Overseas Ranking: Top Stars of Bollywood

Aamir Khan has finally edged past Shahrukh Khan in the overseas markets for the first time. Not too long ago, Shahrukh was in a league of his own, but after the super-success of ‘3 Idiots’ Aamir Khan films too have been taking record-openings. Aamir currently has two of the highest grossers in the history of Indian cinema to his credit – Dhoom 3 and 3 Idiots, only two films that have crossed $25 million overseas. The $25 million mark could be considered equivalent to the 200 crore club in the domestic market.

The rest of the list remains the same.

  • The list below would be based on the gross box office collections of an actor’s last five movies. To keep the comparison fair, all figures are in US dollars.
  • Only lead roles would be considered. Cameos, special appearances and guest appearances won’t be taken under consideration. Non-commercial and art films like ‘Dhobi Ghat’ have also not been considered.
  • Dated movies that released before 2007 have not been considered.
  • We have only included 8 actors in the list because the rest are not bankable stars overseas. The likes of Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra, with a couple of solid overseas performers behind them, are emerging as stars to watch out for. Currently, it’s unfair to include them in the list.
Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma - PK

Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma – PK

Rank 1 Aamir Khan: Aamir Khan has finally ended Shahrukh Khan’s 2-decade long overseas dominance. With the release of his upcoming film ‘PK’, Aamir is likely to establish himself as the new king of the overseas markets. While the consistency and craze for Shahrukh will be difficult to match, Aamir too has a loyal fan-following which extends to countries like Japan and China. He currently has the highest grossing overseas film to his credit, Dhoom 3, which released in theatres during Christmas last year.

  • Dhoom 3 – $31 million
  • Talaash – $8.95 million
  • 3 Idiots – $25.9 million
  • Ghajini – $7.75 million
  • Taare Zameen Par – $3.20 million
  • Total – $76.8 million (average $15.36 million per film)

Rank 2 Shahrukh Khan: An actor who has dominated the overseas markets like no other star in the history of Indian Cinema, Shahrukh Khan remains the biggest crowd puller outside India. His lowest grossers are far higher than the highest grossers of most other actors. However, Aamir Khan films have taken business to another level in the overseas markets. Happy New Year had to collect $23.5 million or more for SRK to retain the top spot, the film collected about $15.9 million.

  • Happy New Year – $15.9 million
  • Chennai Express – $18.95 million
  • Jab Tak Hai Jaan – $13.25 million
  • Don 2 – $11.25 million
  • Ra. One – $10.9 million
  • Total – $70.5 million (average $14.05 million per film)

Rank 3 Salman Khan: The biggest star in India is at number three overseas and lags way behind Aamir and Shahrukh. Most of his films belong to the action / masala genre, which could be one of the reasons why his films don’t perform as well in overseas territories. His latest release, Kick, was also his highest grosser ahead of Ek Tha Tiger. Currently, Kick is the 3rd highest overseas grosser of the year after Happy New Year and Bang Bang.

  • Kick – $11.3 million
  • Jai Ho – $6.1 million
  • Dabangg 2 – $8.48 million
  • Ek Tha Tiger – $10.4 million
  • Bodyguard – $8.3 million
  • Total – $44.58 million (average $8.92 million per film)

Rank 4 Hrithik Roshan: The super-success of Bang Bang in the overseas markets has closed the gap between Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan. It will be interesting to see if Hrithik can go past Salman after the release of Mohenjo Daro in 2016. The Top 4 stars are the biggest crowd-pullers overseas, the gap between them and the rest is pretty big.

  • Bang Bang – $13.5 million
  • Krrish 3 – $8.78 million
  • Agneepath – $6.1 million
  • Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobara – $7.21 million
  • Guzaarish – $3.22 million
  • Total – $38.81 million (average $7.76 million per film)

Rank 5 Ranbir Kapoor: Besharam under-performed big time, but Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was a massive success at the box office. Barfi and Rockstar too did well.

  • Besharam – $2.96 million
  • Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani – $10.45 million
  • Barfi! – $5.86 million
  • Rockstar – $3.36 million
  • Anjaana Anjaani – $3.2 million
  • Total – $25.83 million (average $5.17 million per film)

Rank 6 Saif Ali Khan: Saif’s latest release Happy Ending has fared poorly in the overseas markets. The film has collected $1 million in its opening weekend, but the success of Race 2 and Cocktail ensures that Saif continues to hold on to the 6th spot. Happy Ending should collect around $1.5 – 1.75 million by the end of its run as it has dropped all over on Monday.

  • Happy Ending – $1.75 million (expected)
  • Humshakals - $2.65 million
  • Bullet Raja- $1 million
  • Race 2 - $6.4 million
  • Cocktail - $4.3 million
  • Total – $16.1 million (average $3.22 million per film)

Rank 7 Ajay Devgn: Singham Returns has done well and so have most of his films directed by Rohit Shetty. Apart from those, Son of Sardaar was a decent hit. Devgn is ahead of Akshay Kumar by a small margin. Films like Action Jackson don’t perform well overseas. If the film collects $5 million or more, Ajay will take the 6th spot, if it collects less than $3.25 million, Ajay will go below Akshay to Rank 8.

  • Singham Returns – 4.3 million
  • Satyagraha – $2.4 million
  • Himmatwala – $1.3 million
  • Son of Sardaar – $2.8 million
  • Bol Bachchan – $4.1 million
  • Total – $15.1 million (average $3.02 million per film)

Rank 8 Akshay Kumar: Singh Is Kinng (7.1 million), Housefull 2 ($6 million), Heyy Baby ($4.4 million) are several others were hugely successful films. Back in 2007 – 2008, Akshay movies used to fare better than Aamir, Salman and Hrithik’s. But his last few films have under-performed big time. His biggest hit in the last 2 years is Holiday: A Solider Is Never Off Duty.

  • Entertainment – 2.8 million
  • Holiday: A Solider Is Never Off Duty – $4.2 million
  • Boss – $2.75 million
  • Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbaai Dobaara – $1.85 million
  • Special 26 – $2.75 million
  • Total – $14.25 million (average $2.85 million per film)

And finally, we also have the list of the Top 10 highest grossing films overseas. Shahrukh Khan has a staggering 6 films in the Top 10, Aamir Khan has 2, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan have one each.

  • 1. Dhoom 3 – $ 31 million
  • 2. 3 Idiots – $ 25.9 million
  • 3. My Name Is Khan – $22.98 million
  • 4. Chennai Express - $ 18.95 million
  • 5. Happy New Year – $ 15.9 million
  • 6. Bang Bang - $13.5 million
  • 7. Jab Tak Hai Jaan - $13.25 million
  • 8. Don 2 - $11.25 million
  • 9. Kick - $11.3 million
  • 10. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna - $10.8 million
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174 Comments

  • In the overseas market, it’s clearly Aamir vs SRk. But Aamir will increase his difference because PK will surely gross way more than TZP

    The sad part about this comparison is SRK’s MNIK got replaced by the very average HNY. Hope that doesnt happen with TZP. Expecting a very made film which wins hearts while ruling box office

  • I understand ur logic indicine for not including youngistaan in the ranking but once abcd2, brothers, ddd, tevar, byomkesh become huge worldwide hits u should include us.

    thank u

  • You can look at it from different ways. SRK all his films are above $10 million overseas. Aamir was just lucky with brand Dhoom en I must admit 3 Idiots was a fine movie, also because the other actors. Other films of him are waisted. PK will also, mark my words.

  • It means Aamir’s whole career in overseas is just 1.31 crores more than SRK’s. Just two films are not included: Rang De Basanti & Fanaa! Great! Mr Perfectionist! Actually, Aamir career startex in 2006.
    Even our oldie shaukeen’s favorite Akki films last years might have done more business!

  • SRK will be always kingnin overseas market…..i knw HNY was not overseas friendly movie but it should have been cross 20 million. ..he will regain his position surely aftet fan n raees….

  • AAMIRs 100 crs overseas – RAJU HIRANI….150 crs – Dhoom brand.

    SRKs 100 crs overseas – Kjo,Rohit Shetty,Fhara Khan (Highly Expected)

  • Aamir is number one only due to D3 n 3I….dhoom was huge brand n 3I was classic movie….there was nothing star power…if so then PK should have cross 20 million easily. ..then I will accept he is bigger than SRK

  • AAMIRS 100 crs overseas – 3IDIOTS (xmas)….150 crs – Dhoom 3 (xmas)

    SRKs 100 crs overseas – MNIK (February)….CE (EID August)…HNY (Diwali October)

  • Fan will definitely do wonders at the overseas box office but it would be difficult for him to reclaim his top spot.SRK will always be remembered as the king of overseas because of his consistency which can’t be matched by any other superstar

  • my prediction foh top movies of 2015..hope shahrukh replaces aamir in sha Allah
    Fan 20$+ million
    prdp 14$ million
    bb 10-12$ million
    baby 8$+million
    phantom 6$million

  • Also ranbirs jagga jasoos n window seat and bombay velvet are strong contenders.
    they wil crack 5 million foh sure if everything goes in their favour

  • K3g is still highest grosser of all time if it’s collection match with today… Srk power & don’t forget KANK OVERSEAS PERFORMANCE

  • Yes, Aamir is no.1 in overseas market. PK I’d expected to do great business as well.

    However, one can’t simply ignore SRK when it is in overseas whether I like him or not.

    Though Shah Rukh Khan is known for his marketing talents and has significant hold on the overseas market, Salman Khan has his own achievements to name in terms of numbers and geographies. It was Maine Pyar Kiya, that opened Bollywood films to the overseas market with a dream run in the West Indies. It was dubbed in English as When Love Calls and in Spanish as Te Amo. Hum Aapke Hain Koun! smashed records everywhere and was the first film to gross over Rs.50 crores at the Box Office. Also, it was the first film to gross over a $1,000,000 in the US market, and over 1,000,000 Pounds in the UK market.

    Shah Rukh Khan is more talked about in this regard because with SALES written in caps and bold in his blood, he marketed his success as well, and much better than any other actor can ever even think of replicating.

    Having said that, afterwards Salman stopped doing NRI appealing movies and promoting in overseas market. However, the two films ETT & Kick that had been stylishly shot in foreign locations did great business in overseas market. That shows that Salman has not lost his hold on overseas audiences and just doesn’t cater the overseas audiences what they like.

  • Akshay Kumar :
    Baby ( jan 2015)
    Gabbar ( april 2015)
    Brothers ( july 2015)
    Singh Is Bling (oct 2015)
    Airlift
    Housefull 3
    Rowdy Rathore 2

  • Hrithik’s Mohenjodaro should be his biggest overseas grosser,he will go past Salman in coming years..

    As @JC said once,overseas people used to like cliched romantic drama films of SRK during 90s and much of the 2000s..and the proof of that is KANK is still among the top 10 overseas grossers..But i think the saturation level is reached,NRIs are looking for better films since 3Idiots and hence they have shown faith in Aamir..

    As indicine have mentioned Akki’s films in 2007-08 used to collect better than Aamir,Salman and HR’s films..and that is probably due to the loads of pathetic films done by him during 2008-2010 including tashan,CCTC,Blue,TMK,Kambakht Ishq which dented his progress.
    But I hope audience will start trusting him after a good film in BABY..

  • Hrithik Roshan :
    Mohenjo Daro (2016)
    Kabir Khan’s next (not confirmed)
    Farhan Akhtar’s next time travel drama (rumoured)
    Filmkraft productions’ next (not confirmed)
    Krrish 4

  • Shahrukh Khan :
    Fan (aug 2015)
    Raes
    Don 3
    Rohit Shetty’s next
    Aditya Chopra’s next with Katrina (not confirmed)

  • We want our king to promote FAN in overseas many months before and make more fans in overseas so that all these fans will watch FAN in theatre

  • Salman Khan :
    Bajrangi Bhaijaan (july 2015)
    Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (nov 2015)
    Sultan (july 2016)
    Shuddhi (nov 2016)
    No Entry Mein Entry
    Dabangg 3
    Mahesh Manjrekar’s next (not confirmed)
    Anand L Rai’s next Ranjhana fame (not confirmed)
    Prabhudeva’s next (not confirmed)

  • Aamir khan is ahead of our king in overseas but he deserves it coz many people in overseas started watching bollywood movies after oscar nominated movie Lagaan

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