'People advised me not to release...': Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat producer on box office clash with Ayushmann Khurrana-Rashmika Mandanna's Thamma

Anshul Garg, producer of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, recently opened up about releasing the film alongside Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s Thamma during Diwali.

Trusting the story over strategy

In conversation with DNA, Garg said, "Of course, a lot of people advised me not to release the film during Diwali or alongside a big commercial film like Thamma. But I’ve always believed that when your work has honesty, it will find its audience — no matter what you’re up against."




Elaborating further, he added, "Music has always been my strength, and emotion has always been my focus. I trusted both completely with this film. The kind of love the audience has shown only reaffirms that belief — that sincerity and storytelling still connect deeper than strategy or scale."

On the film's success, he said, ''A film doesn’t need a superstar to succeed; it needs a story that connects and actors who can live that story on screen. I will always back a script that moves me, not a name that sells.”

Hansal Mehta applauds the film

Meanwhile, Hansal Mehta recently gave a shout out to the movie and director Milap Zaveri for the response which the film got in cinemas. He took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, "Hey @MassZaveri, congrats on the roaring success of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat! May you keep charming the masses!" Soon after, a user reshared the post and criticised the Scam 1992 director, calling out what they saw as hypocrisy. The user wrote, “This ‘sensitive, intelligent’ man is busy congratulating the writer-director of those misogynistic films where ‘No’ means ‘Yes’. Calls it a success, not realising how deeply such trash will poison the minds of young viewers. Bravo."



However, the 'Shahid' director faced criticism and he was accused of supporting a 'misogynistic' film. A user responded to his appreciation post for the film and said, "This “sensitive, intelligent” man is busy congratulating the writer-director of those misogynistic films where ‘No’ means ‘Yes’. Calls it a success, not realising how deeply such trash will poison the minds of young viewers. Bravo. ��"

Hansal Mehta explains his stance

Menta explained his stance to the user and elaborated, "One always wishes films could change the world - that Shahid could heal divisions, that Arth could empower, that Saraansh could awaken empathy, that Nil Battey Sannata could inspire a million mothers. That Life is Beautiful could prevent genocide. But alas. Satya didn’t make gangsters out of men. Gangs of Wasseypur didn’t. The Godfather, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction - none of them did. Or did they?"

He further added, "If films can poison, then surely they can enlighten too. Maybe even teach a bit of civility to you. Perhaps even how one colleague can congratulate another on their success without the need for virtue signalling and grandstanding."

The film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa in lead roles.