Filmometer: Shahrukh Khan v/s Ajay Devgn’s Box Office 2000-2012

On the eve of the year’s biggest tussle in Bollywood, Koimoi brings to you the track record of the lead actors who are driving their respective films. Shahrukh Khan and Ajay Devgn are both actors of great finesse in their independent discipline of work. Shah Rukh Khan debuted in Bollywood with his film Deewana alongside Rishi Kapoor and Divya Bharti. The action lovers could never forget Ajay’s debut film Phool Aur Kaante. That was the beginning of an illustrious career for both in the tinsel town which almost worships them today.

Tracing from 2000 till 2012, Ajay Devgn has starred in a multitude of films based on a myriad themes. Films like Golmaal Trilogy, Raajneeti, Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai, Singham and Bol Bachchan are etched in public memory for his fabulous work in the film. He managed to stand out in multi-starcast films as well. In films like Company, Gangajal, Omkara, Yuva he gave unforgettable performances. His intense acting and his strong and sturdy demeanor was an overpowering shadow which made serious roles more plausible for him. He however avoided getting stereotyped by trying his hand at comedy with Golmaal, Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge and Bol Bachchan. His versatility has today made him one of the most established and stable actors in Bollywood with a huge fan following and his films entering the sought after and elite 100 crore Club. In the last decade, he has also had films performing disastrously at the box office, like RGV Ki AAG, London Dreams, Aakrosh, Raju Chacha, Chori Chori and so on, but his failures had no negative impact on his career whatsoever, rather helped him gain experience and enhanced the quality of his work manifolds.

However, Shah Rukh Khan who has never this closely competed with Ajay Devgn has an equally impressive track record, if not mildly better. In the last decade he has given many super hit films like Chak De India!, Veer Zaara, Kal Ho Na Ho, Devdas, Main Hoon Na and so on. While films like Don and Don 2, worked well for establishing him as a successful brand image, films like Swades, My Name is Khan and Chak De India! made the critics turn into his fans. He is called the King Khan for a validated reason which he proves time and again through his works. SRK’s overseas popularity has grown in the last decade which has made him the Face of Popular Indian Cinema overseas. All his films starting from Josh, Mohabbatein to Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Om Shanti Om have been a hit in U.S.A, U.K and even the Gulf countries. Ra.One which released in Diwali last year, also performed fairly well in terms of box office profits but failed as a film to live up to the expectations of audiences. Despite all hitches, small or big, a Shah Rukh Khan film is always loved and appreciated, the degrees varying in his quality of work and plot.

Analyzing closely, Shah Rukh Khan between 2000 and 2012, has had 10 super hit films, 4 Hit films. 4 of his films performed averagely at the box office and 3 bombed badly. Out of all his releases 15 have turned out to be Overseas Success and have done considerably good business. However, Ajay Devgn has had 6 Blockbuster hit films in his kitty besides, 9 Hits, 11 Average films and 18 flops. Six of his films have been huge success overseas.

Going by the numbers, Shah Rukh Khan appears to be a more reliable and stable figure in delivering hits. However if we meticulously observe, the last few films of Ajay Devgn has performed better than SRK. Ajay’s Singham, Bol Bachchan and Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai have performed better than Ra.One and Don 2. In fact, Ajay’s recent ventures have helped him build a more lucrative image of him. The profits have been raking up on his films in the last few of his releases and both domestic and overseas markets look conducive to his image and his work. But Jab Tak Hai Jaan will be an important movie given the circumstances and the hype surrounding it.

The ultimate question remains who will taste greater success? There’s barely a fortnight to go before the answer of it is out!