Shah Rukh Khan: Rs 634 cr BO in 1995 to Rs 2000 cr in 2023, the actor’s three-decade career in numbers

At 58, this man, with his unmatchable energy and magnetic charm, is leading the Hindi movie business. To know how big a star he is, you don’t need to go far. Just this year, he’s delivered his career’s biggest blockbusters — action-packed Pathaan and revenge-thriller Jawan.

Both the films have earned over Rs 550 crore in India and over Rs 1000 crore overseas. Titled the ‘Baadshah of Bollywood’, his performances are memorable — be it as an adorable lover Raj/Rahul or as brooding Azaad/Vikram Rathore (Jawan) and Pathaan. He is ageing like fine wine.

However, his journey of three decades was not always a bed of roses. He had to go through rough patches but he emerged victorious, courtesy his humble background which taught him not to let success get to him.

As we look at his films from 1992 to 2023, Shah Rukh’s career is replete with impressive numbers. After making his debut with Deewana in 1993, he starred in thrillers Baazigar and Darr, introducing the audience to his range as an artist as he played an obsessive lover and a stalker. Both the films did a cumulative business of Rs 141.2 crore (adjusted for inflation). The following year was decent with Anjaam and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. Then came 1995, one of the most significant years of his remarkable career.

1995 and 2023 were the most productive years for Shah Rukh Khan in terms of box office collection. (Graphic by: Abhishek Mitra)

In 1995, Shah Rukh did as many as seven films (Karan Arjun, Zamaana Deewana, Guddu, Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India!, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Ram Jaane, Trimurti), and all of them did a cumulative business of Rs 638.92 crore. The year established his position in the Hindi film industry as a bankable star and also a romantic hero, courtesy the humongous success of DDLJ, and he didn’t disappoint in the following years. He continued to pull people to the cinema halls in huge numbers. Till 2004, he starred in not less than two films every year. But from 2005, this number came down to just one film a year and dropped to zero from 2019 to 2022.

Speaking about the fewer projects in the late 2000s when compared to the 90s, the actor said in 2015, “I am not doing many films that I can actually do. I am being lazy”. Though, he promised that he would do “many different films”. He said, “I want to do three films a year. Ek film mein mann ke liye karna chahta hu, ek tann ke liye aur ek dhan ke liye (I want to do one film for the mind, one for my physical capability and one for money).”

‘King Khan’, as he is addressed by his fans, tried to live up to his promise and signed Fan (2016), Dear Zindagi (2016), and Raees (2017). All three films were starkly different from each other and presented SRK in a never-seen-before avatar. His fans and the filmmakers realised that the actor is not just the ‘King of Romance’ but a master of all genres.

If Shah Rukh’s filmography boasts of 18 romantic dramas, it also consists of 9 thrillers, 9 actioners, 8 romantic comedies and 14 dramas.

A look at films of Shah Rukh Khan in various genres. (Graphic by: Abhishek Mitra)

However, Shah Rukh faced a series of setbacks in 2017 and 2018 with Jab Harry Met Sejal and Zero failing miserably. This made the actor retrospect where he went wrong. It led to his absence from the silver screen for four long years. He restricted himself to just a few cameos. While the audience was waiting for their star to return, little did they expect his transformation into a muscled superstar who would not just sweep them off their feet with his signature pose – arms spread out wide, but with his gravity-defying stunts.

Pathaan and Jawan brought Shah Rukh Khan back to the limelight, and the kind of box office records they created were only predicted by a few. Pathaan grossed Rs 1,050.30 crore worldwide, becoming the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, after Jawan which earned Rs 1069.85 crores internationally. To date, the two films top the actor’s list of five biggest blockbusters, which includes Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (Rs 325.6 cr), Chennai Express (Rs 397.47 cr) and Happy New Year (Rs 332.92 cr).

Box office numbers adjusted for inflation. (Graphic by: Abhishek Mitra)

Despite being one of the bankable stars in Bollywood history, SRK remains a wholesome actor who does it for the fans and it is quite evident all these years later.

“I have never done it because of money. I’m alright losing money but I live to the purpose of the business which is to give happiness.” he once told Forbes.