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When Aamir Khan said he looks like a waiter compared to Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan: ‘They are bigger stars than me’

In 2016 during the promotion of his film, Dangal, Aamir Khan had admitted that he considered Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan bigger stars than him.

Published on: Sep 9, 2025, 17:06:49 IST
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The three biggest names in Bollywood, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, have long been considered the last of the true superstars. While they share a warm camaraderie off-screen, debates around who among them holds the title of the “biggest star” have never stopped among fans. Interestingly, Aamir Khan himself once admitted that he sees Salman and Shah Rukh as bigger stars than him.

Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan dancing together.
Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan dancing together.

When Aamir Khan admitted Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are bigger stars than him

During the promotions of his 2016 film Dangal, Aamir was asked whether he believed Salman was a bigger star than him. He told the press, “He’s always been a bigger star than me. There’s nothing new. I always considered Shah Rukh, Salman, and Amitabh Bachchan bigger stars. There are a host of stars whom I consider big, and this includes Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. There are so many stars who are hugely popular. I don’t get into comparisons.”

He further added, “When I see Salman walking into a room, it feels like a star has arrived. When I enter, it looks as if a waiter has entered. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t say that because waiters are great people. I shouldn’t say that, but when Salman enters or Shah Rukh enters, it feels like a star has come… they are bigger stars than me.”

Both Dangal and Salman’s Sultan were released in 2016, five months apart, and turned out to be massive blockbusters. Sultan earned 607.84 crore worldwide against a budget of 80 crore, while Dangal collected an astonishing 2,070 crore worldwide against a budget of 70 crore.

More recently, before the release of Aamir’s film Sitaare Zameen Par, Salman and Shah Rukh paid him and the cast a visit, spending time with specially-abled children. Now, Salman and Aamir are set to make cameos in Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, Ba***ds of Bollywood, which is set to release on Netflix on September 18.

Upcoming films of the three Khans

Aamir is awaiting the release of his next production, Lahore 1947, starring Sunny Deol in the lead role. Salman is currently shooting for Battle of Galwan, directed by Apoorva Lakhia, and Shah Rukh will be next seen in Siddharth Anand’s King, which also stars Suhana Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Abhishek Bachchan in key roles.

  • Riya Sharma
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Riya Sharma

    Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More

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