SRK Salman Aamir dominate industry B’town has superstar crisis?
The three Khans of the Indian Film Industry-Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir share an exceptional stardom like no other. But, the ‘Big’ question doing the rounds is will there be any successor to their superstardom throne?
Salman Shah Rukh, Aamir Khan are considered as the OG crowd pullers in theatres
Will there be an end to the superstardom era after the Khans?
It’s learnt that Salman and Shah Rukh Khan are the last of superstars. But, what is superstardom? And why do we believe that the Khans are going to be the last ones owning this throne?
While weighing in on the ongoing debate, many have agreed that the dominance of Salman Khan, Shah Rukh, and Aamir Khan in Indian cinema is a phenomenon that can’t be repeated.
For decades, the box office has been dominated by a few megastars, larger-than-life figures whose names alone could ensure packed theatres and an unbelievable flow of money in the industry.
Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, who played a pivotal role in shaping Salman’s career, explained why we are echoing similar sentiments today. The director who established the superstar’s iconic ‘Prem’ persona on the big screen, starting with Maine Pyaar Kiya pointed out that the easy accessibility of stars today has significantly contributed to the decline of Bollywood’s superstar era.
“The era of superstardom is indeed fading because actors are now more accessible than ever.
Earlier, stars felt larger-than-life, and audiences eagerly awaited their on-screen presence. For instance, when Rishi Kapoor’s Karz was released, he was excited to see how he would perform the song Om Shanti Om his dance, clothes, and overall appeal. We had no choice but to watch him in theaters, making the experience special,” the 60-year-old director said.
“Today, we can engage with actors online and access songs instantly, diminishing that exclusivity,” he added.
The year 2023 marked the resurgence of SRK, as he single-handedly revived theatres with his massive box-office success -Pathaan and Jawan both crossing the Rs 1000 crore mark at the ticket window. He reaffirmed his superstar status just when his reign was being doubted by the critics.
Given their love among the fans and larger-than-life presence on the screen, it shows that the Khans remain an undisputed crowd-puller in Indian cinema. Honestly, they are also doing everything in their power to entertain their audiences with newfound energy. One film at a time.
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Easy accessibility of stars
Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who worked with Shah Rukh Khan in Dilwale, reflected on the evolving definition of stardom in today’s digital era. He showcased how social media has made celebrity access easier, especially movie stars.
Once unreachable, stars are now constantly captured by paparazzi, thereby dampening the curiosity around them and their lifestyles.
Every actor has their own place, reach, and identity in the industry. It’s hard to say if anyone can surpass Salman and Shah Rukh.
What truly matters is connecting with the audience, not just stardom. Earlier, stars felt distant, shining from afar, but now they are just a click away. This digital era has amplified celebrity access, shifting from radio updates to being papped outside gyms and on the streets,” the actor said.
In an industry where a new star seems to emerge every Friday, no one seems to have matched the level of stardom that the three Khans command. The question remains: Are the Khans the last true superstars? Following Amitabh Bachchan who himself succeeded Rajesh Khanna in the mid ’70.the reign of the Khans remained largely unchallenged.
But, while we are talking about the Khans and putting focus on men in a male-dominated industry, the discussion about female stardom becomes essential. Much like their male counterparts, the female actors were also subjected to the shifting industry landscape.
From Madhubala, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan to Alia Bhatt, female actors have held significant influence over audiences, shaping box office trends and popular culture.
Low consistency of female superstars
While Bollywood has produced incredibly talented female actors, sustaining box office dominance remains rare and actor Kirti Kulhari totally agrees with the same. While talking to India Today Digital, Kulhari said that it’s not about attracting audiences to theatres as much as it is about being able to do it consistently.
There are umpteen number of stars plenty of but when it comes to actresses who can consistently draw audiences to theatres and prove their box office appeal film after film, that remains rare.
Alia Bhatt enjoyed a strong run before Jigra (2024), while Vidya Balan had a remarkable phase with The Dirty Picture (2011) and other films. However, sustaining that level of audience-pull over time is not very common.”
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The Pink actor suggested that the industry is going through a tough phase with even the biggest of the superstars struggling to increase footfalls in theatres. The idea is not to deliver big-budgeted films to impress the audience, but to keep experimenting with your content until you crack the right formula.
“Forget about the female superstars, what about the male ones? How many of them are pulling audiences into theatres? It’s consistency that we are lacking. The industry is going through turmoil. People are trying to figure out what’s happening and how to go about it, but nobody really knows what is wrong,” she added.
Is box office success a burden on superstars?
Actor Ameesha Patel, who was last seen in Gadar 2, believes that the likes of Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Kartik Aaryan are doing their best to carry the superstardom phenomenon forward. But, are they doing it successfully?
She feels that while these stars are doing their best, it is going to end eventually. “I feel that after Salman, Shah Rukh, and Aamir, Ranbir, Hrithik, and Kartik are definitely carrying the legacy forward. They are the ones truly delivering, and it’s scary to think about what will happen to Bollywood after them,” she told us.
Patel also noted how the industry’s heavy dependence on just a few stars intensifies the burden on them. “If the pressure were more evenly distributed across a wider group, it would be easier. But since it’s concentrated on so few, it’s very challenging,” she added.
So what now?
While the Khans continue to deliver blockbusters, their reign signifies the end of an era rather than the beginning of a new one.
The industry has evolved to a certain extent where not one actor can command the kind of hysteria they once did. In a time driven by content and digital accessibility, superstardom is slowly becoming a forgotten phenomenon, a faded phase of glory.
Though Bollywood will continue to produce stars, the days of larger-than-life icons who could single-handedly dictate the box office will be missed in due time.
As the curtain falls on the age of superstardom, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aamir Khan will remain the last glorious ones, reminding us of a time when Indian cinema was as much about ‘phata poster nikla hero’ as it was about the story.
News Edit KV Raman
