Bollywood has always thrived on star rivalries, and the latest buzz involves Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. A quote attributed to Aamir recently went viral in which he named 3 Idiots, Dangal, Animal, and Pushpa as the biggest hits in recent years — but noticeably left out Pathaan and Jawan.
The omission raised eyebrows since both Pathaan and Jawan are among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. In fact, Jawan crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark worldwide, surpassing Pathaan and sitting just behind Aamir Khan’s Dangal in global box office rankings.
This led to speculation that Aamir’s decision was deliberate, fueling old rivalry narratives. Historically, Aamir and Shah Rukh have shared a complicated relationship — marked by occasional respect but also subtle digs and public jibes. Fans of SRK were quick to interpret the omission as a sign of jealousy.
It’s not the first time Aamir has faced backlash from SRK fans. His past remarks on Shah Rukh’s media image had already stirred controversy. Now, with transparent box office numbers available, avoiding acknowledgment of Pathaan and Jawan seems even more pointed.
While friendly competition is part of Bollywood’s DNA, ignoring blockbuster successes risks fueling unnecessary divisions. Ultimately, cinema thrives when great films are celebrated, regardless of which superstar headlines them.
