Updated ranking of Top 15 Actors in the industry after the release of films like Housefull 3, Sultan, Dishoom, Rustom and Mohenjo Daro.
Some points:
- The list would be based on the net box office collections of an actor’s last five movies. For younger actors, the minimum number of films is 3.
- Only lead roles would be considered. Cameos, special appearances and guest appearances won’t be taken under consideration.
- Dated movies that released before 2007 have not been considered.
- Only domestic box office collections is being taken into account. Collections from all regional versions have been taken into considering as this list is for the top actors in India and regional language releases affect Hindi business in their respective states. For example, Tamil version will affect business of Hindi version in Tamilnadu / Kerala circuit.
Top Actors In Bollywood 2016
Rank 1 Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood is on top of the world, once again regaining the position that he truly deservers. It’s difficult to describe the hysteria around Salman Khan at the moment. The kind of craze that Salman’s presence is generating has probably never been witnessed, even if it has, we’d have to go back as far as Amitabh Bachchan’s era in the 70s and 80s. With younger actors catering more to the multiplex audience, we might never have a megastar like him ever again.
Salman has also become the first ever actor to average Rs 225 crore or more per film and his current average is 30 crore higher than even Aamir Khan, who does very few films. With 8 blockbusters, Salman has successfully sustained his stardom at a very high level in the last 6 years. There is a good chance he could go even higher, because his choice of films has significantly improved in the last couple of years.
When Tubelight enters the list, Jai Ho will be out. So Salman’s average could go even higher.
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- Sultan – 302 crore
- Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – 213 crore (including regional versions)
- Bajrangi Bhaijaan – 321 crore
- Kick - 233 crore
- Jai Ho - 112 crore
- Next film – Tubelight (Eid 2017)
- Total – 1181 crore (Average per film: 236.2 cr)
Rank 2 Aamir Khan: The domestic box office for Bollywood has now become a two-man industry with Aamir and Salman dominating it. They are the only two actors to deliver 300 crore plus grossers and the contribution of their last 5 films is more than Rs 1000 crore – which also means, they average more than 200 crore per film! The rest have a lot of catching up to do, both in terms of major grossers and the hold over the major festive weekends – Eid, Diwali and Christmas – which is going to be crucial to sustain their stardom and aura in the next few years.
After the release of Sultan, Aamir has dropped down to No 2 in the list. His next film ‘Dangal’ would have to collect 261 crore or more, for Aamir to beat Salman and take the top spot in the ranking.
- PK – 341 cr
- Dhoom 3 - 285 cr
- Talaash - 93 cr
- 3 Idiots - 202 cr
- Ghajini - 116 cr
- Next film - Dangal (Christmas 2016)
- Total - 1037 crore (Average per film: 207.4 cr)
Rank 3 Shah Rukh Khan: FAN has been a major disappointment at the box office, because of which an outstandingly consistent career is showing signs of slowing down. His fan-following is still one of the biggest, because the opening day of a film like ‘FAN’ was still close to Rs 20 crore net on Day 1. Happy New Year was record-breaking and Dilwale was huge too. But it’s the neutral audience that aren’t coming out in big numbers to watch his films. His choice of films has disappointed a lot of people, which is obvious from the fact that his last few films have all carried mixed to negative word-of-mouth.
‘Dear Zindagi’ may not be included in the list if it doesn’t feature Shah Rukh in the lead. ‘Raees’ is his next big film. For SRK to beat Salman, ‘Raees’ would have to collect 519 crore or more at the domestic box office. Going past Aamir would depend on how Dangal fares.
- FAN – 84 crore
- Dilwale – 148 crore
- Happy New Year – 204 crore
- Chennai Express - 227 crore
- Jab Tak Hai Jaan - 121 crore
- Next film – Dear Zindagi (may not be included if it doesn’t feature SRK in the lead)
- Total – 784 crore (Average per film: 156.8 cr)
Rank 4 Hrithik Roshan: Mohenjo Daro had to collect just 145 crore for Hrithik to go past SRK, but the film has shockingly fallen 85 crore short! The debacle will hurt Hrithik much more than ‘Guzaarish’ or ‘Kites’, but he’ll be hoping to come back strongly with ‘Kaabil’. His choice of films has been a major disappointment for fans and his last two films were also involved in a box office clash.
Hrithik’s average remains good and he’ll retain his standing until Akshay Kumar starts delivering bigger grossers.
- Mohenjo Daro – 60 crore*
- Bang Bang – 181 crore
- Krrish 3 - 244 crore
- Agneepath - 122 crore
- Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobara - 93 crore
- Next film – Kaabil (Republic Day 2017)
- Total - 700 cr (Average per film: 140 cr)
Rank 5 Akshay Kumar: It has been a great year for Akshay Kumar. He was below younger actors at the beginning of the year, but with Airlift, Housefull 3 and Rustom crossing the 100 crore mark, the superstar is back in the Top 5. He has also comprehensively won the clash against Hrithik’s Mohenjo Daro.
However, the big challenge remains the 134 crore total of Rowdy Rathore, which Akshay hasn’t been able to surpass in the last 4 years. The number of films he does every year could well be the reason, but Salman too has had three releases in the last 12 months and all of them have crossed the 200 crore mark.
With multiplex audience returning to watch his films and a mega-budget film like ‘Robot 2.0’ lined up for release, it’ll be interesting to see if Akshay can take it to the next level in 2017. Even a Top 3 position will not be out of reach if his films start collecting more than 140-150 crore.
- Rustom – 125 crore*
- Housefull 3 – 109 crore
- Airlift – 129 crore
- Singh Is Bling – 88 crore
- Brothers – 83 crore
- Next film – Jolly LLB 2 (February 6 2017)
- Total Collections: 534 cr (Average per film: 106.8 cr)
Rank 6 Ranveer Singh: Ranveer is down one position in the list, but that wouldn’t make any difference to him. He is arguably the most promising young star in the industry. From a career that appeared to be faltering after the release of Kill Dil, Bajirao Mastani has changed Ranveer’s life.
His next film is a biggie too, Aditya Chopra’s Befikre. It would have to collect 161 crore or more for Ranveer to go past Akshay. An average of 100 crore over 5 films is also something to look forward to, as that would make him the youngest star to average a century per film.
- Bajirao Mastani – 187 cr
- Dil Dhadakne Do – 77 cr
- Kill Dil – 32 cr
- Gunday – 78 cr
- Ram Leela - 115 cr
- Next film - Befikre (December 9)
- Total Collections – 489 cr (Average per film: 97.8 cr)
Rank 7 Varun Dhawan: The most consistent actor among the younger generation of actors, Varun has never disappointed at the box office. All his films have opened well and every film has gone on to be a decent grosser. No other actor in recent memory has had such a strong and consistent beginning to his career.
His line up of upcoming films – Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwa 2 – is solid too. Will he continue his winning streak? If Badrinath collects 124 crore or more, Varun will average 100 crore per film.
- Dishoom – 70 cr
- Dilwale – 148 cr
- ABCD 2 – 105 cr
- Badlapur – 52 cr
- Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania – 77 cr
- Next film – Badrinath Ki Dulhania (March 10 2017)
- Total Collections – 452 cr (Average per film: 90.4 cr)
Rank 8 Ranbir Kapoor: His career was at an all-time high after the success of films like ‘Rockstar’, ‘Barfi’ and ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, but the last couple of years have been disastrous for Ranbir Kapoor as ‘Besharam’ tanked after a good opening day and ‘Bombay Velvet’ couldn’t even manage a face-saving opening at the box office. Tamasha looked like a winner because it was an Imtiaz Ali film starring Deepika Padukone as the female lead, even that failed. Nothing seems to be working for Ranbir, but the acting talent that he possesses will get him the big films. His line up is strong with films under directors like Karan Johar and Rajkumar Hirani!
His next release is Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. If the film collects 118 crore or more, Ranbir will go past Varun. To beat Ranveer, ADHM will have to collect 155 crore or more.
- Tamasha – 66 crore
- Bombay Velvet – 24 crore
- Besharam - 57 crore
- Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani - 188 crore
- Barfi! - 106 cr
- Next film – Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (Diwali)
- Total - 441 cr (Average per film: 88.2 cr)
Rank 9 Ajay Devgn: Ajay hasn’t had a release for over a year now. But the actor is making a shift from medium budget to big budget films and ‘SHIVAAY’ will be his next big film. He is producing, acting and directing it.. but has a challenger in the form of Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Shivaay would have to collect 125 crore for Ajay to surpass Varun, 162 crore to beat Ranveer and 207 crore to replace Akshay in the Top 5.
- Drishyam – 73 cr
- Action Jackson – 57 cr
- Singham Returns - 140 cr
- Satyagraha – 58 cr
- Himmatwala - 46 cr
- Next film – Shivaay (Diwali 2016)
- Total: 374 cr (Average per film: 74.8 cr)
Rank 10 Sidharth Malhotra: Kapoor & Sons has done well at the box office, but hasn’t helped Sidharth edge out of Ajay. The actor’s next release ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ has to collect 81 crore or more for Sidharth to go one up in the ranking. However, for an actor who has only done 5 films, Rs 73 crore per film is a fantastic average to have. His only failure is a big budget film like ‘Brothers’, which also had a big star like Akshay Kumar.
- Kapoor & Sons – 73 crore
- Brothers – 83 cr
- Ek Villain - 103 cr
- Hasee Toh Phasee - 35 cr
- Student Of The Year - 70 cr
- Next film – Baar Baar Dekho (September 9)
- Total Collections – 364 cr (Average per film: 72.8 cr)
Rank 11 Arjun Kapoor: Tevar tanked, but Arjun Kapoor has comeback strongly with Ki and Ka, which was a niche film that was well-promoted and opened very well too. It has helped him go up from Rank 12 to 11. Arjun’s average of 62 crore per film (last 5 films) is fantastic too, considering the fact that it includes an off-beat film like Finding Fanny. Half Girlfriend, based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel with the same title, is a biggie. If it does as well as 2 States or better, it’ll take him higher up in the ranking.
- Ki and Ka – 54 cr
- Tevar – 40 cr
- Finding Fanny – 36 cr
- 2 States - 102 cr
- Gunday - 78 cr
- Next film - Half Girlfriend (May 19 2017)
- Total Collections – 310 cr (Average per film: 62 cr)
Rank 12 Farhan Akhtar: His popularity with the multiplex audience in cities is under-rated. His solo film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ not only took a good opening at the box office, but went on to collect more than Rs 100 crore. Farhan has Rock On 2 lined up for release later this year. It would have to collect just 36 crore or more, for Farhan to reclaim his position that he lost to Arjun.
- Wazir – 40 cr
- Shaadi Ke Side Effects – 38 cr
- Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – 104 cr
- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara – 93 cr
- Karthik Calling Karthik - 27 cr
- Next Film - Rock On 2 (November 11)
- Total Collections – 302 cr (Average per film: 60.4 cr)
Rank 13 Saif Ali Khan: Phantom didn’t work even though it was directed by Kabir Khan and Happy Ending was one of the biggest disasters of 2014. Saif is currently going through the worst phase of his career.
- Phantom – 53 cr
- Happy Ending – 22 cr
- Humshakals - 63 cr
- Bullet Raja- 36 cr
- Race 2 - 102 cr
- Next film – Rangoon (February 24 2017)
- Total - 276 cr (Average per film: 55.2 cr)
Rank 14 Shahid Kapoor: Udta Punjab has done well at the box office, but it hasn’t helped Shahid better his ranking. It’s hard to believe that an actor of the calibre of Shahid is lagging at the bottom of the list – just ahead of Emraan Hashmi and behind Saif Ali Khan. His choice of films will never allow him to do justice to his true potential. While Rangoon looks good on paper, Vishal Bhardwaj films are usually restricted to audience in 5-10 cities.
- Udta Punjab – 60 cr
- Shaandaar – 43 cr
- Haider – 58 cr
- R.. Rajkumar - 65 cr
- Phata Poster Nikhla Hero - 39 cr
- Next film - Rangoon (February 24 2017)
- Total Collections – 265 cr (Average per film: 53 cr)
Rank 15 Emraan Hashmi: Raaz Reboot will be make or break for Emraan Hashmi as its his biggest franchise and it’s also the kind of film that appeals to his core fanbase. If Raaz Reboot is rejecting, it’ll be curtains for Emraan.
- Azhar – 33 cr
- Hamari Adhuri Kahani – 38 cr
- Mr X – 25 cr
- Ungli – 21 cr
- Raja Natwarlal – 27 cr
- Next film - Raaz Reboot (September 16 2016)
- Total collections – 144 cr (Average per film: 28.8 cr)
| Actor | Last 5 Total | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Salman Khan | 1181 crore | 236.2 crore |
| 2. Aamir Khan | 1037 crore | 207.4 crore |
| 3. Shah Rukh Khan | 784 crore | 156.8 crore |
| 4. Hrithik Roshan | 700 crore | 140.0 crore |
| 5. Akshay Kumar | 534 crore | 106.8 crore |
| 6. Ranveer Singh | 489 crore | 97.8 crore |
| 7. Varun Dhawan | 452 crore | 90.4 crore |
| 8. Ranbir Kapoor | 441 crore | 88.2 crore |
| 9. Ajay Devgn | 374 crore | 74.8 crore |
| 10. Sidharth Malhotra | 364 crore | 72.8 crore |
| 11. Arjun Kapoor | 310 crore | 62.0 crore |
| 12. Farhan Akhtar | 302 crore | 60.4 crore |
| 13. Saif Ali Khan | 276 crore | 55.2 crore |
| 14. Shahid Kapoor | 265 crore | 53.0 crore |
| 15. Emraan Hashmi | 144 crore | 28.8 crore |