The Christmas and New Year week has always been a tough test for Bollywood. This is the time when a film's fate isn't decided solely by its first-day collection. Films released during this period carry the weight of expectations and hype built up throughout the year. It's the last big opportunity of the year, where a film can either make history or flop miserably.

Clash of Big Films
This year, the challenge has become even bigger due to the clash of big films. Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday's 'Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri' (December 25, 2025) has to compete not only with audience expectations but also with strong films like 'Dhurandhar' and 'Avatar' on Christmas. Therefore, this release isn't just about a new film, but a test for the entire Christmas slot. In this report, we will tell you, through the records of the last decade and a half, whether the Christmas festival is a guarantee of success for film releases or a harbinger of trouble. We will also understand this better from the perspective of trade experts.

The First Phase (2010–2014): When Christmas was like a 'Blockbuster Guarantee'
Between 2010 and 2014, the industry gradually began to build confidence in Christmas releases. However, the beginning wasn't very promising. Despite heavy promotion and big stars, the film 'Tees Maar Khan' (2010) didn't prove to be a big hit. This made it clear that while the release date might be significant, the film itself needs to be strong. After this, 'Don 2' (2011) salvaged the reputation of this slot with its style and action. The following year, 'Dabangg 2' (2012) proved that audiences come to watch large-scale entertainment during Christmas. The real turning point came when 'Dhoom 3' (2013) was released. The film broke records and transformed Christmas into an event release. This trend was furthered by 'PK' (2014), which showed that a powerful story could be just as effective on this date.

The Second Phase (2015–2019): When Christmas Became a Major Battlefield
From 2015 onwards, the Christmas slot came to be considered the riskiest. The simultaneous release of 'Bajirao Mastani' (2015) and 'Dilwale' (2015) on the same day made it clear that this was no longer just a battle of dates, but a battle of content. 'Dangal' (2016) then proved that the real test of a Christmas release comes after the holidays. It's run, which lasted for months, completely redefined the slot. The return of mass entertainment came with 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (2017). Meanwhile, 'Zero' (2018) served as a reminder that big experiments don't always connect with the audience. 2019 saw mixed results. 'Good Newwz' (2019) kept the audience engaged with its lighthearted content. On the other hand, 'Dabangg 3' (2019) failed to prove that a franchise can work its magic every time.

The Third Phase (2020–2024): When Circumstances Changed, and So Did Christmas
In 2020, theaters remained closed due to the lockdown. For the first time, the biggest Christmas slot remained empty. The return wasn't easy. Expectations were high for '83' (2021) and 'Cirkus' (2022), but changing audience habits had an impact. Conversely, 'Dunki' (2023) showed that if a film gradually wins over the audience, the Christmas slot can still provide a long run. 'Baby John' (2024) indicated that in these changed times, this date is no longer as easy as it once was.

So far, we've looked at the history of films released on Christmas. Now, let's see what industry experts think about the current situation. The slot is the biggest, but this year the game is different: Girish Wankhede, Trade Expert.
December 25th is a huge time for film releases. Historically, most successful films have been released in this slot, although some films like 'Zero' also failed during this period. The extended holiday from December 25th to December 31st is considered prime time. But this year, the situation is a little different. If 'Dhurandhar' wasn't there, 'Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri' would have seemed like a big film. The current atmosphere has been created by 'Dhurandhar'. When one film performs very strongly, the other films automatically start to look smaller. Its impact is clearly visible on new releases.

Kartik-Ananya's film will bring joy: Akshay Rathi, Distributor
We have complete confidence in 'Tu Meri Main Tera...'. This film has its own value. It features personalities like Kartik and Ananya, who have their own audience. Moreover, it's the Christmas and New Year festive season, when people like to watch such entertaining and stress-free films. This film falls into that category.

PC Social Media