The re-release trend in Bollywood has created an intriguing “SRK vs SRK” scenario at the box office. Two of Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic films—Kal Ho Naa Ho (KHNH) and Karan Arjun—returned to cinemas, allowing fans to relive these classics. On their second Friday in re-release, Kal Ho Naa Ho outperformed Karan Arjun underscoring SRK’s enduring box office magnetism.
Released originally in 2003, Kal Ho Naa Ho is celebrated as a timeless romantic drama, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan. Its emotional depth, heartwarming storyline, and iconic music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have made it a fan favorite.
The film grossed ₹86 crore worldwide during its initial release and continues to resonate with audiences. The re-release on November 15, 2024, as part of its 20th anniversary, reignited this magic, drawing in crowds across multiplexes and single screens alike .
In contrast, Karan Arjun, a 1995 action-drama co-starring Salman Khan, holds nostalgic appeal for its story of reincarnation and family revenge. While its re-release also garnered attention, it trailed behind Kal Ho Naa Ho in attracting footfalls on its second Friday, reflecting the diverse preferences of SRK’s fan base and the timeless charm of Kal Ho Naa Ho’s emotional narrative.
Kal Ho Naa Ho Beats Wider Release Karan Arjun
Karan Arjun collected approximately 26 lakh net on its opening day which is, even though among the top openings for a Bollywood re-release, is nowhere near the expected start considering the wide release. It is not showing much improvement on Saturday with collection expected to be in the same range as Friday.
Meanwhile, Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), which was re-launched on November 15, looks like will be winning the re-release race against Karan Arjun despite a much smaller release. After collecting approximately 2.05 crores net in the first week, the film started the second weekend with around 18 lakh net collection on the second Friday (8th day).
The Nikkhil Advani’s directorial has taken a lead over Karan Arjun on Saturday as it is expected to cross over 42 lakh net. The second weekend of KHNH could be 1.25 crores net wherein Karan Arjun might end up with around 85 crore net opening weekend despite having more than 4X showcasing daily.
Both the aforementioned films were big hits in their original run but it is KHNH which continues to attract the moviegoers ever after two decades.
The box office performance of these re-releases highlights Shah Rukh Khan’s unparalleled ability to dominate screens even decades later. With fans flocking to revisit his iconic characters, it’s clear that SRK’s legacy continues to thrive across generations.
(Also read: Shah Rukh Khan’s Cult Classic Kal Ho Naa Ho Set To Cross Rs 1.60 Crore In One Week Of Re-Release)
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