In the world of Indian cinema, the box office battleground is often dominated by a few prominent names. While Shah Rukh Khan’s recent feats with two 1000+ crore grossers have garnered immense attention, it’s essential to take a journey back to 1994 when another superstar, Akshay Kumar, etched his mark with an astonishing feat.
A Stint of Success Amid Recent Struggles
In recent times, Akshay Kumar has faced challenges at the box office, with several releases failing to make a significant impact. It wasn’t until “OMG 2” that he saw a glimmer of success, albeit not a solo triumph. His last clear-cut hit was “Good Newwz” in 2019, a film that also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Kiara Advani.
Yet, there was a time when Akshay Kumar enjoyed a remarkable winning streak at the box office, even managing to shine amidst the setbacks of three consecutive flops.
The Pinnacle Year: 1994
The year was 1994, a defining period in Akshay Kumar’s career. In the span of just 12 months, the versatile actor graced the silver screen with a staggering 11 film releases! While the fate of a few remained uncertain, others struck box office gold. Astoundingly, three of his movies even secured spots among the top 10 highest-grossing films of that year.
Akshay’s remarkable year commenced with “Elaan,” followed by “Yeh Dillagi,” where he shared the screen with Kajol for the first time. This was followed by “Jai Kishen,” a precursor to the impending success with “Mohra.” The hit parade continued with “Main Khiladi Tu Anari.” The list goes on, featuring memorable titles like “Ikke Pe Ikka,” “Amaanat,” “Suhaag,” “Zaalim,” “Zakhmi Dil,” and “Hum Hain Bemisaal.”
While Akshay Kumar was the solo lead in some of these films, many featured another prominent actor in a parallel role. Saif Ali Khan collaborated with the Khiladi Kumar in “Yeh Dillagi” and “Main Khiladi Tu Anari,” while Suniel Shetty joined forces in “Hum Hain Bemisaal” and “Mohra.” Sanjay Dutt made an appearance in “Amaanat,” and Ajay Devgn shared the screen with Akshay in “Suhaag.”
The Box Office Verdict
The box office outcomes of these films were as diverse as the genres they represented:
- “Elaan” – Hit
- “Yeh Dillagi” – Superhit
- “Jai Kishen” – Flop
- “Mohra” – Hit
- “Main Khiladi Tu Anari” – Superhit
- “Ikke Pe Ikka” – Flop
- “Amaanat” – Flop
- “Suhaag” – Average
- “Zakhmi Dil” – Average
- “Zaalim” – Average
- “Hum Hain Bemisaal” – Hit
It’s worth noting that three of these films secured positions in the list of highest-grossing films of 1994. “Mohra” collected a remarkable 13 crores, claiming the second spot in the rankings. “Main Khiladi Tu Anari” contributed 6.5 crores to its name and secured the fifth position, while “Suhaag” garnered 5.5 crores, securing the seventh spot.
Please bear in mind that box office figures are based on estimates and multiple sources, and independent verification has not been conducted.
