The Khans - Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir - along with Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan are the true-blue filmi stars who have managed to maintain their superstardom over the last two-and-a-half decades. In recent years, (since 2007), the industry has been a witness to a fresh pool of talent.
There was Ranbir Kapoor who, at one point, was considered the biggest threat to the Khans. Soon enough, there were half-a-dozen other actors who not only connected with the audience, but their movies also did good business.
Today, a string of Gen-Y stars - right from Ranveer Singh to Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra and Sushant Singh Rajput - have managed to create a place for themselves.
Here, we have a detailed analysis of how they (we have considered only full-fledged roles and not cameos) have fared at the box office and who has emerged as tomorrow's true-blue superstar...
Ranveer Singh
His unbelievable energy and quirky fashion sense might have made him a crowd favourite, but his method acting has catapulted him into the big league. Ranveer has seen a few ups and downs, like everyone else, but in the last few years, his meteoric rise at the BO is evident. More so, with Padmaavat racing towards the Rs 300-crore mark.
Band Baaja Baaraat: Rs 23.16 crore
Ladies vs Ricky Bahl: Rs 30.75 crore
Lootera: Rs 27.85 crore
Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela: Rs 112.97 crore
Gunday: Rs 73.28 crore
Kill Dil: Rs 29.98 crore
Dil Dhadakne Do: Rs 75.05 crore
Bajirao Mastani: Rs 183.75 crore
Befikre: Rs 60.26 crore
Padmaavat: Rs 282.18 crore* (eight weeks' collections)
AVERAGE PER FILM: Rs 89.92 crore
Blockbuster: 1, Hit: 2, Semi Hit: 1, Average: 2, Below Average: 2, Flop: 2
Varun Dhawan
All of Varun's films have registered a blockbuster opening, which is only a testament to the immense reach and following he enjoys even in tier II and tier III cities. Unlike his contemporaries, the actor has managed to come up with an interesting concoction of entertaining, art-house and masala films.
Student Of The Year: Rs 62.94 crore
Main Tera Hero: Rs 53.17 crore
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania: Rs 72.80 crore
Badlapur: Rs 49.62 crore
ABCD 2: Rs 103.58 crore
Dilwale: Rs 139.97 crore
Dishoom: Rs 68.10 crore
Badrinath Ki Dulhania: Rs 114.11 crore
Judwaa 2: Rs 132.39 crore
AVERAGE PER FILM: Rs 88.52 crore
Super Hit: 3, Hit: 2, Semi Hit: 3, Average: 1
Ranbir Kapoor
He was inching towards the 'superstar' tag. But after Besharam, Ranbir hasn't been able to pick himself up at the BO, except for an Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. While many think he's done with his stellar run, the Kapoor lad has a lot more to offer. Industry experts feel that the Sanjay Dutt biopic will be a game-changer for him.
Saawariya: Rs 20.92 crore
Bachna Ae Haseeno: Rs 36.19 crore
Wake Up Sid: Rs 27.94 crore
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani: Rs 62.84 crore
Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year: Rs 20.18 crore
Raajneeti: Rs 92.37 crore
Anjaana Anjaani: Rs 40.05 crore
Rockstar: Rs 68.61 crore
Barfi!: Rs 105.57 crore
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani: Rs 178 crore
Besharam: Rs 56.82 crore
Roy: Rs 35.87 crore
Bombay Velvet: Rs 22.80 crore
Tamasha: Rs 68.55 crore
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Rs 106.48 crore
Jagga Jasoos: Rs 52.61 crore
AVERAGE PER FILM: Rs 62.24 crore
Blockbuster: 1, Super Hit: 3, Hit: 1, Semi Hit: 3, Average: 1, Below Average: 1, Flop: 4, Disaster: 2
Arjun Kapoor
He has a great sense of numbers. If you read his interviews, you will know that producer Boney Kapoor's son has an intelligent take on budget, box-office figures, and the overall sensibilities concerning every aspect of filmmaking. The actor has tasted moderate success with most of his films, while some didn't do as well as expected. Still, his average stands somewhere in the middle and he has made it to the fourth spot on this list.
Ishaqzaade: Rs 46.38 crore
Aurangzeb: Rs 22.74 crore
Gunday: Rs 73.28 crore
2 States: Rs 101.86 crore
Finding Fanny: Rs 28.23 crore
Tevar: Rs 35.55 crore
Ki & Ka: Rs 51.68 crore
Half Girlfriend: Rs 52.29 crore
Mubarakan: Rs 54.76 crore
AVERAGE PER FILM: Rs 51.86 crore
Super Hit: 1, Hit: 1, Semi Hit: 2, Below Average: 1, Flop: 4
Sushant Singh Rajput
He took the big leap from the small screen to celluloid and ever since, he has been lauded for his acting prowess. Whether Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! that failed to work at the box office or the MS Dhoni biopic that set cash registers ringing, there was one thing in common - Sushant was praised for his performances. Barring the Neeraj Pandey film, the actor is yet to redeem himself as a potential box-office money-spinner, but he has a few interesting films lined up already.
Kai Po Che: Rs 43.58 crore
Shuddh Desi Romance: Rs 46.26 crore
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!: Rs 26.21 crore
MS Dhoni: The Untold Story: Rs 119.09 crore
Raabta: Rs 21.68 crore
AVERAGE PER FILM: Rs 51.36 crore
Hit: 2, Semi-Hit: 1, Flop: 1, Disaster: 1
Sidharth Malhotra
When he debuted as one of Karan Johar's proteges in Student Of The Year, all eyes were on him. Everyone wondered how he would fare in his next few films. Sidharth has explored diverse genres - some which worked wonderfully for him and some which didn't. Currently, he might not be having a great run at the theatres, but it will only take another fantastic Friday to get him back on track.
Student Of The Year: Rs 62.94 crore
Hasee Toh Phasee: Rs 36.56 crore
Ek Villain: Rs 97.51 crore
Brothers: Rs 70.65 crore
Kapoor & Sons: Rs 69.37 crore
Baar Baar Dekho: Rs 30.62 crore
A Gentleman - Sundar Susheel Risky: Rs 17.72 crore
Ittefaq: Rs 27.52 crore
Aiyaary: Rs 17.47 crore
AVERAGE PER FILM: Rs 47.81 crore
Super Hit: 1, Hit: 1, Semi Hit: 1, Average: 1, Flop: 3, Disaster: 2