Aamir Khan on the ‘Top Three Khans’ Label: Calls for Equal Recognition of Akshay, Ajay & Hrithik
Aamir Khan, a celebrated actor known for his exceptional performances over a career spanning more than 30 years, first rose to fame with his debut in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988. Widely admired for his perfectionism and versatile acting, Aamir has long been considered one of Bollywood’s “top three Khans” alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
However, Aamir recently expressed his discomfort with this label. During a conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, he shared that while it’s not wrong to mention his name with Shah Rukh and Salman, he feels it’s unfair to overlook other dedicated actors like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, and Hrithik Roshan, who have also had enduring and impactful careers.
“What bothers me,” Aamir said, “is that people only mention Shah Rukh, Salman, and me. While that’s appreciated, I feel bad because Ajay, Akshay, and Hrithik have also been in the industry just as long and worked just as hard.”
He emphasized that the credit should go to the entire generation of actors who began their journeys in the late 1980s. “This era didn’t just belong to Salman, Shah Rukh, and me. Many of us from that generation have been consistently working for 30–35 years, which is no small feat. We’ve all delivered major hits and achieved great success. I want to correct that narrative,” he added.
The late 1980s and early 1990s were marked by the emergence of several iconic stars, including Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn, all of whom left a lasting mark on Hindi cinema.
On the professional front, Aamir is currently preparing for his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, directed by RS Prasanna and featuring Genelia Deshmukh in a key role. The film is scheduled for release on June 20, 2025.