A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Popularity is not always directly proportional to box-office success. Sometimes, you just rule hearts
STAYING IN THE PUBLIC EYE sometimes has little to do with work. That explains why Priyanka Chopra, who hasn’t had a Hindi film release in over two years—the dud Jai Gangaajal being the last—shared popular actress honours with Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone. What Priyanka has managed to do is stay in the headlines, whether it was for being invited to the royal wedding of Meghan Markle with Prince Harry in May this year, or her many dates and holidays with Nick Jonas across the globe or quitting Salman Khan’s production, Bharat, 10 days before shooting commenced. That is not to say Priyanka is resting on her laurels as one of Bollywood’s most successful exports to the Western en-
tertainment world. With TV show Quantico done and dusted, she stars in and co-produces Hindi film The Sky is Pink, based on the life of motivational speaker Aisha Chaudhary, who was born with an autoimmune disorder; and finished her third Hollywood film, Isn’t it Romantic, starring Liam Hemsworth.
Deepika may not have announced any films post Padmaavat, the second highest earning film in 2018 after Sanju, but her relationship and rumoured wedding to Ranveer Singh in November and many endorsements ensure her a constant place in the spotlight. Anushka’s photographs with husband Virat Kohli on Instagram and the viral video lecturing a citizen on littering are as talked about as her films, of which she has two big ones in Sui Dhaaga: Made in India and Zero. Anushka’s Zero co-star Katrina Kaif and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, both at 6 per cent, round up the top five in the heroines category.
When it comes to our filmi heroes, Ranbir Kapoor was the biggest gainer and he has two men to thank for that: Sanjay Dutt, whose many bad choices inspired filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani to make Sanju. The biopic has become both Kapoor and Hirani’s most successful film to date, grossing Rs 335 crore in India alone. Kapoor’s gain was Salman Khan’s loss—he dropped 2 percentage ponts from the January 2018 MOTN poll—but not enough to lose the top slot, never mind that he delivered one of the least entertaining outings of 2018 in Race 3. However, there are still four months to go till the year ends. Akshay Kumar held on to the second spot, a position that is only likely to get cemented with the release of hockey drama Gold and 2.0, his longdelayed Tamil debut with superstar Rajinikanth, in November. And while his films may not gross
Rs 100 crore, Amitabh Bachchan remains a force to reckon with, even at age 75. Come Diwali, Bachchan is likely to have one of his biggest openings in Yash Raj Films production Thugs of Hindostan, largely due to the presence of Mr Perfectionist Aamir Khan. Khan may not be among the top five in this edition of MOTN, but that in no way detracts from his boxoffice might. You only have to ask the Chinese. Or, more precisely, Jing Jing, who runs the Aamir Khan Fan Club in that country.