Will Housefull 4 Give Akshay Kumar His First Diwali Blockbuster As He Returns After 9 Years On This Festival?

Diwali has always been Bollywood’s favorite holiday when it comes to movie release. While it has primarily been a ‘Khan’ holiday with Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir making an advance booking for the holiday for the past several years, in 2019 Akshay Kumar has returned to stake his claim once more after nine long years. The fourth installment of his multi starrer comedy franchise, Housefull 4 is the biggest film in theaters this festive week clashing with Rajkummar Rao’s Made In China and Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar starrer Saand Ki Aankh.

In this day and age in Bollywood, Akshay Kumar is a trusted brand and no matter what he might bring to the screen, social, dramas, biopics, action or comedy films it all works. With nearly all his films raking in close to 100 crores, the star is no doubt a favorite of the producers. The big question though is that will Akshay finally deliver a Diwali blockbuster, especially since all his previous films that released on the festival failed to churn big box office numbers till 2010?

Here’s taking a look at Akshay’s Diwali box office report card  -

Akshay’s tryst with Diwali began in 2004 with Aitraaz which also starred Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor. The film was a hit and grossed Rs. 22.7 crores depite the clash with Yash Chopra’s Veera Zara which walked away with the cake.

In 2005, his comedy film with John Abraham, Garam Masala released on Diwali clashing with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer Kyonki. Akshay’s film was again a hit beating Salman Khan and grossed Rs. 41.43 crores at the box office.

Salman and Akshay joined hands the very next Diwali for Jaan-e-mann (2006) and were beaten to a pulp by Shah Rukh Khan Don which was a big success. Jaan-e-Mann earned Rs. 35.5 crores and was flop.

After taking a two-year break after that debacle, Akshay returned on Diwali with an ambitious thriller Blue. A flop at the box office it only managed to rake in Rs. 52.5 crores in its lifetime and definitely put all dreams of the makers of releasing a sequel of the film to a halt.

The last attempt in that decade for Akshay was in 2010 when he released Action Replayy, a time travel comedy, also starring Aishwarya Rai, was big flop earning a mere Rs. 38.44 crores. The film clashed with Ajay Devgn’s Golmaal 3 which was a blockbuster.

Thus, this far Akshay has only had limited luck with Diwali releases but with Akshay's current string of successes and the overall success of the Housefull franchise, it is safe to say that Housefull 4 can give Akshay his first Diwali blockbuster.