Shah Rukh Khan Couldn't, Salman Khan Failed, Aamir Khan Missed - Guess The 60-Year-Old Who Beat Them All At Their Peak

For more than 20 years, the Khans ruled the box office. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan delivered hit after hit from the 1990s to 2016. They gave 20 of the highest-grossing Indian films during that time. But one man from the South broke that winning streak twice.

That man was Rajinikanth. At age 60, he managed to beat the Khans when they were at the top of their game. And he did it with films that were totally different from the usual Bollywood formula.

Rajinikanth Broke Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan And Aamir Khan’s Reign In 2005

In 2005, Rajinikanth returned with Chandramukhi. While Salman’s No Entry earned Rs 75 crore and Aamir’s Mangal Pandey collected Rs 52 crore, Rajini’s film made Rs 90 crore worldwide. It was a huge comeback and the biggest hit of the year.

This came at a time when the Khans were unstoppable. From Hum Aapke Hain Koun to Veer Zaara, they ruled every year. But Chandramukhi changed that.

Enthiran Defeated Dabangg And My Name Is Khan

Five years later, Rajinikanth did it again. In 2010, Salman had his biggest hit with Dabangg (Rs 221 crore). Shah Rukh’s My Name Is Khan also earned Rs 220 crore globally. But Rajini’s Enthiran beat both, with a worldwide collection of Rs 283 crore. At 60, he gave the year’s top-grossing Indian film (ahead of all three Khans).

Even now, Rajinikanth shows no signs of slowing down. His 2023 film Jailer made over Rs 600 crore globally. He is all set to return with Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, on August 14, 2025.

In 2018, he gave another major hit with 2.0. That film performed better than Thugs of Hindustan, Race 3, and Zero (all starring the Khans).

Between 1994 and 2016, only three non-Khan films became the highest-grossing films of the year. One was Dhoom 2. The other two were Rajinikanth’s Chandramukhi and Enthiran.

While most stars fade over time, Rajinikanth’s stardom keeps rising. Beating Shah Rukh Khan, Salman, and Aamir during their peak wasn’t luck; it was history in the making. His box office record is truly one of Indian cinema’s biggest achievements.