All the three Khans of Bollywood are now in their mid-50s. But even after two and a half decades in the film industry, Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir still dominate Bollywood and figure in the list of top five richest actors in India.
Shah Rukh Khan
On top of the list is Shah Rukh Khan, who is a brand in himself. Considered the most talented star, the 'King Khan' has an astounding net worth of USD 700 million. In a career spanning over 25 years and with 80 films in genres, including romance, action, and comedy, under his belt, the 55-year-old is one of the most successful film stars in the world.
Born and brought up in Delhi, Shah Rukh began his career in acting with appearances in a number of TV series in the late 1980s. Fauji (soldier), a television series that portrayed the training of Indian Army cadets, actually marked his TV debut.
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However, after his mother's death, Shah Rukh relocated to Mumbai to pursue a career in Bollywood. And in 1992, the economics graduate from Delhi University made his Bollywood debut with Deewana, a blockbuster action-romantic flick that went on to net a whopping Rs 162 million that year only. In the film, he starred as the second male lead after Rishi Kapoor.
Between 1992 and 1994, he earned accolades for villainous roles in two commercial hits -- playing a serial killer in Baazigar and an obsessive lover in Darr. But Shah Rukh rose to prominence after starring in the 1995 romantic film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the longest-running blockbuster in the history of Indian cinema. The film was shot in India and Europe.
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Some of his other blockbusters include Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Shah Rukh was also widely praised for his award-winning performances in the 2002 film Devdas, where he played an alcoholic.
The superstar also earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of a NASA scientist in Swades (2004) and a hockey coach in Chak De! India (2007) and a man with Asperger syndrome in My Name Is Khan (2010). His highest-grossing films include the comedies Chennai Express (2013), Happy New Year (2014), Dilwale (2015), and the crime film Raees (2017).
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Shah Rukh, who has anchored many TV shows, also owns production company Red Chillies Entertainment and Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders.
The superstar is married to interior designer Gauri Chibber, a Punjabi Hindu. The couple has two sons and a daughter Suhana (born 2000). Their third child, a son named AbRam, was born through a surrogate mother. They live in Mumbai.
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Salman Khan
The third-richest Bollywood actor, Salman Khan's net worth is estimated to be USD 360 million. Born as Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan in December of 1965, the superstar has appeared in over 80 films in his nearly three-decade-long career. Apart from playing a range of popular roles from a romantic hero to a flashy action star, Salman is also a film producer.
Salman began his career in Bollywood in 1988, with a supporting role in Biwi Ho To Aisi. But his real success came exactly a year later after his award-winning performance in the romantic blockbuster Maine Pyar Kiya. Action thriller Karan Arjun (1995), comedy film Biwi No 1 (1999), and the family drama Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999) were his other commercial hits.
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After a brief decline in his career graph in the 2000s, Salman achieved greater stardom in the 2010s by playing the lead role in a number of successful action films -- Dabangg (2010), Ready (2011), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Kick (2014), Sultan (2016) and Tiger Zinda Hai in 2017.
The 55-year-old is also a television presenter and runs a charity, Being Human Foundation. But the bachelor has a dark side too -- one of his former girlfriends accused him of abusing her, and he was sentenced to five years imprisonment in 2018 for killing two blackbucks, a protected antelope species, on a hunting trip. He is currently out on bail, pending appeal.
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Aamir Khan
Known as "Mr. Perfectionist" in Bollywood, Aamir has established himself as one of the most influential actors of Indian cinema through his 30-year career in Hindi films. The 56-year-old, who has a huge fan following in Bangladesh and China, is the fourth richest actor with a net worth of USD 180 million. He is also an accomplished filmmaker.
Aamir made his debut as a child artiste in his uncle Nasir Hussain's blockbuster film Yaadon Ki Baaraat in 1973. His adult debut was with the film Holi in 1984. But he shot to the limelight for his brilliant performance in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak four years later. In 1999, he founded Aamir Khan Productions, whose first film, Lagaan (2001), got him a National Film Award.
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After a four-year gap, Aamir made a comeback with back-to-back blockbusters like Fanaa and Rang De Basanti. He made his directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par (2007), which also won him the awards for Best Film and Best Director. His greatest global success came with Ghajini, 3 Idiots, Dhoom 3, PK, and Dangal.
Apart from receiving a number of awards, including four National Film Awards and the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, Aamir was conferred with an honorary title by the Chinese government in 2017. The superstar's first marriage with Reena Dutta ended in divorce in 2002, and he is currently married to his second wife Kiran Rao.
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Others on the top 5 list
The second-richest actor in Bollywood is the Big B, Amitabh Bachchan. One of the most influential and respected actors of all time in the history of Indian cinema, Amitabh has an estimated net worth of USD 400 million. Saif Ali Khan, son of yesteryear Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore, is the fifth-richest actor with a net worth of USD 140 million.
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