The usual suspects leading the movie business for over 25 years have made the most money for the industry this year as well.
While Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are quite expected, it's surprising that Amitabh Bachchan stays in the game even four and a half decades later!
Here's looking at the actors who have made the most money for the Hindi film industry.
Akshay Kumar
Total Box Office collection: Rs 366 crore
Airlift: Rs 129 crore
Rustom: Rs 128 crore
Housefull 3: Rs 109 crore
Akshay Kumar continues to churn out one film after another, keeping the budget and timelines in control, and ensuring hits.
He is the only actor ever to score three triple centuries (Airlift, Housefull 3 and Rustom) in a single year. In fact, he has ensured maximum ticket sales at 366 crore!
Read the Airlift reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Read the Rustom here
Read the Housefull 3 review here
Aamir Khan
Total Box Office collection: Rs 325 crore+
Dangal: Rs 325 crore+ expected
Aamir Khan came, hit a six and is still counting the moolah!
His Dangal has set quite a few records and while the Rs 200 crore mark will probably be surpassed by the second weekend itself, the game is now big enough to result in a triple century.
In fact, the film is heading towards the 315 crore mark. It won't be surprising if bigger milestones are accomplished.
Salman Khan
Total Box Office collection: Rs 301.5 crore
Sultan: Rs 301.5 crore
Salman Khan ruled the box office in 2015 with a triple century in Bajrangi Bhaijaan and a double century in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, resulting in over Rs 500 crore coming in.
This year, the superstar has maintained a healthy run rate with yet another triple century in Sultan coming in. With this, he has maintained his Numero Uno position intact.
Sushant Singh Rajput
Total Box Office collection: Rs 133.5 crore
MS Dhoni - The Untold Story: Rs 133.5 crore
After Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, one waited to see how audiences would react to Sushant Singh Rajput playing MS Dhoni, and it turned out to be a major surprise of 2016.
Neeraj Pandey's direction allowed MS Dhoni - The Untold Story to take an excellent start. With this, Sushant entered the 100 crore club.
Ranbir Kapoor
Total Box Office collection: Rs 112.5 crore
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Rs 112.5 crore
Ranbir Kapoor needed a hit badly and Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil came to his rescue.
The film, co-starring Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, was a bonafide hit. Now, it's up to him to make some more smart career moves.
Read the reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Ajay Devgn
Total Box Office collection: Rs 100.3 crore
Shivaay: Rs 100.3 crore
When the promo of Shivaay was unveiled, it was instantly hot in trade circles as well as with the audiences.
Hence, even though the film managed to enter the 100 crore club, one believes that the Ajay Devgn acted and directed affair could have gone past some bigger milestones it had originally set out for.
Now, let's see how the actor fares with his 2017 releases, Baadshaho and Golmaal Again.
Read the reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Shah Rukh Khan
Total Box Office collection: Rs 153 crore
Fan: Rs 85 crore
Dear Zindagi: Rs 68 crore
Fan was a dream project and it opened well at the box office. But it could not cover the distance.
Yet, Shah Rukh Khan was much appreciated for the different choices he was making as an actor.
This was reaffirmed once again with the well-reviewed film, Dear Zindagi, which saw him play a supporting role to Alia Bhatt's character.
Read the Fan reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Read the Dear Zindagi reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Tiger Shroff
Total Box Office collection: Rs 117 crore
Baaghi: Rs 77 crore
A Flying Jatt: Rs 40 crore
Tiger Shroff started 2016 with a bang once his film Baaghi saw a double digit opening. It went on to become a superhit.
His next release A Flying Jatt, unfortunately, could not sustain itself even though it started well.
Tiger may have had a mixed bag in 2016 but that could all change with Munna Michael the next year.
Read the Baaghi review here
Read the A Flying Jatt review here
Sidharth Malhotra
Total Box Office collection: Rs 105.3 crore
Kapoor & Sons: Rs 73.3 crore
Baar Baar Dekho: Rs 32 crore
Sidharth Malhotra has been working in a wide genre of films and is making sure he doesn't get stereotyped. So his role in Kapoor & Sons was very different from that of Brothers and Ek Villain.
Kapoor & Sons went on to become a superhit but it other 2016 release Baar Baar Dekho could not match up, despite having a co-star like Katrina Kaif and a hit song, Kaala Chashma.
Read the Kapoor & Sons reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Read the Baar Baar Dekho review here
John Abraham
Total Box Office collection: Rs 132 crore
Dishoom: Rs 70 crore
Force 2: Rs 36 crore
Rocky Handsome: Rs 26 crore
John Abraham's Rocky Handsome fizzled out soon after its release.
He bounced back with Dishoom, a masala potboiler.
He could have scored a reasonably decent success with Force 2 but then the film arrived right at the onset of demonetization.
Let's see what John picks up next.
Read the Dishoom reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Read the Force 2 reviews here: Sukanya Verma/ Raja Sen
Read the Rocky Handsome review here
Amitabh Bachchan
Total Box Office collection: 128 crore
PINK: Rs 68 crore
Wazir: Rs 41 crore
Te3n: Rs 19 crore
The legend still has it in him and that's why Amitabh Bachchan's 2016 releases ended up going past the 125 crore mark.
He started the year with Wazir, which was a moderate success.
His Te3n was a disappointment.
His next film PINK was one of the best reviewed films of the year.
Read the Wazir review here
Read the Te3n reviews here: Sukanya Verma / Raja Sen
Read the PINK review here
Disclaimer:
1. Only Hindi film releases have been counted, no dubbed versions.
2. Only India business has been considered, not overseas.
3. Only lead roles have been considered, no cameos or special appearances.
4. Only those actors have been considered whose films have generated combined revenue of at least 100 crore at the box office.
5. All collections as per production and distributor sources.
