Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Sunny Deol remain dominant figures in the Bollywood box office even today. While Shah Rukh Khan is focused on future projects after 2023, and Sunny Deol is generating buzz, Salman Khan is also aiming for a comeback. These three actors have a massive fanbase, and their films are usually instant hits. However, 29 years ago, their hit films couldn’t compete with a 22-year-old actress who conquered the box office. This actress, despite having friendly relations with the three stars, managed to surpass them back then.
The actress in question is Karisma Kapoor, who has starred in numerous films with Salman Khan. Sunny Deol also had a strong year in 1996, with two major releases. Despite the success of ‘Ghatak’ and ‘Jeet,’ he fell short. So, which film of Karisma Kapoor’s overshadowed everyone?
In 1996, several big films were released, achieving significant box office success. According to Box Office India, ‘Jeet’ and ‘Ghatak’ were the third-highest-grossing films of that year. Salman Khan’s ‘Khamoshi’ and Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Chahat’ performed below average. Furthermore, although Sunny Deol’s ‘Himmat’ and ‘Ajay’ also released that year, all these films were defeated by Karisma Kapoor’s ‘Raja Hindustani’.
When ‘Raja Hindustani’ was released in 1996, Karisma Kapoor was 22 years old. She starred alongside Aamir Khan. The film received a tremendous response. It’s a cult classic, still beloved today. It was the highest-grossing film that year, and all its songs were hits. The film grossed 76 crores worldwide. ‘Raja Hindustani’ is considered one of Karisma Kapoor’s career-defining films, and it continues to be remembered for various reasons.
Let’s examine the acting debuts of the actors. Sunny Deol began his career with the film ‘Betaab’ in 1983. Shah Rukh Khan’s first film was ‘Deewana,’ released in 1992. Salman Khan first appeared in ‘Biwi Ho To Aisi,’ released in 1988. Finally, Karisma Kapoor’s debut film, ‘Qaidi,’ was released in 1991.