra.One in 2011
Unlike Om Shanti Om, Ra.One was about the future. SRK’s most ambitious project at the time, Ra.One released during Diwali 2011 and aimed to push Indian cinema into the sci-fi genre. The film opened to packed theaters and while reactions were mixed, there’s no denying that Ra.One made Diwali feel like an event.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan in 2012
Shah Rukh Khan’s last Diwali release was the 2012 Jab Tak Hai Jaan. The final directorial outing of Yash Chopra, the film was a poetic, sweeping love triangle shot in London, Kashmir, and Ladakh. Starring Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, it opened during Diwali week and struck a chord with audiences who were still reeling from Chopra’s passing just weeks before.
Recent years have not seen SRK have any Diwali release. Following the December 2018 release of Zero, SRK took a hiatus returning in 2023 with three films Pathaan in January, Jawan in September and Dunki in December. However, fans continue to hope for a return of King Khan to his Diwali roots. Let’s be honest, there is something uniquely festive about watching SRK light up the big screen while diyas glow in every home.
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