Akshay on fire, edges past Shahrukh, Hrithik : Bollywood News

Akshay Kumar has recorded his first solo blockbuster now. What seemed like a successful film in the making is now challenging records at the very top. Rowdy Rathore, which is continuing to be a hurricane at theatres and still attracting audience by dozens, has now found a place in Top-5 Bollywood films of all times, what with Shahrukh Khan as well as Hrithik Roshan being edged out.

"Rowdy Rathore has now comfortably surpassed 120 crores in its third weekend itself, hence leaving behind the likes of Ra.One (115 crore), Agneepath (120 crores) and for that matter even Salman Khan's Ready (121 crores)", confirms a trade source.

Akshay on fire, edges past Shahrukh, Hrithik

However, Salman continues to post a challenge for Akshay since his Dabangg and Bodyguard have covered a much greater distance by amassing over 140 crores each.

"It would be quite difficult to cross that milestone though since in coming weeks, Akshay faces challenge from Shahid Kapoor (Teri Meri Kahaani) and The Amazing Spiderman which arrive back to back", an insider adds, "However Rowdy Rathore would now come close to the 135 crore mark, which is a huge achievement considering the fact that Akshay was facing rough weather during last year. Now with both Housefull 2 and Rowdy Rathore doing so well and Akshay finding a very strong positioning for him (with Aamir Khan ruling from the top, courtesy 3 Idiots at 202 crores), things have heated up all over again."

The coming weeks would decide how the battle intensifies. While it is a given that Aamir Khan (Talaash), Shahrukh Khan (YRF's yet untitled film), Salman Khan (Ek Tha Tiger, Dabangg 2), Ajay Devgn (Bol Bachchan) would all top the 100 crore mark, it is a wait and watch situation to see how many of them manage to break the new record set by Akshay.