Khan vs Bachchan: Who's better?

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan vs Amitabh Bachchan is perhaps the most delicious battle that people could have ever hoped for.

It's a battle between the two kings where Bachchan is the known shahenshah and Shah Rukh the known badshah of Bollywood.

Shah Rukh has already replaced Bachchan in its third top-of-the-line mega budget version Kaun Banega Crorepati 3.

"Bachchan’s KBC reminded of a dominant blue colour which matches his personality that of a blue sky for the film industry. And as for me, the colour is going to be red. I guess that suits me as the lal (son) of this industry," quipped Shah Rukh at the grand opening of KBC 3.

Both Shah Rukh and Bachchan are icons in their own right. Both have created a niche in the film industry and have fans all over the world. While Shah Rukh reportedly charges a whopping Rs 4.5 to 5 crore per film, Bachchan's acting fee ranges between Rs 2.5-3 crore.

As Shah Rukh Khan hosts KBC 3, that too for a fatter paycheck than Big B, the buzz goes that Star TV switched to King Khan because of KBC 2's declining viewership.

"The fundamental story of KBC doesn't change. There is just s bit tweaking up of the format to bring in a little freshness. I doubt beyond the first two weeks if Shah Rukh will be able to do much for the show," Starcom Mediavest Group CEO, Ravi Kiran says.

Perhaps the battle for KBC is not really a run for moolah for the two stars. Looking at the number of mega-budget endorsements, both Bachchan and Khan are already rolling in money.

While Bachchan has Cadburys, Dabur, Reid & Taylor besides others in his kitty, SRK banks on ICICI, Lux, Pepsi, Tag Heur and others.

The industry sources say that the battle is not about "who’s a more reliable star." The question is who is a more bankable star at a given point of time and which one makes more sense for a particular market segment.

"Shah Rukh today is by far a bigger brand—in every which way. he gets more respect and more affection, there is zero controversy about him and he's very clean. He is the bigger brand as he caters to the youth which is the demographic strength," Ad man and CEO of Equus Advertising Suhel Seth says.

Shah Rukh this year has had two hits Don and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, whereas Bachchan has only a Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna to his credit, ofcourse things could turn better if Ravi Chopra's Baabul manages to recreate the Baghban magic.

Bachchan’s contenders feels that Ram Gopal Varma's Nishabdh may just make the Big B as cool as an Shah Rukh with the youngsters.

So who's a safer bet? Who's the bigger star? Opinions differ—but as long as the Shahenshah and the Badshah keep the box-office busy no ones complaining.

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#Shah Rukh Khan #Kaun Banega Crorepati #Amitabh Bachchan