Not Salman, Aamir or Shah Rukh Khan, but Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh ruled over 2018, will the streak continue?Jan 7 (AZINS) The three Khans of Bollywood – Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, have been the most bankable actors. What made them that is their over 17 year record of breaking box-office numbers. Going by the recent past it looks like the time has come for the audiences’ perspective to change.

Now although the Khans might still have a humongous fan following, but the year 2018 has proven that having a loyal fan base alone cannot guarantee footfalls in theatres, or maybe it can, but only when paired with good content, something which unfortunately all the three Khans missed to work on in 2018.

The first Khan to present himself in 2018 was Salman Khan. Salman tried to bring his personality in the third installment of the Race franchise, but unfortunately with expectations that Saif Ali Khan had raised through the previous installments, Bhaijaan failed miserably to make a mark with Race 3. Even more so, it was failure on the part of director Remo D’Souza, who could not match up to Abbas-Mustan’s standards, leaving the audience utterly disappointed.

Next in line was Aamir Khan with Thugs Of Hindostan. Even though Aamir’s character managed to entertain to a certain extent in the Diwali release, that too couldn’t convince the viewers and pull crowds to the theatres. This was a major disappointment since it was the first time that megastar Amitabh Bachchan collaborated with Aamir. The audience had lot more expectation than what Dhoom: 3 director Vijay Krishna Acharya provided them with.

People had their hopes pinned on Shah Rukh Khan’s Christmas release Zero, considering the film was directed by Aanand L Rai. Rai claimed that Zero would bring Shah Rukh Khan back in the game, but unfortunately no such thing happened and the movie is still struggling to even cross the Rs 100-crore mark, despite Shah Rukh Khan's proven mettle at the box-office previously.

2007 was Shah Rukh Khan’s year since his movies Om Shanti Om and Chak De! India were much-appreciated. Even in 2008, SRK and YRF’s collaboration Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi made a mark. This was followed by Ra.One (which was considered a flop) still taking position at number 3 by earning Rs 114.29 crore in 2011. 2013 also was his year since Chennai Express earned a total of Rs 227.13 crore. In 2014 too, once again his pairing with Deepika Padukone proved fruitful since Happy New Year earned Rs 203 crore, managing to bag the third position in terms of box office numbers in the year of release.

While Shah Rukh Khan's movies raked in the moolah at the ticket windows, it was Aamir Khan who actually began the Rs 100-crore-club in India with his 2008 release Ghajini minting Rs 114 crore, gaining the first position at Box Office of the movies which released that year. This was followed by 3 Idiots making Rs 202.95 crore (again number 1 position) in 2009, thus introducing Rs 200-crore-club. The streak continued in 2013 when Dhoom: 3 collected Rs 284.27 crore. But Aamir wasn’t going to stop there. He soon entered the Rs 300-crore-club in 2014 with PK, earning Rs 340.80 crore, which later grew as Dangal then collected Rs 387.38 crore in 2016.

The superstar who held Box Office record for being the most successful for the longest time – Salman Khan, too, failed in 2018, but not before breaking many records previously, after making his comeback in Bollywood post a lull phase. In 2010, Salman Khan’s Dabangg collected Rs 138.88 crore and became one of the most loved franchise featuring the actor. This was followed by 2011 being his year with super-successes in Bodyguard (Rs 148.86 crore) and Ready (Rs 119.78 crore), both gaining first and second spot in the year. Ek Tha Tiger, featuring him and Katrina Kaif, released in 2012 and became a blockbuster with Rs 198.78 crore, followed by Dabangg 2, which earned Rs 155 crore. Salman then entered the Rs 200-crore club in 2014 with Kick which earned a total of Rs 231.85 crore, but still had miles to go in beating Aamir. He however was the most consistent of the Khan trio to break Box-Office records almost every coming year. 2015, 2016 and 2017 also belonged to him since Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015 release) took him to the Rs 300-crore-club with Rs 320.34 crore followed by Prem Ratan Dhan Payo earning Rs 210.16 crore, Sultan collecting Rs 300.45 crore in 2016 and Tiger Zinda Hai minting Rs 339.16 crore in 2017.

But this year younger actors, soon turning stars, Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh seem to have stolen their thunder. While Ranbir Kapoor’s Sanju was the highest grossing film of the year with total earnings of Rs 342.53 crore, Ranveer Singh starrer Padmaavat collected Rs 302.15 crore and Simmba has already earned Rs 173.15 crore in 10 days, pacing ahead of Race 3 and on its way to reach the Rs 200-crore mark. The movie might face some competition from the upcoming release Uri, depending on the script of the film. But if the Vicky Kaushal starrer isn’t accepted like expected, Simmba will continue to mint in more money at the ticekt windows till Republic Day, which is when Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika and Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Thackeray would release.

It would now be itneresting to see what 2019 has to offer. Will the superstars be back in action with Bharat, Saare Jahaan Se Accha and Mahabharata, or will Ranveer again take the cake with Gully Boy and 83? Will Ranbir make it grand with Brahmastra? Let's wait and watch!