It has been a crazy year for Bollywood this year when it comes to the box office. The three mighty Khans - Salman, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir, have failed to set the box office on fire. Of course, Shah Rukh Khan was already going through a lean phase at the box office even before Zero underperformed at the box office. However, Aamir and Salman were ruling easily at the box office till 2017 and yet this year, both Race 3 and Thugs of Hindostan underperformed. By now, we already have articles on how 2018 has ended the Khan's legacy and it is a year where good content ruled. Zero Box Office Collection Day 3: Shah Rukh Khan Starrer Rakes in Rs 59.07 Crore in Its Opening Weekend.

I partly agree with that final line. Sure, the Khans underperformed this year, but they are merely a blockbuster away from ruling the box office once again. However, I have no doubts that good content ruled this year. That is, good content and nationwide controversy (looking at you, Padmaavat and Sanju). 2018 has been a year where not the Khans, but actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao showed the world how box office is not the property of a select few. Ayushmann Khurrana, You Might Want To Make These Movie Subjects Look Less Awkward Or Unconventional With Your Flawlessness!

Films like Badhaai Ho, Stree, Raazi, AndhaDhun, Padmaavat, Sanju etc made money not just thanks to the stars, but also due to good scripts, entertainment value and great execution. But there is one movie that made profits purely riding on an actor's star charisma and that is Baaghi 2. The movie, made on a budget of Rs 59 crore, earned Rs 161 crore in India, and Rs 253.18 crore worldwide. Which makes Tiger Shroff the real star of box office in 2018! Baaghi 2 Box Office Report: Tiger Shroff's Film Collects Rs 200 Crore at BO?

Sure, you may say that Baaghi 2 is a part of a franchise and that would have worked in favour of Tiger. But then, so were Race 3, Hate Story 4, 1921 and others that failed to work at the box office. You have to remember here that Tiger Shroff came into 2018, after delivering two duds in A Flying Jatt and Munna Michael. And he had just one movie in 2018!

There is also the fact that Baaghi 2 got mixed to negative reviews when it released, with the movie criticised for its unwanted jingoism, OTT scenes and a borrowed plotline. Yet fans rushed in purely to see Tiger take on uncountable goons with relative ease, that too Rambo style! We also have to credit producer Sajid Nadiadwala for keeping the budget reasonably low, so that the movie earns the profits.

Baaghi 2 may not enter any of the critics' best films of 2018 lists, but it has a place confirmed in the most profitable films of the year, as well as one of the highest grossing Bollywood films of 2018. Which makes Tiger Shroff the one star who pulled off a superhit on his brawn-power, backed by a sensible producer and good promotions.

The real test for Tiger Shroff will come next summer when he is experimenting with young romance in Student of the Year 2. With Karan Johar backing the film, expect another winner for the young superstar!

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 25, 2018 12:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).