Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Box Office Collection Day 1: Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa’s Romantic Drama Opens Decently Amid Festive Competition

A Romantic Tale Meets Festive Energy

The romantic drama Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, finally hit the big screens on October 21, 2025, coinciding with the festive Diwali week. Directed by Milap Zaveri, the film promised a passionate, music-filled love story that dives deep into obsession, heartbreak, and redemption.

While it was never positioned as a massive blockbuster, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat managed to surprise trade experts with a solid Day 1 performance, despite facing heavy competition from other major festive releases like Thamma.

Let’s break down how this emotional rollercoaster performed on its first day at the box office — and what it could mean for its future run.

The Pre-Release Buzz

Before release, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat generated moderate but steady buzz on social media. The film’s music played a major role in building hype — songs like “Tere Deewane Hum” and “Ishq Mein Kho Gaye” found popularity among younger audiences, creating anticipation around its romantic tone.

The trailer hinted at a dark, intense love story — a mix of passion and tragedy, featuring Harshvardhan in a brooding role and Sonam in a character filled with emotional depth. Though not backed by a huge star cast or extravagant promotions, the film appealed to those craving an emotional, content-driven experience.

The film also carried a modest budget of ₹30 crore, which meant its box office expectations were more realistic compared to big-budget entertainers. With strong music, a dedicated fanbase, and good festival timing, the film set the stage for a promising start.

Day 1: A Respectable Opening

On its opening day, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat recorded a decent ₹8.5 crore net collection in India, which is a very respectable figure given its limited screen count and competition from bigger releases.

The occupancy rate on Day 1 was around 38–40% overall, with evening and night shows performing significantly better than morning ones. In cities like Lucknow, Indore, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru, the film witnessed strong footfalls, particularly among young couples and college-going audiences.

In metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi, the collections were steady but not massive due to the dominance of Thamma, which had captured most of the prime screens. However, the emotional nature of the story and the strong performances ensured a good turnout in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities — a trend that could help sustain the film in the coming days.

For Harshvardhan Rane, this was the biggest opening of his career. His earlier releases such as Haseen Dillruba and Taish had limited theatrical runs or digital releases, so Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat gave him the breakthrough theatrical opening he’s long deserved.

Regional Occupancy and Audience Footfall

The regional performance of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat paints an interesting picture of audience preferences:

• Bengaluru and Chennai: The film clocked in nearly 60% occupancy, with multiplex audiences responding positively to the chemistry between Harshvardhan and Sonam.
• Lucknow and Jaipur: North Indian centers showed great enthusiasm, with occupancy reaching 55–58%, thanks to local promotions and strong appeal of the love story.
• Mumbai and Delhi-NCR: While facing tough competition from Thamma, the film still managed around 35–40% occupancy, which is decent for a mid-scale release.
• Chandigarh and Ludhiana: The film enjoyed a surprisingly strong opening here, boosted by Sonam Bajwa’s popularity in Punjab.

Overall, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat performed best in northern and southern India, while the metro belt was slightly weaker due to competition.

Audience Reaction: A Love Story That Connects

Audience reactions on social media were mixed to positive. Viewers praised Harshvardhan’s intensity, Sonam’s emotional performance, and the soulful music. The chemistry between the two leads was frequently highlighted as the film’s strongest point.

Some audience members felt the story leaned a bit too much into melodrama in the second half, but many agreed it stayed emotionally engaging. On X (formerly Twitter), fans called it “a heartfelt, tragic love story with beautiful music,” and others described it as “the kind of romantic film Bollywood needed again.”

For a mid-budget romantic drama, the word-of-mouth response was encouraging — particularly from smaller towns where emotional stories tend to resonate deeply.

Critical Overview

Critics had a mixed-to-positive take on Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat. Many praised the performances, especially Harshvardhan’s controlled aggression and Sonam’s grace, while pointing out that the screenplay could have been tighter in the second half.

Milap Zaveri’s direction was noted for combining raw emotion with visual flair, though some critics felt the dialogue leaned toward being overly dramatic. Still, the film’s heart was appreciated, and it was widely considered a “one-time watch for lovers of intense romance.”

The music, composed by Tanishk Bagchi and Mithoon, was unanimously praised — especially the background score, which elevated emotional scenes.

Competition Factor: Clash with Thamma

One of the biggest challenges Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat faced was releasing alongside Thamma, the Ayushmann Khurrana-Rashmika Mandanna horror comedy that opened with ₹24 crore on the same day. Naturally, Thamma occupied most of the premium screens across major multiplex chains, pushing Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat into smaller screens and off-peak slots.

Despite this, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat still managed to attract its core audience — proof that romantic dramas still have their space even amid blockbuster competition. The clash might have affected its potential opening by 15–20%, but considering its lower budget, it still managed to perform well enough to stay in the race.

Budget vs Box Office: The Business Equation

With a production budget of around ₹30 crore, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat needs to earn approximately ₹50–55 crore at the domestic box office to be considered a hit.

A ₹8.5 crore opening gives it a strong start, especially since the film isn’t dependent on huge urban multiplex crowds but rather steady audience turnout in smaller centers.

The film also has strong digital and satellite rights value due to its popular lead pair and musical appeal, meaning even a moderate theatrical run could make it profitable in the long term.

If the film maintains a 20–25% hold over weekdays and grows on the weekend, it could easily cross the ₹30 crore mark within the first week, setting the stage for a profitable overall performance.

What Worked for the Film

1. Harshvardhan and Sonam’s Chemistry: The emotional and passionate connection between the two leads was widely appreciated.
2. Soulful Music: The songs played a huge role in drawing romantic film lovers to the theatres.
3. Festival Release: Releasing during Diwali gave the film an additional push as families and couples looked for feel-good entertainment.
4. Low Budget, High Returns Potential: The film’s moderate budget and decent opening create a favorable business balance.
5. Regional Appeal: Strong response from Northern and Southern India helped boost first-day earnings.

What Could Have Been Better

1. Screen Count: Competing with a major release like Thamma limited its exposure.
2. Over-Dramatic Second Half: Some critics felt the film became predictable toward the climax.
3. Certification Issue: The “A” (Adults Only) certificate may have restricted younger audiences during a family festival period.
4. Marketing: A slightly more aggressive promotional campaign could have attracted a wider audience base.

Day 1 Verdict: A Promising Start with Room to Grow

With ₹8.5 crore on its opening day, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat has started its box office journey on a positive note. The film might not have delivered a record-breaking number, but it has achieved something more valuable — a steady, word-of-mouth-driven start that gives it legs for the coming days.

Trade experts believe that if the film can hold well over the weekend, it could reach ₹25–30 crore within its first week — a very good result for its budget bracket.

The romantic drama has found an audience among viewers who crave emotional storytelling, making it a potential sleeper hit if it continues its steady run through the festive period.

Final Thoughts: Deewaniyat with a Heart

In an age dominated by high-octane action and over-the-top spectacle, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat stands out as an old-school romance that focuses on emotion rather than extravagance.

Harshvardhan Rane delivers his most mature and layered performance yet, bringing depth to his character’s obsession and heartbreak. Sonam Bajwa shines in a role that gives her both grace and emotional weight. Their chemistry feels real and heartfelt, making viewers root for their tragic love story.

The film may not be a blockbuster juggernaut, but it represents a meaningful win for romantic cinema, proving that there’s still space for love stories in today’s fast-paced Bollywood landscape.

If Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat continues to hold well through the weekend, it could easily be remembered as one of 2025’s most emotionally resonant mid-range successes — a film that didn’t rely on explosions or gimmicks but on feelings and storytelling.

Box Office Summary (Day 1):

Final Verdict:
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat might not be a massive blockbuster, but its heartfelt performances, melodious music, and steady box office start have made it a talking point of this festive season. The film’s emotional depth, backed by a strong Day 1 performance, has given it the momentum it needs to grow. With the right word-of-mouth and weekend hold, it could very well turn out to be a sleeper hit and one of the most soulful love stories of 2025.