Shah Rukh Khan vs Aamir and Salman: The Box Office difference!

10 years ago when we started this website, Shah Rukh Khan was at the peak of his superstardom. ‘Om Shanti Om’ went on to become one of the highest grossers of all-time, even though it was competing against a big film like ‘Saawariya’. ‘Chak De India’ was arguably his career best film and performance. SRK looked invincible, the only other men competing – but failing to consistently beat him – were Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar.

10 years down the line, a lot has changed, but what remains strong is his fan-following. SRK is still one of the most loved movie stars in the country and without doubt the most loved Indian actor outside the country.

For an actor who is expected to match or even beat his contemporaries like Salman Khan and Aamir Khan (who have now raced way ahead), SRK simply hasn’t had enough to show as far as box office results are concerned. The collections of his films are still fantastic, an under-performer like ‘Dilwale’ collected a lot more than the career best of several other top actors in the industry. But for an actor who maintained an incredible level of consistency for the first 20 years of his career – more is expected out of him even at the age of 51, even when he has nothing left to prove or achieve.

The concern for SRK is not the opening of his films, but it’s about converting those big starts into big grossers. His films are top-heavy, most of the collections are coming in the first weekend (3 days) – which also suggests that his fans are coming out in big numbers, but the neutrals and people who decide to watch recommended films are no longer coming to watch his films.

The table below makes this point pretty clear on where Shah Rukh Khan has been going wrong. His best trending film is ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ only because clashing with another film tends to improve the weekend to lifetime ratio – which could be because of the section of the audience who want to watch both films. Otherwise, Chennai Express is his best trending film in the last few years and even that doesn’t make it to the Top 5.

Two of his last three films haven’t even doubled the first weekend collections. In other words, more people have watched his films in the first 3 days than those who watched it from 4th day onwards.

It once again proves the point we made earlier, fans of the superstar are coming to watch his films, the rest of the audience – who rely on word-of-mouth – simply aren’t coming in enough numbers. His films haven’t had repeat-value either, which is crucial for films to perform in Week 2, 3, 4 and after.

3 Idiots is by far the best trending film and it would have probably crossed the 500 crore mark if it released today. The Top 3 is all about Aamir Khan and each of those films have gone on to become the highest grossers of all time. Salman’s best film this decade, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, takes the 4th spot. It’s one of those few superstar films that has managed to triple its first weekend business.

In short, as far as Shah Rukh Khan is concerned, it’s still about that one film that needs to find universal acceptance. But the wait for that one film is getting longer with each new release.

The hype has always been there and the stardom is there too, but it’s the substance that’s been missing. It’s not about the first weekend, but what his films collect after the first couple of days that’s going to be important – both for ‘Raees’ and his other release this year.

Film1st WeekendLifetimeRatio
3 Idiots372015.43
Dangal1073853.60
PK953403.58
Bajrangi Bhaijaan1033213.12
Sultan1053022.88
Kick842332.77
Dhoom 31082852.64
Jab Tak Hai Jaan*491202.44
Chennai Express942272.41
Dilwale*651482.27
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo1042132.05
Talaash46932.02
Happy New Year1092041.87
Jai Ho601121.87
FAN52841.62
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151 Comments

  • Brilliant stuff . A lot has changed in the last 10 years . In 2006 Hrithik had 2 Blockbusters – D2 and Krrish . Dhoom 2 became the HGOAT beating Gadar which maintained the 1st position for 5 years . Aamir returned to success with RDB and Fanaa . SRK had a good year with KANK and Don . Salman’s career was looking out of sorts with Jaan-E-Mann, Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar and others biting the dust . Akshay had Jaan-E-Mann and Bhagam Bhag . While Jaan-E-Mann was a failure but Bhagam Bhag turned out to be successful . Ajay had Omkara which got critical appreciation but failed at the Box office . Cut to 2016 – Aamir once again broke all records as Dangal became the HGOTY and HGOAT . Sultan continued the phenomenal run of Salman by doing 300 CR+ . SRK had Fan and Dear Zindagi in 2016 . Fan was a big failure and DZ became successful where SRK played a supporting character . Hrithik had a miserable year with Mohenjo Daro and turned out to be probably the biggest failure of his career . Akshay had an exceptional 2016 with 3 100 CR Grossers and all of them on non holiday with 2 Superhits and 1 Hit . Ajay had a dull year with Shivaay . Shivaay was all about Ajay as an actor, director and producer . Shivaay proved to be a massive underperformer as it could not emerge successful against ADHM . Some of them have done better and some of them are under pressure but what really matters that all of them have sustained in the last 10 years . Talking about SRK this decade has been pretty ordinary for him in content as well in box office . MNIK has been the best film of SRK in this decade till date but after MNIK everything has been downhill . Ra.One, JTHJ, CE, HNY, Dilwale and Fan . He is slowly losing the trust of neutral audience which was the case with Akshay during the period from 2009 to 2011 . Raees and The Ring are extremely important for his career as an actor and also as a Superstar . Let’s hope 2017 turns out to be successful for all of us, Indicine and also for all our favourite Superstars . Cheers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • *Real Difference*
    SALMAN KHAN ? Can make any movie a blockbuster without content at domestic box-office.?
    Shah Rukh Khan ? Can make any movie a blockbuster without content at overseas box-office.?
    Aamir Khan ? Needs content, free run, extra holidays & high ticket price to make his movie blockbuster at both domestic & overseas box-office.??

    • What the heck r u state?? remember this
      The founder of 100,200 and 300 cr club.
      The highest grossing Indian film “dangal”
      Srk and salmon had each 80 + films,but
      AAMIR had only 43.he had got the fame almost equal to them.
      Don’t try to underestimate”MR.PERFECTIONFIST”

  • “…and without doubt the most loved Indian actor outside the country.”

    Ten years ago, I would have agreed. But now, things are changing. Bollywood is even more open to the world. Young actors are getting popular. And Salman and Amir easily rival SRK’s fame abroad. There’s a reason why SRK no longer has highest worldwide grossers.

    “an under-performer like ‘Dilwale’ collected a lot more than the career best of several other top actors in the industry.”
    But it was also built on a much higher budget. And Dilwale had more attractions than just SRK – the return of Kajol, Rohit Shetty, the whole DDLJ thing. You can’t say that the whole collection was just because of SRK.

  • 10 years ago when we started this website, Shah Rukh Khan was at the peak of his superstardom.

    srk fans pls read this paragraph
    10 years ago srk was top star
    now he is just Bollywood actor
    he is struggling from last 10 year to give good film to audience but every time he failed

    and I think this time also srk failed to give good film rahul dholakia is not a good experienced director he don’t hab experienced to handle big films

  • Dear indicine, he needs just one EID.. once he came on EID and he broke all records. If he gets one more EID then he will be back to the top again .

  • I admit Salman and Aamir are ruling now. But Srk ruled two decade. Before 2008 Aamir hardly had any blockbuster. Now he is giving back to back hits with solo release and Strong script. Without it result is taalash. Salman can only give commercial movies. He has most number of flops and disasters. SRK was King, still the king. SRK just needs one solo festival release with good script to break all records

    • Aamir has wonderful sense of knowledge of script. That’s his quality. Others also read their movie scripts. Aamir has a record with 3 consecutive movies ATG

  • Never seen and never heard, a performance in anyfilm getting so much appreciations just after its trailer release. With 2nd trailer, appreciations turnedinto tsunami and that tsunami became hugest of hugest with following promos.

    You can’t do that unless you are not HRITHIK ROSHAN.

    Yes, you got it right. I’m talking about THE HRITHIK ROSHAN’s super excellent performance in KAABIL.

    HINDI CINEMA’s PEOPLE praising HRITHIK’s MARVELLOUS ACTING in KAABIL was pretty much oncard because Trailers & Promos were hinted all much before.

    When it comes to Marvellous Acting Skills, HRITHIK always left all actors behind by far margins.

    So, I’m waiting for KAABIL for HRITHIK’s MARVELLOUS ACTING SKILLS this time.

    Not BOX OFFICE collectionsbecause everyone knows that KAABIL will be either BLOCKBUSTER or ALL TIMEBLOCKBUSTER.

  • What are you talking team Indicine?
    Forget neutrals even srk fan are not coming to watch his movies. He has 3.7 billion fans while Fan was watched just by 10 million fans worldwide. the remaining 3.6 billion not went to theaters that time.
    Joke aside there is no doubt that SRK fan following is not decreased in last 10 years but his stardom surely got the dent because of poor choice of films. One point you missed Indicine that JTHJ had the 6 days extended weekend period with clash otherwise CE trended far better than JTHJ. Among his upcoming movies I think only Anand Rai’s next can bring back again him if it turned out of universal movie. Unfortunately Both Raees and The Ring not looking universal movie like CE was so don’t think they appeal much outside his core fans.

  • Lol haters are so happy !! Dont get cocky spoiled brats after all SRK will tear apart Salman and Aamir into bits within few years !!

  • I love SRK but SRK shouldn’t have rejected Munnai Bhai, 3 Idiots, Robot (2010) …. a huge mistake. It’s Karma. Even in Koffee with Karan, SRK says he regrets rejecting 3 Idiots.
    Meenama, don’t underestimate the power of content!
    Please choose your next projects wisely. Dear SRK.
    Sincerely Your Fan.

  • Aamir khan In india
    1 dangal 387
    2 pk 340cr
    3 dhoom3 284cr

    Aamir khan in overseas
    1 pk 41 millions
    2 dhoom3 31 millions
    3 dangal will 30 millions

    pk worldwide 797cr
    dangal will be 735cr

  • Yes he was ahead of salmir in 2000 decade but in this decade salmir is way ahead of him that he is struggling to get a solo release that to in republic weekend

  • True, he has not been making good films. Imagine movies like Veer Zara, Kal Ho Na Ho, Main Hoon Na, Chak De, RNBDJ, OSO releasing today. A line up like that would put him in the battle for no.1 position. Unfortunately, when he was making these movies, Aamir and specially Salman were not putting out equivalent products, today when they are releasing good films, SRK is lagging behind. Anyway, new year, new beginning. I hope Raees is actually a good film, and manages to restore audience faith in him, even if it doesn’t make a ton of money. All the best to you SRK. You were, are, and will always remain by favourite actor.

  • Din aur raat logon ke hote hai. #SheronKaZamaana hota hai..

    thats it above dilog say all!!! raees will be commercial as well as crictical acclm !!! 2 din baad apna tym shuruu

  • Wait for RAHEES
    RAHEES will beat Sultan life time in 7 days and dangal life time 10 days

    Dangal + Sultan = RAHEES
    Only sRk Rocks

  • Let salman and aamir releases their movies with clash or on non holidays, the result is clear… less than any of the SRK movie… TZH will prove that salman and aamir nothing without eid or christmas/new year

  • Let salman and aamir releases their movies with clash or on non holidays, the result is clear… less than any of the SRK movie… TZH will prove that salman and aamir nothing without eid or christmas/new year

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