In the last 6 months or so, after the record-breaking overseas success of films like Dhoom 3, PK and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, one question that we get asked quite frequently is about Shah Rukh Khan’s overseas dominance. Has Aamir Khan sneaked ahead of Shahrukh to establish himself as the biggest crowd puller overseas?
First things first, it’s way too early to write off SRK’s overseas dominance. Here’s why:
- SRK’s last release, Happy New Year, recorded the biggest opening weekend in one of the biggest overseas markets – UAE / GCC. A record that still stands, even after the release of PK and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (which is currently the biggest grosser).
- My Name Is Khan held the record for the highest opening weekend in UK for nearly 4 years, before Dhoom 3 broke the record.
- Chennai Express recorded the highest opening in North America, when it released back in 2013.
- Almost all SRK films that have released in Pakistan, have opened to record-breaking numbers.
- And finally, even though the Top 3 highest grossers belong to Aamir, Shahrukh still has 9 movies in the Top 20.
When it comes to the all-important current standing in the major overseas territories, films starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead are still opening to record numbers, but are not sustaining well enough to do well in the long run. So when a film with good content that strikes a chord with the overseas audience, releases, it’ll be an interesting comparison with films like PK and Dhoom 3.
Moving on to all-time records, there was a time when almost all the Top 10 overseas grossers belonged to SRK. The period between the release of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995 to My Name Is Khan in 2010, Shah Rukh Khan had no competition.
Check out the list of Hindi films that broke all-time records at the overseas box office.
| Year | Movies | Collections |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Hum Aapke Hain Kaun | $3.85 million |
| 1995 | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | $4.68 million |
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | $6.31 million |
| 2001 | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham | $8.6 million |
| 2006 | Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna | $10.80 million |
| 2010 | My Name Is Khan | $23.78 million* |
| 2009-2012 | Three Idiots | $25.45 million* |
| 2013 | Dhoom 3 | $31.09 million |
| 2014 | PK | $47.22 million |
As is pretty evident from the table above, Shahrukh set all time overseas records and he broke them himself. No other actor in the industry came close during that period. It wasn’t just those films (listed in the table) that did well, but almost every SRK film opened well overseas.
Check out the list
- Happy New Year (Blockbuster)
- Chennai Express (Blockbuster)
- My Name Is Khan (All Time Blockbuster)
- Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Blockbuster)
- Don 2 (Blockbuster)
- Ra One (Blockbuster)
- Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (All Time Blockbuster)
- Om Shanti Om (All Time Blockbuster)
- Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (Blockbuster)
- Veer Zaara (All Time Blockbuster)
- Don (Blockbuster)
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (All Time Blockbuster)
- Devdas (All Time Blockbuster)
- Kal Ho Na Ho (Blockbuster)
- Mohabbatein (Blockbuster)
- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (All Time Blockbuster)
- Dil Toh Pagal Hai (Blockbuster)
- Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (All Time Blockbuster)
Did we miss any? We probably have, because for most part of the 90s and 2000s, Bollywood meant Shah Rukh Khan for the overseas audience.
But that has changed in the last 4-5 years. After the release of 3 Idiots, overseas business of Hindi films has grown by leaps and bounds. A film like PK has collected more than Rs 130 crore from China alone, something that was unthinkable not too long ago. The exponential growth has meant that films featuring Shahrukh have to perform well outside major markets like North America, United Kingdom, UAE and Australia.
Business in countries like China has become crucial for Bollywood films to set all time overseas records and it remains to be seen if SRK films, in the future, can do well in those countries.
Until then, the least we can do is to respect the love that Shahrukh Khan has got for nearly 2 decades. The non-resident Indians and others.
Note: The comments section for this article will be closely monitored. Any silly or nonsensical comments will be deleted. Please stay on topic.
YUp he must have dominated the overseas market bt now a days his choises of mass entetainers in palce of class ones have resulted in the,”not so long run” of his films with the Hollywood producing hundreds of good content driven movies its tougher for mass film to survive outside india … n yup release date is also an important factor.. coz in most countries Christmas is much much bigger fest then diwali or eid for eg bajrangi bhajijaan carried much more positive word of mouth response then pk at max palces bt it was realsed on working days in most of countries as eid is not so major holiday there. If bb would have relased on Christmas it would have been very close or even may have broked pk’s record if we exclude earning form china.. also pk did well in china too as it was realsed during new year period of china
You know the name is SHAH RUKH KHAN. Home abroad or out of the world SRK is the only real king.
HNY China Collection 1.5 Cr
Hope, now everybody understood , why Some actors known as Super star and Someone Global mega star
Shahrukh Khan is still top as he is the most popular star in main overseas markets and his films reach where other star films don’t… Blockbusters in Overseas SHAH RUKH KHAN – 20 films, AAMIR KHAN – 3 films, SALMAN KHAN – 1 films. SHAH RUKH KHAN IS GLOBAL SUPERSTAR.
Form is temporary(aamir(pk,d3,3i)and salman(bb))…class is permanent(SRK))
No.1 Actor in India – Shah Rukh Khan.
No.1 Actor in Overseas – Shah Rukh Khan.
No.1 Actor Worldwide – Shah Rukh Khan.
Proved again & again & again.
N also note that salman and shahruk prefer to relase their movies during eid n diwali respectively which are good period for a movie in India bt not soo good overseas… salman once was not considered crowd puller overseas proved with Bb that content is the king n not anyone else soo its just matter of various aspects on the whole all the three khans are biggest crowd puller in india and in overseas….
Film like Ra One that had worst WOM and lot of negativity has blockbuster status in overseas states volume of his fan following in overseas is humongous and is still intact..he needs just a universal WOM movie..from last 5 years,WOM of his films is not that good that is the result why his movies are underperforming in overseas…I feel that Dilwale,Fan,Raees has all chances of topping the list of top overseas grossers if it strikes the chord with people…SRK was King,SRK is King,SRK will remain King forever :)
HAHK is the 1st all time blockbuster of overseas. Also it opened the overseas market for Bollywood movies.
A true superstar…I think Raees will come close to Pk in overseas market..Diwale stands no chance. if it does i will more den happy..
Top 4 highest grossers belong to Aamir & Bhai. Who cares about others!!!!!
Only actor which is equally popular in India and Overseas also. His name is Khan, KING KHAN
was it necessary to publish this article :)
If a movie like HNY can get a blockbuster status den he is really a Global star.. Koi doubt mat rakhana…
HNY another poor wom movie did 100cr in overseas..Whatever HNY has earned in overseas is all because of star power of King Khan..
Superb article thanks indicine
Top 3 Worldwide Collection
PK 750+ Cr
Bajrangi Bhaijaan 550+ Cr
Dhoom3 500+ Cr
SRK is no more in Domestic as Overseas. Now Aamir & Salman are Global Star.
I wish SRK could understand this thing one day before its too late..!
Indicine it is true that Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan & Akshay Kumar in the world’s top 10 highest-paid actors list???
how much we see the records he is best to best SRK is face of bollywood and will remain one forever for reason he is king .
Its been 5yrs srk has past his prime & he cannot deliver what aamir can , salman & srk both can never compete with aamir at the box office whether its india or overseas . Whatever record they will make aamir will break it easily . Pk record is prime example . Srk or salman they both will struggle to get even $40 m in their entire career where as aamir his pk did 47 millions overeas.
Except net junkies nobody is interestd in overseas business
bollywood is bhaijaan’s
SRK: Trolling and making haters feel butthurt since 1992
Even for that their is a reason..Srk worked for YRF which was the biggest production house and only one that managed big releases overseas..after UTV came u can see the difference..i am pretty sure movies like Ghulam would have got no opening overseas as it was not a YRF movie..i can confirm this myself all top Cinema Halls in Australia screen Yrf or Dharma production movies even Ghajini did not find the top halls in Melbourne Australia
it is just matter of one goog script which is accepted by audience and critics just like pk,3i and BB.Then all record will be shattared by king khan.Even his worst movie HNY getting 200cr in india and 100 cr in overseas then think what will happen with good content movie.Anyways haters srk is still biggest crowd puller in India and Overseas Just check weekend record of HNY,CE.You will know who is biggest star on earth.Hopefully all blind haters will hide there faces after the realise of Dilwale,Fan,and Rees.
Aamir & Salman have crossed 750+ Cr & 550+ Cr Worldwide respectively. While SRK is struggling to cross 400+ Cr Worldwide. SRK need a break & think about it.
Yrf dharma rules overseas
Dilwale will break all records, SRK fans say.
Koi aur tute na tute, I hope it breaks 1.68 crs. On 5000 screens of CNY in China record. ?
@Ishan Bhojpuri – failed big time. your comment shows how badly the article hurted you like it hurted other Guilty Bhaijaan fans. Aamiri’s and salman’s fan like you don’t even deserve to comment on such article when your two papa’s made Bhojpuri idols combined blockbusters are just 4 while SRK alone has 20 blockbusters ( more than whole bollywood).. btw Another 15 years pass : year 2030, Aamiri will have still 9-10 hits, will be consider as tiny, non famous actor, and will keep chasing actors like Ritesh, will be dependent on brands and other decades disaster Bhaijaan will be still considered as bhojpuri, non- actor and will still chase & wait to win at least 1 film-fare and to give 1 good performance but the result will be same – BOTH WILL FAILED AS USUAL, BOTH WILL CHASE SRK, BOTH WILL BE BEHIND KING KHAN..
You bloody Craps, do u even know what Shah Rukh Khan means fr Indian Cinema? In Overseas people say”Oh bollywood?..Yeah Shah Rukh Khan”