Experts are already wondering if the old guard is making way for the new
2019 is a hallmark year for several Bollywood actors. Amitabh Bachchan celebrates his 50th and Anil Kapoor commemorates his 40th year in Hindi cinema. It will also be almost three decades since the Khan triumvirate — Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh — has been entertaining and enthralling us on screen. So, what if the trio didn’t have a particularly impressive 2018?
Experts are already wondering if the old guard is making way for the new. Talk of Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor and Varun Dhawan staking their claim to the Bollywood throne is in the air. However, we think it is a bit early to really spew venom. Of course, 2018 did play out very differently (ohr should we say indifferently) for Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh. For the first time in 30 years, they failed to make it to the top of the heap. While Aamir’s Thugs Of Hindostan proved to be a calamity, Shah Rukh’s Zero amounted to nought (not literally).
1. SALMAN’S ‘FLOPS’ ARE STILL BIGGER THAN MANY OTHERS’ HITS
)
(Clockwise from top left) Maine Pyar Kiya; Bajrangi Bhaijaan; Sultan; Tiger Zinda Hai
Salman’s Race 3 made it to the winning post. However, the Rs 166.15 crore that it earned wasn’t quite as tall as Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) which earned Rs 339 crore and Sultan (2016) that raked in Rs 300.67 crore. So, there was a segment of naysayers that was tut-tutting. There were those who were ready to erase the Khantastic achievement of the three mega-stars, who had at least one blockbuster (or at least one film in the top four) every single year from the start of their careers. But when they hit a rough patch in 2018, there were hush-hush murmurs of a change.
2. SHAH RUKH’S DDLJ CONTINUES TO RUN IN ITS 24TH YEAR
)
(Clockwise from top left) Baazigar; Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge; Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... ; Chennai Express
This is a feat no other actor has been able to match. Aditya Chopra’s debut film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in lead roles, which released in October 1995, continues to run at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre. It holds the record for the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema.
3. AAMIR’S DANGAL IS THE HIGHEST-GROSSING HINDI FILM
)
(Clockwise from top left) Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak; 3 Idiots; PK; Dangal
The biopic on Mahavir Singh Phogat, who was single-handedly responsible for making his daughters, Geeta and Babita Phogat, gold medalists in wrestling, crossed Rs 374.53 crore at the BO. The movie, which was produced by Aamir and also had him in the lead role, continues to hold the record for the highest-grossing Hindi film till date.
4. CURRENTLY, TWO KHANS ARE TAKING TIME-OFF
)
Aamir khan (left) and Shah Rukh Khan
Salman still holds sway. Even as we speak he is readying himself with Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bharat that will release this Eid. He will follow this up with Dabangg 3. Though SRK and Aamir have taken time out, it hardly means that they will not strike back once they land the right script.
Anyway, check out some of the landmark films of the Khans (Box 1). And, then see Box 2 to know who ruled the roost last year. You will notice the change. But, as we said earlier, a change hardly signifies an end.
1988-2017 [30 years]
More than one movie of theirs featured in the Top 4 at the box office
1988 - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
1989 - Maine Pyar Kiya
1993 - Baazigar
1994 - Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!
1995 - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge; Karan Arjun
1996 - Raja Hindustani
1998 - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
1999 - Hum Saath-Saath Hain
2000 - Mohabbatein
2001 - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India
2002 - Devdas
2005 - No Entry
2006 - Rang De Basanti
2008 - Ghajini; Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
2009 - 3 Idiots; Wanted
2010 - Dabangg
2011 - Bodyguard
2012 - Ek Tha Tiger
2014 - PK
2015 - Bajrangi Bhaijaan
2016 - Sultan, Dangal
2017 - Tiger Zinda Hai
1) Sanju (2018): Rs 334.57 cr (starring Ranbir Kapoor)
2) Padmaavat (2019): Rs 282.28 cr (starring Ranveer Singh)
3) Simmba (2018): Rs 239.68 cr (starring Ranveer Singh) [Rs 96.75 cr (4 Days; 28 Dec – 31 Dec) + Rs 142.93 cr (added in 2019)]
4) 2.0 (2018, Hindi): Rs 185.89 cr
(The Rajinikanth-starrer did big numbers in Hindi due to the presence of Akshay Kumar, who played the antagonist)
