Will a film starring the Khans – Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, Jawan or Dunki, or Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan or Tiger 3 – emerge as the HIGHEST grosser of the year in 2023? Trade shares its views

By Fenil Seta -

January 6, 2023 - 10:08 AM IST

There was a time when the highest grosser of the year would be the one featuring one of the three Khans – Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, or Aamir Khan. However, things have changed since 2018 as the year’s biggest hits have been non-Khan flicks, such as Sanju (2018), War (2019), Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior (2020), Sooryavanshi (2021) and The Kashmir Files (2022).

Will a film starring the Khans – Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, Jawan or Dunki, or Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan or Tiger 3 – emerge as the HIGHEST grosser of the year in 2023? Trade shares its views

Now, as 2023 commences, the question that arises is – will a non-Khan film once again emerge as the biggest blockbuster in 2023 as well? Or will a Khan film snatch the top spot like in the old times? The latter is very much possible as both Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will be having multiple releases, all of which seem very exciting. Shah Rukh Khan will have three films up for release – Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki. Bollywood Hungama reported last year that all these three films have the potential to collect Rs. 300 crores each.

Salman Khan, meanwhile, will have a proper theatrical release after December 2019 with Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. It releases on Eid 2023 followed by Tiger 3 on Diwali. Both have humongous expectations riding on them. Aamir Khan, meanwhile, won’t have a release in 2023.

Trade analyst Atul Mohan is quite confident of Shah Rukh Khan’s films, especially Jawan. He said, “Jawan is a true pan-Indian film. Atlee is one of the biggest Tamil directors. Hence, Jawan can get a huge boost in the South. Atlee’s film with Vijay did a business of Rs. 150-200 crores in Tamil Nadu. If the public there gives the same kind of love to Jawan, imagine the overall business of the film.”

On Dunki and Tiger 3, he said, “The business of Rajkumar Hirani’s film is more than his previous film. Even the Tiger franchise is becoming bigger. From 198.78 crores of Ek Tha Tiger (2012), the collections jumped to Rs. 339.16 crores in the case of Tiger Zinda Hai (2017). That’s like a 70-80% jump. Even though it's a big film this year.”

Atul Mohan continued, “Pathaan’s controversies are going to help the film. Siddharth Anand is one of the biggest directors we have today. All his films have stylish action sequences. So, all 3 films of Shah Rukh have immense potential. Shah Rukh Khan can become a pan-Indian star in 2023.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, agreed, “All 3 films of Shah Rukh Khan look fine. Kitni badi hoti hai yeh toh waqt batayega. I can say with confidence that Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki will have a very huge opening.”

He added, “Even Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and Tiger 3 will open with a bang. After that, the content, music, etc will decide its fate”

Trade veteran Taran Adarsh also felt that Khan’s films have a chance. He said, “Yes definitely (these 5 films can emerge as the biggest grossers). The year looks exciting, starting with Pathaan and so many other films, backed by stars. 2023 is going to be a significant year, provided Covid doesn’t play spoilsport.”

Film exhibitor and distributor Akshaye Rathi opined, “With Pathaan, Jawan, Dunki and Tiger, I am sure both Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will absolutely rock at the box office and give their fans the much-needed reason to celebrate all over again.”

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