In the illustrious world of Bollywood, where success is measured in box office triumphs, there exists a rarefied record that only two legends, Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan, have achieved.
Despite Shah Rukh Khan delivering three major hits in a single year, he fell short of joining this exclusive club.
Letโs unravel the story behind this unique Box Office record and delve into the cinematic milestones that define the careers of these iconic actors.
Exclusive Box Office Record:
Shah Rukh Khanโs Near Miss:
In the year 2023, Shah Rukh Khan, often referred to as the โKing of Bollywood,โ showcased his star power with three major hits โ โPathaan,โ โJawan,โ and โDunki.โ
While โPathaanโ and โJawanโ claimed the title of the yearโs biggest grosser, โDunki,โ although a hit, failed to secure a spot in the top three. This surprising turn of events marked a deviation from Khanโs otherwise stellar track record.
Amitabh Bachchanโs Trailblazing Triumph in 1978:
Rewind to the golden era of Bollywood, and we find the legendary Amitabh Bachchan making history in 1978. That year, โMuqaddar Ka Sikandarโ emerged as the biggest grosser, followed closely by โTrishulโ as the second biggest hit.
The trifecta of success was completed by the iconic โDon,โ solidifying Amitabh Bachchanโs dominance at the box office. The top three grossers of 1978 were exclusively Big B starrers, an unprecedented feat that continues to resonate through the decades.
Salman Khanโs 1999 Hat-Trick:
Fast forward to 1999, and Salman Khan etched his name alongside Amitabh Bachchan in the record books. Salman Khan achieved the remarkable feat of having the top three grossers in a single year with โHum Saath Saath Hainโ claiming the coveted title of the biggest grosser.
It was followed by the popular โBiwi No. 1โ and the soul-stirring โHum Dil De Chuke Sanam.โ Salman Khanโs diverse filmography and unparalleled popularity catapulted him into the elite league of actors who could conquer the box office with multiple successes in a single year.
The Unlikeliness of a Repeat:
In the contemporary landscape of Bollywood, where actors tend to limit their filmography to at most two releases in a year, replicating the three-biggest hits-in-a-year record seems increasingly improbable.
The evolving dynamics of the industry, coupled with the diverse projects actors now undertake, make it a challenging milestone to reach. As the cinematic landscape continues to transform, the exclusivity of this record held by Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan remains untouched.
The elusive record of having the three biggest grossers in a single year stands as a testament to the unparalleled success and star power of Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan.
Shah Rukh Khanโs near miss serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the film industry, where even the biggest stars can fall short of certain milestones.
As Bollywood progresses into new eras, this exclusive club of actors achieving the rare hat-trick at the box office remains a symbol of cinematic prowess and enduring legacy.
Lead Image: RCE, IMDb, Rajshri Productions
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