The Khans and their Christmas outings: a detailed report | Hindi Cinema News

The three Khans of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan – have dominated the Indian film industry for decades. Over the years, Christmas has become one of the most lucrative release windows, and these superstars have made notable contributions during this Christmas holiday season.

Girish Wankhede said: “Christmas has long been a prime and strategic window for blockbuster releases in the Indian film industry, particularly dominated by the three Khans: Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan. Girish Wankhede, a renowned business analyst, highlights the importance of this festive period, marked by its festive atmosphere, family gatherings and long weekends leading up to New Year’s Eve. For filmmakers and audiences alike, Christmas was a great time to have fun. Let’s celebrate cinema.”

“Aamir Khan, in particular, has established himself as the king of Christmas outings. His dominance began with Ghajini in 2008, which not only redefined the Bollywood action thriller genre but also broke box office records, becoming the first Indian film to cross ₹100 crore. In 2009, 3 idiots created cinema history, resonated with audiences around the world and solidified Aamir’s position as a box office titan. His subsequent Christmas releases—Doom 3 in 2013, PK in 2014, and Dangal in 2016, it achieved monumental success, with each film setting new benchmarks in Indian cinema,” he believes.
“Even though Aamir Khan has been the most prolific in leveraging the Christmas window, his contemporaries have also made significant contributions. Salman Khan, known for dominating Eid releases, left his mark this Christmas with Dabang 2 in 2012 and Tiger Zinda Hai in 2017, both of which were hugely successful. Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan ventured into this festive niche with Gift 2 in 2011 and Diwale in 2015. Although Diwale faces stiff competition from Bajirao Mastaniit managed to become a commercial success. Over the years, the adage ‘Christmas belongs to the Khans’ has grown stronger, with Aamir Khan boasting five successful Christmas releases, while Salman and Shah Rukh have two successful projects each during this period. However, the festive season also saw contribution from other films like Simba (2018), Good news (2019), and Bajirao Mastani (2015), which was successful despite competition from Khan-led projects,” he adds.
“In recent years, however, there has been a notable decline in the dominance of Khan-led Christmas releases. Last year, Merry Christmasstarring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif, failed to capture the festive spirit traditionally associated with this period. This year, the spotlight is on Baby Jeanwith Varun Dhawan. Despite heavy marketing, the film lacks the anticipation and grandeur of past Christmas blockbusters helmed by the Khans. »
Wankhede sees this change as an opportunity for new talents and stories to shine. While Khan’s lack of a Christmas release leaves a void, it also opens the door to new cinematic experiences. Movies like Baby Jean aim to bring joy and entertainment, embracing the spirit of hope that defines the holiday season.
As the cinematic landscape evolves, the legacy of the Khans’ Christmas releases remains a cornerstone of Bollywood history. Even though the present may seem different, the holiday season continues to promise joy and anticipation, paving the way for new traditions and new stars to emerge.

Aamir Khan: the master of Christmas blockbusters

Aamir Khan has strategically released several of his films on Christmas, making this period his signature film. His journey began with the 2007 film ‘Taare Zameen Par’, which tells the poignant story of an eight-year-old dyslexic boy and his teacher’s efforts to help him discover his potential. The film was both a critical and commercial success.
In 2008, Aamir followed up with ‘Ghajini’, a revenge drama centered on a man suffering from short-term memory loss who avenges the murder of his girlfriend. This film became the first Bollywood film to enter the ₹100 crore club, revolutionizing the action thriller genre.

The year 2009 saw the release of ‘3 Idiots’, a film that exposes the flaws of the Indian education system through a gripping story about friendship and self-discovery. It became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of its time and a cultural phenomenon.
In 2014, Aamir presented ‘PK’, a satirical take on religion and blind faith, in which he played an alien stranded on Earth. The film generated much discussion, broke records and was the first Indian film to cross ₹300 crore at the box office.
‘Dangal’, released in 2016, brought the inspiring real-life story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters to the big screen. The film became a global sensation, particularly in China, and remains one of the highest-grossing films in Bollywood.

Shah Rukh Khan: a limited but impactful Christmas presence

Shah Rukh Khan, the ‘King of Bollywood’, rarely chose Christmas for his film releases. However, his 2011 album ‘Don 2’ made an impact during this festive period, along with 2015’s ‘Dilwale’.

Salman Khan: Christmas as an occasional window

Although Salman Khan is synonymous with Eid outings, he has ventured into the Christmas slot on some occasions. In 2017, he released ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, an action-packed sequel to ‘Ek Tha Tiger’. The film follows a RAW agent on a dangerous mission to rescue hostages, blending adrenaline-fueled action with a patriotic theme. It was a huge box office success and one of Salman’s highest-grossing films.
Raj Bansal, a major film distributor, has often highlighted the association of Khans with specific festive release windows. According to him, “Eid was with Salman, Diwali was with Shah Rukh and Christmas was with Aamir Khan.” He pointed out that Aamir Khan’s Christmas releases such as Taare Zameen By, Ghajini, 3 idiots, Doom 3And PKsolidified its dominance during this festive period. Aamir’s most recent release, Laal Singh Chaddhawas an exception, releasing in theaters in August 2022. Reflecting on Aamir’s absence at Christmas in recent years, Bansal remarked: “Without him, Christmas seems boring. I hope to see it next Christmas.
Bansal also explained how this tradition started. He rejected the idea that it happened by chance, saying it was a well-planned strategy. Aamir Khan recognized the potential of the Christmas holiday season, particularly due to its appeal in international markets, where Christmas coincides with extended holidays. Aamir’s immense popularity in India, combined with his carefully curated filmography – often releasing a film every two years – has allowed his projects to open to packed theaters around the world.
The tradition of Aamir Khan owning Christmas is said to have started with Ghajini in 2008. This was followed by 3 idiots in 2009, further cementing its reputation as the king of Christmas releases. His films not only capitalized on the joy of the holidays but also presented strong narratives, ensuring they resonated with audiences around the world. Dangal is Aamir’s biggest box office success to date, proving that his calculated approach to Christmas releases has reaped huge rewards.
Raj Bansal’s insights underline the strategic genius behind Aamir Khan’s domination of the Christmas release slot, making it a highly anticipated tradition among fans and the industry.

Why Christmas?

The Christmas period offers a unique combination of long holidays, family gatherings and festive atmosphere. Aamir Khan has been the most consistent in capitalizing on this window, delivering films that combine strong storytelling with universal appeal. While Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have occasionally embraced Christmas outings, Aamir’s constant presence during this period has made him a synonym for festive blockbusters.
Veteran Bollywood producer Ramesh Taurani highlighted the strategic importance of Christmas as a release window for films. He observed that Christmas is particularly beneficial as it coincides with public holidays around the world, making it the ideal time for movie buffs to rush to the cinema. According to Taurani, releasing a film at Christmas has always been favorable for both actors and producers, as it guarantees higher attendance and greater revenue.
He also highlighted how the approach to announcing release dates has evolved over time. “The Khans have always booked their vacations,” he said, referring to Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan’s preference to release their big-ticket films during festive seasons. However, Taurani noted a significant shift in industry dynamics. Filmmakers now announce their release dates before filming even begins, a departure from previous practices where release dates were determined by the progress of a film. In the past, producers would finalize a release date closer to its completion, strategically aligning it with festivals to maximize viewership.
Taurani’s view highlights the growing competition and planning required to secure prime festive slots, which have become the cornerstone of modern Bollywood’s box office success.

Ticketing and legacy

The Khans’ Christmas releases have often redefined box office benchmarks, delivering unforgettable cinematic experiences. Be it Aamir’s thought-provoking dramas, Shah Rukh’s stylish thrillers or Salman’s action-packed shows, their films have made the festive season even more special for Bollywood audiences.
Deepesh Shah, Founder and Managing Partner, Yellow inc, shares, “December is an intriguing month for the box office, marked by two holidays: Christmas on December 25 and New Year on January 1. Releasing a film closer to Christmas taps into the festive spirit and capitalizes on this additional holiday, providing a perfect opportunity for an extended audience. This is why the Christmas period is a major movie season, second only to the summer months. has cleverly exploited this window, making it a tradition to release their blockbusters during this time. It’s a smart distribution decision that maximizes box office collections and resonates with audiences looking for holiday entertainment.
In conclusion, while Shah Rukh dominates Diwali and Salman rules Eid, Aamir’s constant Christmas releases have established his dominance during this festive window, making it a prime time for Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters.