Posted: 03 January 2013 at 6:27am
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Let's talk from all fronts:
Acting-
Both Aamir and SRK aren't great. Aamir can do any character but he's too laboured and methodical. He never looks natural. SRK was fine as a newcomer, effortless and way more experimental than Aamir. But he ruined himself when he got typecast as a romantic superstar. His efforts like CDI, Swades got ignored because of his own flawed movie choices. So Aamir appears better.
Selection of scripts:
It's divided. SRK did better films in 90s (Darr, DDLJ, Dil Se, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa) compared to Aamir who did lot of trash like Dil, Raja Hindustani (one of the worst films to be ATBB), Ishq, Mann etc. He had only JJWS and AAA as saving graces. Aamir's script sense improved only from Sarfarosh and Earth onwards. Especially Lagaan made the difference for him. And it's a fact he hasn't gone wrong any time after Lagaan. So he scores over SRK in 2000s.
Box Office:
Aamir may have started 100 crore, 200 crore clubs in late 2000s. But it is SRK who has been the most consistent star at box office. Aamir has only 10 or 11 clean hits in his entire career of 24-25 years. Even his good films wouldn't become hits in 90s. His star shone at box office from Lagaan onwards after which he never gave flops. Overseas it's SRK all the way. Difference between Aamir and SRK is that even if SRK has fallen behind his film would be among top 3 hits of the year (except 1996, 2005) unlike Aamir who even falls out of top 5 if his film doesn't make the cut.
Popularity:
SRK wins this hands down. Aamir has always been respected but never popular. He never won any polls till 90s. Started appearing in popularity polls after Lagaan. He had most fans on his official Facebook page but even there he was overshadowed when Salman started his official page. He has no active fansites dedicated to him. SRK has been winning polls since 90s, has official fan clubs both in India and abroad, thousands of active fansites in different languages dedicated to him. Fans bring out processions on streets to celebrate his birthday, but has anyone ever heard of such a craze for Aamir?
Overall success:
Aamir Khan is limited to films only. Whereas SRK has diversified a lot more. He has an IPL team, stakes in a football team, started kids amusement park, has a VFX studio...lot of business ventures, all of which are successful. SRK's influence is not just judged by his films alone. So he scores on overall success.
Versatility:
SRK was versatile when he started out. He did Darr, Baazigar at a time when Aamir was stuck playing college kid roles. Later SRK became stuck in romantic roles. Aamir showed true versatility from Rangeela onwards. He's definitely more versatile than SRK since then. SRK did MNIK, Swades, CDI, Don series - all different roles. But he got less credit because he continued to do romantic films side by side. Aamir scores over SRK because he got massive success in films not considered his forte (like Ghajini) whereas SRK gets a little less success when he does something different.
Credibility:
Aamir scores here completely. He's careful about brands he endorses, choosy about films, selective in media appearances, doesn't do tamasha on stage shows. And his biggest advantage is that he uses social issues well. Making films and TV shows on popular issues helped him immensely in 2000s. Whereas SRK has less respect and less credibility because he's over-exposed, associates with silly guys like K Jo, Farah Khan, did some horrible films like Ra One, and vulgar acts on stage shows. His problems with major public figures like Sourav Ganguly, Bal Thackeray and brawls at Wankhede or Shirish dented his image badly.
Personal life:
Aamir's personal life is, to put it bluntly, "tainted". He divorced his wife of 15 years, had serious issues with father and brother, is alleged to have deserted an illegitimate child with Jessica Hines. SRK on other hand has had a lasting marriage, has image of a family man. He has many rumours about being gay, bisexual or having affairs still because his marriage is holding together so he's perceived more favourably. His recent public brawls with Shirish, Salman, guards at Wankhede dented his image though.
International success:
SRK was always popular overseas even in 90s. Aamir wasn't important till Lagaan happened. The Oscar nomination of Lagaan catapulted him to international fame. Even now, SRK is popular world over and often called world's biggest star. Whereas Aamir is mostly invited to judge film festivals, or known through his few films like Lagaan and 3 Idiots which made a mark internationally.
Regularity:
SRK's biggest achievement is that he continued to work regularly, without any breaks and delivered hits consistently. Aamir has too less volume of work, he's not prolific and he took too many breaks. 7-8 years of his career after Lagaan was spent doing nothing. He's worked too less for a Hindi film actor.
Personality:
Aamir is surely more good looking. But is too stiff and self conscious. SRK looks average but is very confident, charismatic, witty and articulate.
Conclusion:
Aamir was kind of out of the picture in 90s. Whereas SRK has continued to figure in every discussion since 90s. But Aamir gained momentum and respect over SRK in 2000s. Both have their own flaws and strengths. Many different arguments can be used to prop up one and bring down the other. Neither of them are 100% exceptional like Big B was. Aamir's appeal is tied totally to his work. Whereas SRK's popular on his name alone. Overall Aamir is most respected since Lagaan onwards, while SRK's name attracts extreme reactions - he's both object of obsessive affection and butt of jokes.
No one really scores above the other. But maybe SRK can be taken slightly ahead because he was regular and a dominant force even in 90s.
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