Bollywood’s Power Quartet Graces Variety India’s Debut Cover, Fans Call It ‘Incomplete’ Without Shah Rukh Khan

Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn unite for Variety India’s first-ever cover as “Unshakable” icons, sparking massive buzz—and a loud question from fans about SRK’s absence.

Bollywood witnessed a rare, headline-making moment as Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn came together for the inaugural cover of Variety India, unveiled on February 1. Titled “Unshakable. The superheroes that broke the rules of stardom,” the cover celebrates four actors who have shaped mainstream Hindi cinema for over three decades. The striking visual features Akshay Kumar seated at the centre while Salman, Aamir and Ajay stand behind him with their hands resting on each other’s shoulders, symbolising longevity, dominance and mutual respect in an industry driven by ever-changing trends.

While the cover was widely hailed as historic, it also triggered an immediate and intense reaction online over the absence of Shah Rukh Khan. Fans across social media platforms questioned why the Bollywood megastar—often referred to as the global face of Hindi cinema—was missing from what many believed should have been a complete representation of the industry’s biggest superstars. Comments ranging from “This feels incomplete without SRK” to “Where is Shah Rukh Khan?” dominated the discussion, even as others defended the cover as a powerful statement on its own.

The buzz around the cover was followed by a grand Variety India launch event in Mumbai, attended by several prominent names from the film industry. Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar were present at the event, with Akshay accompanied by Twinkle Khanna. The evening also saw appearances by Sidharth Malhotra, Shanaya Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Tiger Shroff and other celebrities, underlining the magazine’s ambitious entry into the Indian entertainment space.

On the work front, all four stars are gearing up for major releases. Salman Khan is preparing for Battle of Galwan, a war drama based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, directed by Apoorva Lakhia and starring Chitrangada Singh, slated for an April 17 theatrical release. Akshay Kumar will next be seen in Priyadarshan’s horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, co-starring Wamiqa Gabbi and Paresh Rawal, expected to hit cinemas in May. Ajay Devgn is set to return with Drishyam 3, continuing one of Bollywood’s most successful thriller franchises. Meanwhile, Aamir Khan is backing Ek Din, which marks the theatrical debut of his son Junaid Khan alongside Sai Pallavi, scheduled for release on May 1.

Whether celebrated for its legacy value or debated for what it missed, the Variety India cover has undeniably reignited conversations around Bollywood stardom, hierarchy and the enduring power of its biggest names.

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