Not Shah Rukh Khan, this actor has the biggest Diwali box office

Shah Rukh Khan is considered to be the king of box office when it comes to delivering Diwali hits. Every year, he has atleast one film release during the weekend of Diwali. He may not have had a release on the festival in the past decade but he has in general given some of the biggest hits during this festive season – from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to Happy New Year.

However, Shah Rukh Khan’s Diwali magic seems dull when you compare his films performance to some of the highest grossers during Diwali. One such film is Prakash Mehra's Muqaddar Ka Sikandar which released in 1978. The film was such a huge rage when it released on October 27, on Diwali that yearthat people lined up outside the cinema hall to get the film’s ticket, and it was declared an immediate success.

Why was Muqaddar....such a huge hit?

What worked possibly for the film – the festive rush, newfound Amitabh Bachchan’s filmy aura and some great storyline. The film earned ₹17 crore in India alone, becoming the year's highest-grossing film. When you adjust inflation and calculate the film’s earning in today’s time, its collections total over Rs 800 crore in 2024, much higher than even the biggest action films such as Pathaan, Jawan, Animal, and Gadar 2.

According to IMDb, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar sold 7 crore tickets in India. Only two films have since crossed this mark - Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.

In comparison, recent blockbusters like Animal and Jawan sold 3-4 crore tickets domestically.

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar starred Amitabh Bachchan in the titular role, along with Vinod Khanna, Rekha, Rakhee, Nirupa Roy, Amjad Khan, and Ranjeet.