Ameesha Patel calls Kartik, Hrithik ‘last of superstars’ after SRK, Salman, Aamir
Actor Ameesha Patel, who last appeared in Gadar 2, recently opened up about the superstars of the Hindi film industry, calling Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, and Kartik Aaryan the “last of the superstars.” In a candid conversation with India Today Digital, she shared her thoughts on the pressures of stardom, the challenges faced by today’s actors, and the remarkable work of the younger generation.
“After Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, Ranbir, Hrithik, and Kartik are definitely carrying the legacy forward, that’s it. I feel that’s where it might end. They’re the ones truly delivering, and it’s scary to think about what will happen to Bollywood after them,” said Ameesha.
Ameesha also highlighted the immense pressure on Bollywood’s top stars to meet sky-high expectations, “When a Shah Rukh Khan, Sunny Deol, Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan, Ranbir, or Hrithik release a film, there’s this expectation that it has to match up to their previous blockbusters. But realistically, it’s impossible for every film to be a colossal hit. Success like that is rare. Every film can not be a blockbuster.”
The actor noted how the industry’s heavy dependence on just a few stars intensifies the burden on them. “If the pressure were more evenly distributed across a wider group, it would be easier. But since it’s concentrated on so few, it’s very challenging,” Ameesha added.
However, she also expressed her admiration for the younger generation of actors breaking barriers, “I think Kartik is fabulous. Ayushmann Khurrana has done some outstanding work, and Rajkummar Rao has broken the mould to become almost like a mainstream hero. Shraddha Kapoor is also doing some great work.”
Ameesha applauded Ayushmann and Kartik for carving their own path despite coming from outside the industry. “Ayushmann has taken bold steps—whether it be playing a bald man or dressing as a woman—and made them work. Similarly, Kartik has proven his ability to deliver hits consistently. Hats off to both of them for taking risks and making them count.”
Ameesha Patel was recently seen reprising her role as Sakeena in Gadar 2, which released in 2024.
