Bollywood’s Highest Grosser of the Year: 1989 – 2015

2015 is coming to an end and it’s Salman Khan yet again who has topped the Highest Grosser of the Year for a record 9th time (10 if Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, where he had a supporting role, is included in the list).

Nearly 300 Hindi films release every year and only one film tops them all. In today’s times, it takes a combination of good content, a major superstar and a genre with universal appeal for a film to generate more than Rs 250 / 300 crore at the box office.

Salman SRK Aamir Hrithik Sunny

The biggest grosser of the year is also the film that has widely been accepted and brings the maximum number of people to theatres. In this day and age, with prices of movie tickets soaring, piracy increasing and various options for entertainment (like television and video-sharing websites), it’s tough to bring audiences to theatres.

Hence, topping the ‘biggest grosser list’ is nothing short of a major achievement. Below we have compiled a list of the highest grossing films from 1989 to 2015.

SalmanAamirSRKHrithikSunny
Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989)Dil (1990)DDLJ (1995)Kaho Na Pyaar Hai (2000)Border (1997)
Saajan (1991)Raja Hindustani (1996)Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)Koi Mil Gaya (2003)Gadar (2001)
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994)Ghajini (2008)Devdas (2002)Dhoom 2 (2006)
Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999)3 Idiots (2009)Veer Zaara (2004)
No Entry (2005)Dhoom 3 (2013)Om Shanti Om (2007)
Dabangg (2010)PK (2014)
Bodyguard (2011)
Ek Tha Tiger (2012)
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
  • Salman Khan has delivered the highest number of ‘highest grossers of the year’ 9 times since 1989, which also happens to be the year he made his debut. His best years are between 2010 – 2012, when he managed to beat his contemporaries for three continuous years. In 2015, he topped the list once again after making way for Aamir Khan in 2013 and 2014.
  • But there is one special record that not many others can boast of. Salman is the ONLY superstar who has two ‘biggest grossers of the decade’. Maine Pyaar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hai Kaun were the biggest grossers of the 80s and 90s respectively. The 2000s belonged to Aamir, as 3 Idiots was the highest grosser of the previous decade.
  • Apart from the 5 biggest hits of the year to his credit, Shah Rukh Khan has given the 2nd biggest hits of the year for a record 8 times – Deewana (1991), Karan Arjun (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kal Ho Na Ho (2003), Main Hoon Na (2004) and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). He has also consistently made it to the Top 5 since his debut in 1992.
  • Salman has delivered Top 2 biggest grossers of the year four times. Hum Saath Saath Hain and Biwi No. 1 in 1999, Bodyguard and Ready in 2011, Ek Tha Tiger and Dabangg 2 in 2012, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo in 2015.
  • 2006 belonged to Hrithik Roshan as Dhoom 2 and Krrish were the 1st and 2nd biggest hits of the year respectively. Hrithik has also ruled the box office in 2000 (Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai) and 2003 (Koi Mil Gaya).
  • Ajay Devgn has three 2nd biggest grosser of the year to his credit. Phool Aur Kaante in 1991, Pyaar to Hona Hi Tha in 1998 and Golmaal 3 in 2010.
  • Akshay Kumar has never delivered the highest grosser of the year so far in his career, but came close as many as 4 times. Mohra in 1994, Welcome in 2007 were the 2nd biggest hits while Singh is King and Rowdy Rathore came 3rd in 2008 and 2012 respectively. He would have probably topped the list in 2007, if Taare Zameen Par did not release on the same day.
  • Hrithik and Salman are the only big stars to deliver the biggest grosser of the year with their debut films.
  • Among the top stars, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Ranbir Kapoor are yet to deliver the year’s biggest grosser, something that Sunny Deol managed twice with Border (1997) and Gadar (2001).
  • In terms of footfalls, Salman topped the 1980s (Maine Pyaar Kiya) and 1990s (Hum Aapke Hain Kaun). Gadar was the most watched movie of 2000’s, a film that sold many more tickets than 3 Idiots.
  • In the current century, when Aamir Khan made it to the top of the list, he not only delivered the highest grosser of the year, but also the highest grosser of all time. Ghajini, 3 Idiots, Dhoom 3 and PK were the highest grossers of the year, highest grossers of all time and All Time Blockbusters.
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203 Comments

  • The one and only megatstar Salman Bhai rules…
    Because he gave these HGOTY, Highest grossers of the decades, All Time Highest Grosser with comparatively small banners, debutant directors or actors/actresses etc…

  • @indicine would you do yourself a favour and kick some of these nerds off your site who keep asking you the same dumb question, keeping refusing to accept facts and figures,, making all sort of stupid excuses which makes no sense whatsoever, even the queen SRK tells his fans that Salman Khan is way ahead of him yet these stupid dummies don’t seem to understand either Hindi or English that it makes me wonder if they ever went to school. God they have become so tiresome that I pray you will not publish all these repeat comments on every article, it must be very tiresome for your team. What a waste of your precious time.

  • @Ace Khan, I believe MPK was also an All Time Highest Grosser besides HAHK.
    And the all time highest grossing record of HAHK lasted more than 11 years until the release of OSO in 21st century.

  • @Babaji Ka Thullu, Nope! Salman will not postpone Sultan for no one as Eid belongs to Salman. He created it as a lucarative for films’ BO with Wanted. Nobody else cared about it before.
    And by now SRKians too have realized your true color. Hence, they wont support you even if you lick their feet now.

  • Sorry Akki fans I had stayed off all Akki articles his news ,don’t read his articles talk more of commenting their ..can never see any of my comments their but that’s for a reason.

    @kiddo
    You observe you jump into Ajay articles ask indicine stupid question like why put superstar beside his name or you thank them for putting nothing beside his names and various cheap things. You know d reason why ppl troll @Akki? Fans like you and others(name withheld I don’t even reply any of you )..Who don’t know what to even commenting on someone’s post. Who d hell are you to ask @undocumented that question? Are you dumb? Retarded or what? Ajay films open low bcos less stardom?
    1. Tell me any single Akki movie ahead of Ajays highest opener
    2. Ahead his weekend,lifetime?
    3. How many 100 crs movies Akki has more than Ajay?
    4. Do you know how many tweeter follower people like Johnny Depp Christaine Bale Brad Pitt have? Not up to 1 million followers . Ajay 4.8million yes it’s low very low but Just like those named superstars he does not need it period!! Christaine Bale celebrity on his Twitter account reads “Sorry guys am not a tweeter person” it’s personal choice is he not famous? Robert Downey.. How many followers? Not up to 9lakh! Is he not highest paid?
    AKSHAY UNLIKE SALMAN SRK AAMIR IS KNOWN TO PROMOTE HIS MOVIES VIA TWEETER that’s well known!
    DID YOU COME ACROSS AKSHAY BEGGING PPL TO FOLLOW HIS WIFE TWINKLE??? how will you know kiddos?!! Ajay is d Aamir Khan type ..reserve but jovial and a prankster!!
    5. Less stardom? Bahuballi director visited him why? Ajay for shivaay casting brithish child superstar Abigail E a joke? You know her?
    6. What’s your take on imdb rankings believe in them?
    7. His looks? What’s wrong his tall wheatish , much better body than akki!! For me I call him a handsome guy period !! Twinkle Karishma Tabu Sonali Raveena Rambha flirted with him before his marriage why? Raveena and kareeshma openly fought bcos of him why? Kangana wanted to be his 2nd WIFE why? That means there must be something in him apart from d Salman Hritik Ranbir looks!!!
    8. Nana Pathekar you compare him with Nana right? I compare Akki with Armaan Kohli easy. No qualms pls my wish okay.
    9. Less stardom? Havoc fight was going on when Ajays jet was yet to land. Why? Challenge @undocumented for saying Ajay Hritik akshay have unbelievable fan base almost close as d khans. Why didn’t you challenge them? I am from S.A they are some fans here @indicine like @ajay rocks @antone while I use to come across @Sami.D@Shri before joining indicine , they are die hard ajay fans too are they even Indians or full Indians? Listen kiddo Ajay Devgn is an icon to me. Don’t you feel bad if just for no reasons you see people abusing trolling your fan with names like gobbar jokers ? Yet you have d guts to come out and think everyone buys your joke?
    10. Lastly kiddo, you are most welcome to ajays article page, abuse him that’s your problem for me you can be rest assured ,I don’t open Akki articles here nor comment nor have time to use multiple id…. Don’t cross my path I stay off like always. Tell your fan mates not too even bother trolling @me ,I ignore comments from akki fans.
    1,more thing ….
    Forget about Footfalls between ajay n akki no comparism..
    IT TOOK AKKI 16 YEARS TO DELIVER 2ND HIGHEST GROSSER SOLO LEAD TO EMULATE WHAT AJAY DID IN HIS 1ST MOVIE DEBUT MOVIE PHOOL AUR KAANTE 1991.
    1SAAJAN
    2. PAK…. Do I want to know d movies Ajay competed with back then?
    Dil Hai ki manta nahi Henna Lamhe Ajooba, Saudagar,phool bane angare , kurban, Hum.
    AND YOU TALKING ABOUT STARDOM.
    NB…those Forbes rankings had Rajnikant no.52, Mahesh Babu 40 something.. so Rajnikant ain’t megastar, superstar? Fool they used social media activity to rate fame…if not how do you expect Sonakshi 18th Shahid 16th to have bigger stardom then Rajni, Ajay Mahesh.?? Take care kiddo be wise n smart.
    Indicine pls post tanx.

  • The most watched films with highest numbers of footfalls of 1980s – MPK

    The most watched films with highest numbers of footfalls of 1990s – HAHK

    The most watched films with highest numbers of footfalls of 2000s – Gadar

    The most watched films with highest numbers of footfalls of 2010s – BB

    Ab Bolo Haters! Who is the King/Sultan of Hindi cinema?

  • Kuch Kuch Hota Hai should belong to Salman as equally as or a bit less equally to it belongs to SRK.
    There were several reasons for KKHH to become such a huge hit.
    According to KJo, it would not have become such a big hit wihout Salman?
    According to SRK, Salman was a big superstar before KKHH. He was more popular than me before KKHH. That also helped KKHH a lot.
    For me, Salman gave a spectacular performance in the film. In the supporting role he did, he performed in the movie like a parallel hero.
    The first part of the film only served as the warm up part for the second part or Salman’s entry.
    Of course, the return of hotshot Karan Arjun Jodi helped the film big time to earn at BO.

  • @Sunny Akkiholic Supporting cast and Ajay. What is respect for when you don’t respect your seniors. Welcome Mohra were like most Joker movies multi stars. I can’t remember Ajay playing supporting cast if not . I don’t even know I won’t call lajja supporting role may be special appearance. Khakee for me he was the 2 nd lead and Villain. Rascals still I won’t call him supporting. Hddcs No he was nominated filmfare best actor along with Salman. Ishq still no even though am Aamir fan but I will say equal maybe I just can’t think of Ajay playing supporting Suhaag Insaan lead with Joker Sahab. @Sunny Akkiholic get lost you are drunk.
    Indicine is there any movie Ajay played supporting. Mohra Suhaag MsK Hhb Khakee Janeman Sapoot Hera Pheri Joker Bhagaam , Desi boys, Housefull Thankbyou played side roles, Jalii Jalii Taapi Taapi

  • SRK haters open your eyes alraedy in week one world wide gross of Dilwale is 227 Crore and BM is 140 Crore only . Budget of Dilwale is 110 Crore BM budget is 120 Crore. Other revenues of Dilwale is 85 Crore BM only 55 Crore so if ur maths is good then u can simply see that Dilwale is super hit and BM can be max a simple Hit

  • Some people have no brains at all while the statistics and article clear indicating that Salman role the Bollywood since his debut highest grosser of decade two time wow just wow this is call megastar

  • Hahaha, The same articles was published on starting of this year and now at the end of this year. I had objection on this article that time and now again. Indicine doesn’t even talked about Aamir in this article except the highest grosser of decade.No problem. Its your site so you can do whatever you want.
    I must say that Salman has incredible last 6 years at BO. Achieving 7 blockbuster in last 5 film including two ATBB is incredible. But I want to say one thing If Aamir had solo releases in 2011 & 2012 or in 2015 on festive occasion like Salman had, Those will be counted for Aamir years like 2008 & 2009, 2013& 2014 by looking the trend of his phase in last 10 years. In 2016 Aamir will able to achieve the feat once again. Just a though.
    Nevertheless the guy has enjoying ATHG from last 7 years in domestic and ww market with 4 atbb in those year. Something his fan admire but not Indicine.

  • I think we can add two more records:

    1) I think Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are the only actors in history to deliver hat tricks in terms of highest grossers of the year (Salman – 2010, 2011 & 2012, and Amitabh – 1977, 1978, & 1979)

    2) I think Salman Khan is close to or has matched Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar record of having the most highest grossers of the year in history.

  • @veer hrithik is not giving any takkar to khan’s. Nd it’s not about young or old . Ranbir took bollywood to storm after his some big hits nd came in top 5 Superstars of bollywood. Ranbirs popularity was way more then hrithik 1 year before despite d fact tht ranbir came in bollywood just few years ago ……! Stupid

  • Wow My megastar hrithik is everywhere, i am happy to be his fan lol.
    the one and only mega star with less controversies, less problems, he never says bad about others, not a jalous type, Always loves others success.
    I love and will Always love him for the rest of my life.

  • @Sunny Floppyholic Indicine what is the penalty of pressing like buttons on your comments? Maybe he knew he said something wrong that why hiding like a chuha. I can’t wait for Rustam.
    Hritik will crash and send Makki to chandni chowk. I don’t know why I feel Makkii is just living with past glory like ki ki ki kiraaan. Akshay cannot deliver a solo opening be it franchises above 20 crores. I don’t see it comings. Next year I predict Mohenjo Daro to be hgoty. Sultan Shivaay Dangal will be very big too.

  • @indicine this is disgusting. You are only over hyping Salman but ignoring the fact that the real megastar Aamir khan has given maximum ATBBs and he has 4 ATHGs which no other actor in the history of Indian cinema has given. Why did you not mention that? This site only knows how to degrade the biggest ultimate megastar of India? The fact Js aamir is biggest megastar and no one can digest that. No one is bigger than him. You also included small stars like srk, akshay, hrithik and ajay in your special mention then how dare you to ignore the ultimate biggest global megastar of Bollywood? Shame on your credibility?. Edit this list and include the biggest mention about biggest megastar aamir is only megastar who has 4 ATHGs which is out of reach for anyone.

  • @Suchit, in the same vein to your reply to @NVS, who are you to say “Salman can never reach the level of Mr. Perfectionist and real megastar of Indian cinema Aamir khan?”

    The more we repect Aamir fans and some idiot fans of his like you, the more arrogant they become. Too opportunistic!
    @NVS said Aamir is greater actor than Salman is. We have no problem with it because it is the truth.

    I wonder why some Aamir fans like Eric and you have problems with Salman and SRK fans praising their respective stars even without offending Aamir a bit! What do you guys really want?

    Besides Salman, SRK is, too, bigger than Aamir is in terms of fan following and stardom. Swallow this bitter medicine even if you dont like.

    We have not bashed Aamir yet. We dont want. Personally, I dont want to bash even SRK anymore.
    So dont force us to bash Aamir if you are truly his fan.

  • BHAIJAAN ALL TIME RECORDS

    2 Decade All Time Blockbusters

    5 All Time Blockbusters

    9 Blockbusters

    5 Blockbusters in a row

    100Cr Club 9 Films (Most for any actor)

    200Cr Club 2 Films

    300Cr Club 1 Film

    1 Top 3 Films Of the year 1999

    9 HGOTY

    4 Top 1&2 HGOTY

    2 2nd HGOTY

    2 HGOAT

    12 Years leading HGOAT with MPK & HAHK

    2650 Cr appx career nett only from domestic

    Highest footfalls for an Indian Actor in the history of Indian Cinema

  • @Aman at 8:10PM Dec 22
    Praise your fav SRK without manipulating facts.
    Salman gave Blockbusters in 2005 and 2007 too: No Entry and Partner.
    How can you be so blind you moron?
    At least take some clues from the given by Indicine above.
    Oh I forgot you are using Lal Mirchi’s Computer. It manipulates facts just like its calculator does BO numbers. Lol!

  • @indicine, the work you’ve done us commendable. But, why do you keep undermining the value of All Time Highest Grossers?
    I’ve never seen an article related to ATHGs. Why?
    Those people saying Salman is the 1st to earn 500 crore in a year, here’s a fact:
    .
    .
    Dhoom 3(rel 20 Dec 2013)= 285 crores
    PK(rel 19 Dec 2014)= 340 crores
    So, total= 625 crores within 364 days.
    .
    Finally, if were to put my 10K rupees on a film to become HGOTY next year, it’ll be Dangal!
    Dangal is a social movie on women empowerment. If this movie is good, all states will make it tax-free. Combined with Xmas, now imagine yourself how much it’ll earn.
    Good night.

  • Indicine u should also include garam masala which lost around 14-15 crores of it’s business to kyon ki which also released on Diwali ….. 1994 , 2005 , 2007 these would have definitely belong to Akshay Kumar

  • Srk was really lucky in 2007 had tzp not clashed with welcome then Bollywood could have it’s first 100 crore grosser ….

  • HUGE ACHIEVEMENT FOR SALMAN
    @NVS-
    I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU
    @INDICINE
    YOU MENTIONED SRK,HRITHIK,AJAY Name but forget about PRAISING you are not even talking about AAMIR-who has delievered 4 ATBB within 6 years.
    I dont understand why you,& people in media still keep ignoring Aamir’s achievements.

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