A big Bollywood showdown is coming our way in 2026. Shahrukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, two of the industry’s biggest stars, will go head-to-head at the box office on Eid with their films releasing on the same day. Shahrukh Khan’s much-anticipated movie King will be up against Ranbir Kapoor’s Love and War. This clash is sure to set the stage for a high-stakes battle at the box office, but what makes this even more exciting is the fact that this won’t be the first time these two superstars have competed.
17 Years Ago: Shahrukh vs Ranbir in 2007
To understand why this upcoming clash is generating so much buzz, let’s take a trip back to 2007. On November 9 that year, two major Bollywood releases hit the theaters—Shahrukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om and Ranbir Kapoor’s Saawariya. Both films had huge expectations riding on them.
Om Shanti Om was a big-budget production directed by Farah Khan, featuring Shahrukh Khan in a double role alongside debutante Deepika Padukone. The film was packed with a star-studded cast and cameos from Bollywood A-listers like Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Hrithik Roshan.
On the other hand, Saawariya was a highly anticipated debut for Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, one of Bollywood’s most respected filmmakers.
Who Won the Box Office Battle in 2007?
While both films had their hype, the results were drastically different. Shahrukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om turned out to be a blockbuster, making ₹78.16 crore at the domestic box office and a worldwide collection of ₹149.87 crore. It was a huge success both critically and commercially.
In contrast, Saawariya did not perform well at the box office. Despite its lavish budget of ₹45 crore, the film only managed to earn ₹20.92 crore in India and a total worldwide gross of ₹39.13 crore, making it a commercial failure.
Shahrukh Khan emerged victorious in that clash, while Ranbir Kapoor’s debut film struggled to make an impact.
The Stage is Set for 2026: King vs Love and War
Now, 17 years later, Shahrukh and Ranbir are set to face each other again. Shahrukh Khan will be seen in King, a movie directed by Sujoy Ghosh. Along with Shahrukh, the film features Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Abhay Verma.
On the other hand, Ranbir Kapoor’s Love and War is being directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the same filmmaker who directed Saawariya. The film also stars Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, making it one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
As both films prepare to release on Eid 2026, all eyes will be on who comes out on top this time. With Shahrukh Khan’s previous victory in mind, the excitement is already building to see if Ranbir Kapoor can turn the tables this time around.
