Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn- who's winning the actor-producer game?

In a decade-long analysis, we delve deep into the economics of all the films produced by our five superstars, and how's their track record been so far.

These stars have not only excelled at acting but also aced production. As the year ends, we take a look at a 10-year report card (2015-2025) on how superstars Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan stack up in the money-making race:

Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan

RED CHILLIES ENTERTAINMENT- FOUNDED IN 2002

SRK owns Red Chillies Entertainment.

Number of films: 10

Dilwale

Budget: ₹165 crore

Earnings: ₹376.85 cr- HIT

Dear Zindagi

Budget: ₹30 crores

Earnings: ₹135.47 cr- HIT

Raees

Budget: ₹87 crores

Earnings: ₹281.44- HIT

Jab Harry Met Sejal

Earnings: Rs153.43- AVERAGE

Ittefaq

Budget- 30 crores

Earnings: 56.26- AVERAGE

Zero

A poster of Zero.

Budget: ₹200 crores

Earnings: ₹186 crores- AVERAGE

Badla

Budget: ₹20 crores

Earnings: Rs138.49- HIT

Kaamyaab

Budget: ₹7 crores

Earnings: ₹50 lakhs- FLOP

Jawan

A still from Jawan.

Budget: ₹300 crores

Earnings: 1148.32 cr- HIT

Dunki

Budget- 120 crores

Earnings: 470.6 cr- HIT

Total revenue: ₹3000 crore

Success rate: 50 percent

SK FILMS- FOUNDED IN 2014

Salman Khan owns Salman Khan Films.

Number of films: 12

Bajrangi Bhaijaan -

A still from Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Budget: ₹90 crores

Earnings: ₹918.18 HIT

Hero -

Budget- ₹36 crores

Earnings: ₹34.82 AVERAGE

Tubelight -

Budget: ₹100 crores

Earnings: ₹211.14 AVERAGE

Race 3-

Budget- ₹185 crores

Earnings: ₹294.98 crores AVERAGE

Loveyatri-

Budget: ₹32 crores

Earnings: ₹18.14 cr FLOP

Notebook-

Budget: ₹19 crores

Earnings: ₹3.72 FLOP

Bharat-

A still from Bharat

Budget: ₹100 crores

Earnings: ₹325.58 HIT

Dabangg 3

Budget: ₹100 crores

Earnings: ₹218 AVERAGE

Radhe

Budget: ₹90 crores

Earnings: ₹18.33 (only overseas theatrical release amid covid lockdowns)

Antim

Budget: ₹48 crores

Earnings: ₹59.11 AVERAGE

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan -

Budget: ₹125 crore

Earnings: ₹182.44 AVERAGE

Sikandar -

Budget: ₹200 crores

Earnings: ₹176.18 AVERAGE

Total revenue: ₹2460 crores

Success rate: 16.67 percent

AAMIR KHAN PRODUCTIONS- FOUNDED IN 1999

Aamir owns Aamir Khan Productions

Number of films: 5

Dangal -

A still from Dangal

Budget: ₹70 crores

Earnings: ₹2023.81 HIT

Secret Superstar

A still from Secret Superstar.

Budget: ₹15 crores

Earnings: ₹858.43 HIT

Laal Singh Chadha -

Budget: ₹180 crores

Earnings: ₹129.64 FLOP

Laapataa Ladies -

Budget: ₹5 crore

Earnings: ₹25.26 HIT

Sitaare Zameen Par -

Budget: ₹122 crores

Earnings: ₹266.49 HIT

Total revenue: ₹3303 crores

Success rate: 80 percent

DEVGN FILMS- FOUNDED IN 2000

Ajay Devgn owns Devgn films

Number of films: 11

Shivaay -

Budget: ₹125 crores

Earnings: ₹148.91 HIT

Apla Manus -

Budget: ₹5 crores

Earnings: ₹25 crores HIT

Helicopter Eela -

Budget: ₹15 crores

Earnings: ₹8.24 HIT

Total Dhamaal -

Budget: ₹90 crores

Earnings: ₹228.27 HIT

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior -

Budget: ₹172 crores

Earnings: ₹367.65 HIT

Runway 34 -

Budget: ₹100 crores

Earnings: ₹53.77 FLOP

Bholaa -

Budget: ₹100 crores

Earnings: ₹111.64 AVERAGE

Shaitaan -

Budget: ₹60 crores

Earnings: ₹211 crores HIT

Singham Again -

Budget: ₹340 crores

Earnings: ₹389.64 AVERAGE

Maa -

Budget: ₹65 crores

Earnings: ₹51.64 AVERAGE

Son of Sardaar 2 -

Budget: ₹130 crores

Earnings: ₹60.90 FLOP

Total revenue: ₹1656 crores

Success rate: 45.45 percent

CAPE OF GOOD FILMS- FOUNDED IN 2008

Akshay Kumar owns Cape of Good Films.

Number of films: 16

Baby

Budget: ₹25 crores

Earnings: ₹143 crore HIT

Airlift

Budget: ₹30 crores

Earnings: ₹221.67 HIT

Rustom

Budget: ₹50 crores

Earnings: ₹218.12 HIT

Naam Shabana

Budget: ₹25 crores

Earnings: ₹60 HIT

Toilet Ek Prem Katha

A poster of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Budget: ₹24 crores

Earnings: ₹311.5 HIT

Padman

Budget: ₹76 crores

Earnings: ₹207.73 HIT

Mission Mangal

A still from Mission Mangal

Budget: ₹32 crores

Earnings: ₹290.59 HIT

Kesari

Budget: ₹80 crores

Earnings: ₹207.09 HIT

Good Newwz

Budget: ₹70 crores

Earnings: ₹318.57 HIT

Sooryavanshi

Budget: ₹160 crores

Earnings: ₹294.91 HIT

Raksha Bandhan

Budget: ₹70 crores

Earnings: ₹61.61 AVERAGE

Ram Setu

Budget: Rs150 crores

Earnings: ₹92.94 AVERAGE

Selfiee

Budget: ₹100 crores

Earnings: ₹23.63 FLOP

OMG 2

Budget: ₹50 crores

Earnings: ₹221.08 HIT

Sarfiraa

Budget: ₹80 crores

Earnings: ₹30.02 FLOP

Kesari Chapter 2

Budget: ₹150 crores

Earnings: ₹144 crores AVERAGE

Total revenue: 2846 crores

Success rate: 75 percent

VERDICT

1. Aamir Khan holds the highest success rate at 80%. His strategy of “less is more” works in his favor here. Even his smaller films like Secret Superstar and Laapataa Ladies became massive ROI (Return on Investment) winners. Noteably, Dangal and Secret Superstar both were released in China, and that contributed massively to his numero uno position.

2. Akshay Kumar’s acumen as a producer is the most impressive in terms of sheer numbers. Delivering 12 successful films out of 16 screams consistency. He has the highest number of hits on this list.

3. The revenue scale of Shah Rukh Khan’s films has been massive, even with a 50 percent success rate. A single film Jawan was a box office lottery. High-budget risks like Zero point towards his production house willing to back purely good content.

4. With a 45.45% success rate, Ajay Devgn sits in the middle. His strength lies in the “event” film. While his experimental or directorial projects (Runway 34, Bholaa) fluctuate, his mass-action entertainers like Tanhaji and Shaitaan minted massive profits.

5. Salman Khan has the lowest success rate at 16.67%. However, it is important to note that even his average grossers (Race 3, Dabangg 3) earn more than many other stars’ hits. His brand relies on blockbuster peaks like Bajrangi Bhaijaan.