Bollywood

18 & Counting: Akshay Becomes First Indian Actor

Akshay Kumar is back in the spotlight as Housefull 5 becomes his 18th film to cross the ₹100 crore mark at the domestic box office. This achievement puts him ahead of his contemporaries, with Salman Khan at 17, Ajay Devgn at 15, and Shah Rukh Khan at 10.

The ₹100 crore club has become a popular way to gauge an actor’s box office pull and star power in today’s Bollywood.

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But there’s increasing debate about whether this milestone still holds the same value. A decade ago, reaching ₹100 crore was a big deal—it marked a film as a major hit.

Now, with rising production costs and higher ticket prices, especially for films starring A-list actors, ₹100 crore feels more like a baseline than a benchmark. For stars like Akshay, Salman, or Ajay, it’s almost expected.

Akshay’s recent comeback—after a rough patch between 2022 and early 2024—has been strong. He’s delivered three back-to-back hits in 2025: Sky Force, Kesari 2, and now Housefull 5.

With Jolly LLB 3 and Bhooth Bangla lined up, he could soon become the first actor to hit 20 films in the ₹100 crore club. Still, not everyone is impressed. Many critics feel that the obsession with box office numbers has taken the focus away from storytelling and creativity.

In trying to meet commercial expectations, many films end up playing it safe—relying on formulas instead of taking creative risks.

What was once a mark of success, in many ways, has become a symbol of Bollywood’s growing dependence on commercial performance over artistic depth.

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Jhansi

Jhansi is a senior writer with extensive experience covering Telugu movies and the broader Indian cinema landscape. With a keen focus on U.S. updates related to Telugu people and Indians, as well as immigration & …

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