Shah Rukh Khan tops Forbes India Celebrity 100 List

A ranking of the most powerful people at the core of the country’s burgeoning media and entertainment sector

Published: Jan 24, 2013 04:43:27 PM IST

Updated: Feb 25, 2013 05:04:42 PM IST

Shah Rukh Khan has topped the inaugural Forbes India Celebrity 100 list, a ranking of India’s biggest entertainers based on their income and popularity. Salman Khan and MS Dhoni closely followed SRK in the ranking.

Forbes India’s special edition decodes what lies behind the success of India’s biggest creative entrepreneurs across eight categories: Film actors, directors, sport stars, TV personalities, singers/musicians, authors, models and comedians.

Both Salman Khan and Dhoni are ahead of SRK in terms of popularity and fame, but King Khan came out tops courtesy his earning power, mainly riding on massive income from brand endorsements.

By Forbes India estimates, SRK earned Rs 202.8 crore, compared to Salman’s Rs 144.2 crore and Dhoni’s Rs 135.16 crore in the period between October 2011 and September 2012.

Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Kareena Kapoor, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Katrina Kaif are the others in the top 10.

The list is an attempt to rank the most powerful people at the core of the country’s burgeoning media and entertainment sector. It was arrived at after a rigorous data collection process that considered celebrities’ income (from the business of entertainment) and fame (as measured by media mentions, online presence and social media followers) in a definite time period (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012).

Shah Rukh Khan tops Forbes India Celebrity 100 List

MS Dhoni, captain of the Indian national cricket team, is the top sportsperson. AR Rahman leads the pack of singer/musicians and is the only representative of the category in the top 20. Malaika Arora Khan is the leading TV personality while Karan Johar is the most powerful director. Author Chetan Bhagat, comedian Vir Das and model Esha Gupta topped their respective categories.

A majority of celebrities who made it to the list fall in the age bracket of 30 to 50. However, 12 youngsters, including Saina Nehwal, Virat Kohli, Anusukha Sharma and Sania Mirza have broken into the top 50. At age 23, Saina Nehwal is the youngest celebrity on the list.

Image: Getty Images
Youngest in the Forbes India Celebrity List

The Forbes India Celebrity 100 special edition has features, essays, interviews and interesting data on the various facets of India’s most powerful entertainment icons. It contains extensive and insightful reports on the lives, thought processes and businesses of some these stars. The cover story brings to you the business vision and entrepreneurial side of the Badshah of Bollywood—something that you won’t read about often.

The edition hits stands on January 26. Go grab your copy!

Post Your Comment

Comments 55

Vikram

I love u srk
on Jan 1, 2016
Tajammul

i love u srk
on Oct 7, 2015
Harsh

a self made and unbeatable super star
on Jun 27, 2015
Shahnawaz

srk no 1 the legend of indian cinema
on Apr 16, 2015
Humam Khan

no one can beat srk.srk is great I LOVE YOU SRK
on Jul 29, 2014
Prithak Shrestha

luv u srk
on May 23, 2014
Vivek

Yo my fav.. first
on Nov 8, 2013
Afzal

King khan is self made ruling no1 position from two decades
on Nov 2, 2013
Sk Nasib Ali

BEST SRK,KING OF BOLLYWOOD.
on Oct 23, 2013
Gulzar

All Wold popular men king khan (srk)
on Oct 19, 2013
Smitadesai

Salman khan is No. 1 today in Bollywood and everyone know about it.
on Sep 22, 2013
- Jason
  
  Ha ha ha salman khan in what ways In no 1 position smita desai its a biggest joke does salman khan know acting has he done any superhit movie which is not a remake is salman khan a good human being is he married does he have a family to love or to be loved. Is he popular outside india even some part of interior tamil nadu and kerala sakman khan is not known in which way do u say he is no 1.... make a million dollar statement which is truw....
  on Dec 7, 2013
Smitadesai

Now salman khan's net worth is more than any other Khan, I think.
on Sep 22, 2013
Krishna

We thought that Forbes is the best magazine of all. But after seen the list I understood that it is not. Shah rukh doesn't deserve to be no.1, but our superstar Rajnikanth only deserve it.
on Sep 21, 2013
Kapil

king is back
on Sep 2, 2013
Faisal Salih Detho From Pakistan

My always best hero shahrukh khan and I am beg fan of mr. Shahrukh khan may god bless in every field of success.
on Sep 1, 2013
Manish Kumar

SRK is the king of bollywood
on Aug 8, 2013
David

Super Star Rajini is Second Highest Paid Actor in Asia. No.1 Actor in India...Even His last movie ROBOT (Enthiran) Breaking Record in All the time No.1 BOX OFFICE collection compare than all the bollywood movies.I am really shocked after seen this list.... There is no SUPER STAR RAJINI name in TOP 3 list......His only actor two time Entertainer Award winner of NDTV. Soo please change the list...
on Jul 10, 2013
Sunny Bansode

Nice to see SRK there. In india, it\'s really hard to compare salman, dhoni and him. But in world platform srk have beaten even hollywood stars. I think rajnikanth must have to be in top ten.
on Jul 4, 2013
David

where is Super Star Rajini....name in the list.... we are not accepted in the list.... Thalaivar Super Star is number one personality in entire south india....Rajini and Sachin both r suitable person in No;1 position..... All south indian people are never accpet in this list........pls change the list.....
on May 26, 2013
Sharik Khan

yes!!!!!! srk ,king khan ,shahrukh khan .he deserves to acquire no 1 position he is great , awesome .
on May 19, 2013
Yash

How can you rank Shah Rukh Khan as third on fame ranking? He has more fans than any other film star on the planet. According to a survey conducted by BBC, his fan following is 3.2 billion which is higher than any other star. He is followed by Tom Cruise at 2.7 billion.
on May 15, 2013
- Smitadesai
  
  Salman khan in Facebook most popular and most popular on net
  on Oct 27, 2013
Hera

I thought Amir Khan will top this list simply bcoz he is pefect in every thing and followed by Big B ..
on Apr 23, 2013
Rolls

salman khan and m.s dhoni is not even near to the popularity and fame around the globe to that of Shahrukh khan. SRK is way more popular than anyone in the list. so you can't say "salman and dhoni are ahead of SRK in terms of popularity and fame".
on Apr 3, 2013
Celebrity Net Worth

View the Net Worth of Celebrities, Athletes, Rappers and other Famous Movie Stars. World
on Feb 12, 2013
Hamada

Sorry but Salman Khan is better than Shah Rukh
on Feb 4, 2013
Faisal Ahmad

srk at top is the perfect choice.
on Jan 29, 2013
Ravi

Rank#1 is cent-percent justified....doubt the other faces!!!!
on Jan 28, 2013
Laxmi Prasad

Most powerful celebreties? Uh....Crap list... I am not sure if Popularity Voting is analyzed before compiling .... We dont have Rajani/Kamal Hassan... We do not have singers... but we have the youngest sports woman listed...
on Jan 28, 2013
- Rahul
  
  - Do you really think Rajni earns that much? Do you really think ppl care about him beyond TN. He is the butt of most jokes in this country.
  on Jan 30, 2013
  - Laxmi Prasad
    
    popularity comes not just by money, handsome face or heroic body - popularity comes by how people love one.... The ranking cannot be discriminatory based on how much one earns but by how many winning hearts the celebrity has... This said, I do not have any disrespect for the others who are in list... and if you read my message, I wrote that the list ignored likes of Rajani/Kamal....singers etc... I have not regionalized...How muany rural people know one young sports person in the billion population that we have? Why we should talk about TN or Mumbai... In democracy people should vote to choose their top celebrities...and that is the message I have given... In democracy, otherwise it is a crap list for me...
    on Jan 31, 2013
  - Krishna
    
    Hey rahul u think rajni is not beyond tn, but that's ur mistake.. he is box office star in japan UK USA etc. he done many things that or kingkhan do.. even shahrukh did a tribute to rajni by lungi dance.
    on Sep 21, 2013
G

Is Superstar Rajinikanth name missing? I assume that he is not considered in this competition since our thalaivar is above all these people! Obviously he is the top!
on Jan 26, 2013
Bichu

its so amazing that cricket stars and film stars are dominating the list... that too there is no Rejnikanth, Kamalahasan, Mammootty and Mohan lal... people will laugh at this list...
on Jan 26, 2013
Sweetie

WTH???Where is super star\'s name?I deny it.Rajnikanth should be in top 10!! No offence to other fans...
on Jan 26, 2013
Haseeb

Shahrukh Khan the game change..now ullu Khan top that..Srk rules India
on Jan 26, 2013
S.abbasi

Don ka dabdaba to har jagah rahta hai....
on Jan 26, 2013
Aly Merchant

Where r salman fans gone now......srk rox
on Jan 26, 2013
Suresh

thats king power
on Jan 25, 2013
Anant

after all the king is king
on Jan 25, 2013
Chand Khan

Srk rock chak de
on Jan 25, 2013
Shakoor

SRK is KING OF BOLLYWOOD! was on top in 93 and is on top in 2013 - unlike other competing actors who come and go!
on Jan 25, 2013
Dayem

Salman khan deservse the no.1 spot.
on Jan 25, 2013
Pratik

Shah Rukh Khan Rocks !!! East or West SRK is the best !!!
on Jan 25, 2013
Amritraj

srk is really great
on Jan 25, 2013
Zakir

It should\'nt surprise us at all... this guy has done big in spite of many odds... SRK is the king of romance even acknowledged by his rivals...
on Jan 25, 2013
Rocking Dev

SRK is the king of bollywood
on Jan 24, 2013
- Manish Kumar
  
  SRK is the king of bollywood
  on Aug 8, 2013
Belynda C. Cunningham

Hi! How can I get this magazine in America? I REALLY want to subscribe, but I don\'t know how to go about it. I would love to have a copy of this issue! Thanks...:)
on Jan 24, 2013