Rocky versus Rani: Who is Bollywood's biggest box office star?

By Ankita Tiwari: With 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', Karan Johar returned as a director after a hiatus of seven years. His previous directorial venture, 2016’s 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', proved to be a massive success, bagging four prestigious Filmfare awards in 2017.

Featuring the dynamic duo of Bollywood Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, the movie hit theatres on July 28 and received an excited response from the audience, leading to a positive start at the box office. As per the latest reports, the film has already earned an impressive sum of nearly Rs 72 crore in its first week.

The burning question remains: between Rocky, played by Ranveer Singh, and Rani, portrayed by Alia Bhatt, who has emerged as the bigger box office draw, bringing in more moolah? India Today's Data Intelligence Unit looked into the box office collections of these superstars' Hindi films to determine the answer.

Ranveer, known for his eccentric fashion sense and dynamic acting skills, made his grand debut in 2010 with 'Band Baaja Baaraat', a romantic comedy. The following year, in 2011, he continued his streak of success with 'Ladies vs Ricky Bahl', which earned an impressive Rs 54 crore globally, as per the numbers available on Hungama.

Around the same time, in 2012, Bhatt, an actress born into a film dynasty, entered Bollywood with 'Student of the Year', directed by Johar. Paired with Varun Dawan and Sidharth Malhotra, the movie was a hit, collecting a whopping Rs 109 crore worldwide. This marked a remarkable start for Bhatt, compared to Singh.

Over the years, the two actors continued to impress audiences with their performances and unique movie choices. For instance, in 2013, Singh starred in the critically acclaimed 'Lootera' and 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela', which earned Rs 40 crore and a staggering Rs 207 crore, respectively. The latter, in fact, became the first blockbuster hit of his film career.

Bhatt’s journey was equally remarkable. In 2014, she appeared in three films back to back: 'Highway', '2 States', and 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania'. All three were well-received at the box office. Among these, '2 States' stood out as the highest earner.

As the years rolled on, the two actors cemented their places in the industry. Ranveer Singh's movies collected a total of Rs 1,924.67 crores in India and a whopping Rs 2,613.60 crores worldwide. Alia Bhatt's films also made waves at the box office, collecting a total of Rs 1,770.64 crores in India and Rs 2,321.79 crores worldwide. These numbers are a testament to their growing popularity and successful careers.

Their movies not only achieved commercial success but also won critical acclaim. Singh’s performance in movies like 'Padmaavat', 'Simmba', and 'Bajirao Mastani' was lauded, and these films also topped the box office charts. Bhatt, on the other hand, showcased her versatility in diverse roles and won hearts with her performances in movies like 'Highway', 'Gully Boy', and 'Raazi'.