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Until three months ago, Shah Rukh Khan led the polls. But then came two big budget blips—Swades and Paheli. And the ‘welcome back Aamir’ wave.

After all, Aamir was on-screen after four years. But the Big Bang beginning of Mangal Pandey: The Rising fizzled into a whimper by week three. Meanwhile, the third angle in this triangle, Salman Khan, was busy consolidating last year’s BO booty. The average Lucky: No Time For Love was followed by a tapes scandal linking him to the underworld. But that didn’t stop Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya from hitting the spot.

His extended guest appearance in No Entry earned debt-ridden producer Boney Kapoor his first big grosser in seven years. ‘‘If you see Salman’s track record for the last two summers, he’s the most successful of the lot,’’ says trade analyst, Taran Adarsh.

Yet, they don’t call Salman ‘The One’. So, who’s the title-holder then?

Not much has changed. ‘‘Shah Rukh’s brand equity is still the biggest,’’ says Komal Nahata, editor, Film Information. SRK’s biggest advantage is his unmatched dominance in the overseas market. A regular SRK film in the UK and the US easily does business worth Rs 17-20 crore. Salman swings

Rs 8-10 crore while Aamir’s share is fixed at Rs 5-6 crore. Read on, it’s time you heard the numbers speak.

#1 Shah Rukh: The Overseas King
Net BO Impact
Rs 806,23,07,268

SRK had eight mega grossers between 2000-2005 in the domestic circuit. Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham leads with Rs 53.17 crore, followed by Veer-Zaara, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Devdas, Main Hoon Na, Mohabbatein and Chalte Chalte.

Ironically, while 1997’s Pardes started the NRI-friendly genre of films, Swades had a tepid run in the homeland. NRIs, however, remain a SRK preserve. Says Adarsh, ‘‘SRK is one to 10 overseas. Nobody before him and nobody after him can even dream of raking it so big.’’ Sample this: Shah Rukh stars in seven of the top 10 hits in the UK and six in the US. ‘‘A film like Paheli struggled to get an opening here, but did a business of Rs 11 crore overseas,’’ says Nahata.

Currently, SRK is only shooting for Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. By that standard, around Rs 40 crore—the film’s budget—rides on him. Though he’s committed to Farah Khan’s Happy New Year and Farhan Akhtar’s Don, these films will only start next year.

#2 Salman: Prince of the Heartland
Net BO Impact
Rs 715,82,47,724
Salman’s tally: Four blockbusters in five years. Sajid Nadiadwala’s Mujhse Shaadi Karogi leads with Rs 28.10 crore. Other A-listers are Baghbaan, No Entry and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya.

He might be criticised for the same kind of buffonery but today, a Salman Khan film gets the best initial. ‘‘Salman is the undisputed hero of the masses. He has marked Rajasthan, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat as exclusively his territories,’’ says Adarsh.

Trade pundits say that Salman has started the trend of bumper openings. ‘‘Most of Salman’s movies earn their recovery in the first three weeks itself because of the thumping initial he commands,’’ says trade analyst, Amod Mehra. That’s why Kapoor displayed Khan’s mug all over No Entry’s publicity hoardings even though he just had a guest role. Currently, five Salman starrers are on the floors—Kyon Ki, Jaan-E-Man, Marigold, Babul and God Tussi Great Ho. Translated, that’s a cool Rs 125 crore bet on his brawn. The trade buzz is that he’s also been signed on for two Yash Raj films and a Subhash Ghai venture. Other pending assignments include Rajkumar Santoshi’s London Dreams and Nikhil Advani’s next.

#3 Aamir: Urban Warrior
Net BO Impact
Rs 3,84,27,52,305
Aamir’s Lagaan, Mangal Pandey-The Rising and Dil Chahta Hai make the grade. Lagaan did a business of Rs 35.44 crore. These films also make it to the ongoing decade’s top of the charts.

‘‘An Aamir Khan film is most appreciated by discerning city audiences. Bombay, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad are A-plus for all Aamir starrers,’’ says Adarsh. Aamir is the intelligent viewer’s top star. Mangal Pandey got a robust opening across the country. ‘‘There were almost 12 shows in multiplexes when the film released; initial hype saved the film,’’ says Adarsh.

Aamir has always maintained his hiatus was unintentional. These days, he is on a signing spree. Besides Rakesh Mehra’s Rang De Basanti and Kunal Kohli’s Fannah, he has also signed Vishal Bhardwaj’s Mr Mehta and Mrs Singh. Since Bharadwaj’s film will roll only next year, Rs 60 crore is at stake on Aamir.

The Verdict

Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt spells out the big picture. ‘‘Shah Rukh and Salman play unpretentiously to the gallery, which is why they have more hits than Aamir.’’ He weighs the three biggies. ‘‘If stardom is a 100 metre race, SRK is in front but he can feel Salman’s breath on his neck. Aamir is a close third.’’

Bhatt feels Aamir can easily fall into the Great Oscar Trap. ‘‘Anyone who goes to the Oscars either hikes his price or waits for the right project. Taking your work seriously is different from taking yourself seriously. Aamir should do more light-hearted roles to appeal to the universal audience.’’ His biggest strength, feels Bhatt, is commitment to a project.

Salman is the endearing bad boy. ‘‘He has a vulnerable charm and people like his recklessness,’’ says Bhatt. But it’s high time Salman ventured into the unknown. ‘‘He should work with different people. How long can he do the same stuff over and over?’’

With regards to SRK, Bhatt fears he works too much. ‘‘He’s always driving fast and needs to pause.’’ And why is he still No.1? ‘‘Charisma, charisma, charisma.’’

(All figures from ibosnetwork.com)