Box Office Analysis of Shahrukh Khan

1992-94 : Early success

SRK made his debut in 1992 smash hit, deewana. He played the flambouyant lover of the heroine. Though it was a supporting role basically starting in the second half but it made him a star.

That was followed by chamatkar and Raju ban gaya gentleman in the same year. Both movies did coverage business with the later being the flavor of the urban areas, according to the setting.

With the successful year in 1992 , SRK had announced himself as the newcomer to look forward to ( along with Ajay Devgan).

1993 was a critical year as SRK as it established him as a Box office force. He had 2 clean hits in Darr and Baazigar. He was appreciated in both roles and if that was not enough he gave a career best performance in Kabhi haan kabhi naan the same year, though the movie itself only did average business.

1994 was a calm year for SRK, he only had one release in Anjaam which did only coverage business.

Rankometer : By the end of 1994, Bollywood was looking at a unique situation for itself , with not superstar ruling the roost. The retirement of BIG B and the spectacular fall of then superstar Anil Kapoor and the unfortunate arrest of Hot property Sanjay Dutt led to this situation. The top 5 actors at that time with no order will be the Khan trio, Anil Kapoor, Ajay devgan with Sunny doeol and Akshay kumar being other stars of the moment.

1995-98 : Claiming the Empty Throne

1995 was the landmark year for SRK. He delivered an All time hit in DDLJ and a Huge hit in Karan Arjun.

His Raam Jaane was a mild success too. He did have many flops at the time also but considering the monumental concentrated success led him to claim the empty top slot in bollywood.

1996 was cold year for him, with nothing working for him. By the end of this year his top slot was a bit a shaky with Aamir khan( Raja Hindustani) coming too close for comfort and infact had indeed removed him from the top slot for some time.

1997 would be the deciding year for SRK and he delivered in style. His Dil to pagal hai did superhit business.

Pardes again did Hit business and he had a city success in Yes Boss. His hold was tight on top slot right now.

1998 Saw SRK give one more All time hit in KKHH and he was at peak situation right now. He became the only star since Anil Kapoor to have back to back superhit+ movies in two years The only small concern right now was that he was having some flops too with didnt auger well with a top slot situation. Will this be a real danger only time will tell.

Rankometer : By the end of 1998 SRK had taken the top slot in Bollywood. Salman Khan was very close at this point( has been all thorough though). Aamir khan,Sunny doel and Ajay Devgan rounded up the top 5 at the time.

1999-2001 : Cracks in the Armour

1999 turned out to be a bad year for SRK , he only had one release in Baadshah and though the movie did average business, a lot more was expected from the team that brought Baazigar.

Another reason was that competition from the peers was at an all time high with Salman khan hitting his peak.

2000 was a turning point year in SRK’s career and also in Bollywood in General. Never before a Superstar had been lauched and been accepted the was Hrithik Roshan was. HrithikMania was at Zenith that year.

SRK did have a hit in Mohabatien and a mild success in Josh. The former was more known to be defeated in the opening week Diwali war with Hrithik(with his Mission Kashmir). But all these successes were like noises in the debut year of Hrithik.

In 2001 SRK had a Huge hit in K3G, but as it was amalgamation of a galaxy of stars, he got very less due in the real outcome.

It was the craze of Gadar and the Dual combo of Lagaan/DCH that was driving the nation that year.

One more alarming thing for SRK at this point was that he was having flops galore, for each sucess he had 1 or more flop.

Rankometer : All the above led to a situation of ambiguity over SRK future as a top star. He was no longer the undisputed no 1 star. Sunny doel was real hot proposition at this time. Hrithik and Aamir were having great time too. Salman was having problems so was clinging on to 5th slot.

2002-04 : Years of Domination

In 2002 SRK launched a mission to make no 1 undisputed. He gave biggest grosser of the year in Devdas and a interiors hit in Hum tumhare hain sanam.

2003 was again a solid year for SRK, he had a clean hit in Kal ho na ho and a decent success in Chalte Chalte.

2004 was probably the best year ever for SRK. He had a superhit in Veer Zaara, a hit in Main ho naa and the National award nominated role in Swades( though the movie flopped). These successes put SRK back on top.

Rankometer : With the vanishing act of Aamir khan, Extinction of Sunny doel/Govinda kind of heroes,nose diving of Hrithik’s career(though he gained grond in the middle of the period) and salman trying to comeback, SRK had a clear field but the question was of deliverance and he did deliver. With 6 success in 3 years he was back on top.

2005-Present : Times have Changed

After years of good performance, 2005 was a bad year for SRK, he had only one release in Paheli and the movie flopped miserably(without even a initial). Aamir khan a celebrated 1st week comeback in Mangal Pandey(though movie fell heavily). Salman/Abhi had good year in 2005. Akshay Kumar was gaining ground.

2006 was a unusual poor year by SRK’s standards. First release KANK saw a huge initial due to accumulation of huge star cast and hype, but the movie fell on face in the weeks following ending in a semi-hit to hit situation( a disapointment considering it was KJO-SRK combo).

Don although a clean hit didn’t get its due to reason unknown. It was Hrithik Roshan(with a dream year) and Aamir khan to took the limelight away this year.

2007 had SRK in great form. He had OSO and CDI both blockbusters, but as it would had been destined it coincided with a fantasy year for Akshay kumar and King kumar was more in news than king khan.

In 2008 SRK struck gold in Rab ne bana di jodi but again was overshadowed by Aamir Khan(Ghajini).

Rankometer : Last few years have seen new records being made by actors other than SRK.

2006 : Hrithik has a unheard of(since the time khanna and bachchan) top two grossers in bollywood history(Here emphasis should be paid on all time bollywood history rather than that particular year) in Dhoom 2 and Krishh.

2007 : Akshay Kumar has 4 clean hits, not done since Big B in 1978.

2008 : Aamir Khan has biggest Grosser ever in Ghajini.

All this has resulted in a never heard of top 4 superstar league in bollywood. No one is undisputed.

SRK’s career has come a full circle, as he started when bollywood was looking for a superstar and now bollywood has superstars galore. How many peaks and troughs SRK will see in future only time will tell.