# From Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar, How August 8 Became a Lucky Box Office Date for 6 Major Bollywood Films > August 8 holds a unique place in Indian cinema history as six prominent Bollywood films released on this calendar date between 1997 and 2014 delivered remarkable box office records. **Type:** article · **Category:** Bollywood · **Published:** 2026-08-08 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/shah-rukh-khan-se-lekara-akshay-kumar-taka-8-agasta-ki-tarikha-men-chhupa-hai-6-philmon-ka-anokha-rikorda-14994 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Box Office, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Chennai Express, Singh Is Kinng, Bollywood News In the history of Indian cinema, specific calendar dates have consistently acted as reliable windows for theatrical business. Among these, August 8 stands out as a particularly remarkable date on which several major Hindi films hit the big screen over the past two decades. Between 1997 and 2014, six prominent feature films launched on August 8 left a lasting impact on audience minds and box office charts alike. This lineup includes three massive blockbusters, one superhit, one cult classic, and one average grosser. Ranging from **Shah Rukh Khan** romantic dramas to **Hrithik Roshan** sci-fi experiments and **Akshay Kumar** blockbuster comedies, this calendar date has witnessed an extraordinary run at the Indian box office. ## Pardes (1997): Cultural Conflict and Superhit Box Office Performance On August 8, 1997, director **Subhash Ghai** released his musical drama **Pardes** in theaters across the country. Starring **Shah Rukh Khan**, **Mahima Chaudhry**, and **Apurva Agnihotri** in pivotal roles, the film explored the thematic divide between traditional Indian values and Western lifestyle among non-resident Indian families. In the narrative, **Shah Rukh Khan** portrayed Arjun, a man tasked with orchestrating a marriage alliance between Rajiv, who lives in America, and Ganga, a girl from a traditional Indian household. However, as the storyline progresses, a romantic bond develops between Arjun and Ganga. According to Box Office India data, **Pardes** gathered a net collection of approximately 22.83 crore rupees in India, earning a superhit tag. ## Koi Mil Gaya (2003): Sci-Fi Innovation and Blockbuster Triumph Exactly six years later, on August 8, 2003, director **Rakesh Roshan** presented his groundbreaking science-fiction drama **Koi Mil Gaya**. Featuring **Hrithik Roshan** alongside **Preity Zinta** and **Rekha**, the story centers around Rohit Mehra, a young man navigating life with the mental development of a child. His world undergoes a dramatic transformation when he comes into contact with an extraterrestrial being named Jadoo. The alien's special abilities completely change Rohit's physical and cognitive capabilities. The blend of sci-fi concepts with emotional family drama struck a chord with viewers. Produced on a budget of 28 crore rupees, the film collected 47.20 crore rupees net in India and reached a global total of 75.57 crore rupees worldwide, securing an undisputed blockbuster status. ## Singh Is Kinng (2008): Akshay Kumar’s Entry into the 100 Crore Club Five years after that success, on August 8, 2008, director **Anees Bazmee** released the comedy action entertainer **Singh Is Kinng**. Headlined by **Akshay Kumar** and **Katrina Kaif**, the film narrated the humorous journey of Happy Singh, a well-meaning village youth who travels to Australia, gets inadvertently entangled with the underworld, and unexpectedly becomes their kingpin. The ensemble cast also featured **Om Puri**, **Sonu Sood**, and **Neha Dhupia**. Produced on a budget of 40 crore rupees, the movie crossed 100 crore rupees in total domestic collections in India. It emerged as a blockbuster hit and marked one of the foundational films that established **Akshay Kumar** in the prestigious 100 crore box office club. ## Gangs of Wasseypur 2 (2012): The Birth of a Cult Classic On August 8, 2012, director **Anurag Kashyap** unveiled the second chapter of his gritty crime saga, **Gangs of Wasseypur 2**. Starring **Manoj Bajpayee**, **Nawazuddin Siddiqui**, and **Tigmanshu Dhulia**, the film focused on the blood feuds surrounding the coal mafia network. Although its commercial figures stood at 25.25 crore rupees net in India and 35.13 crore rupees worldwide, the movie achieved the revered status of a cult classic. Its memorable dialogues, raw character portrayals, and realistic storytelling left an enduring imprint on modern Indian cinematic history. ## Chennai Express (2013): Record-Breaking 200 Crore Box Office Phenomenon On August 8, 2013, director **Rohit Shetty** unleashed the action-comedy spectacle **Chennai Express** in theaters. Featuring **Shah Rukh Khan**, **Deepika Padukone**, **Nikitin Dheer**, and **Sathyaraj**, the film achieved a massive wide release across 3600 screens in India. Made on a budget of 115 crore rupees, the movie went on to generate a staggering net collection of 207.69 crore rupees in India, making it the highest grossing film of 2013. Supported by hit music tracks and popular dialogue, the film achieved blockbuster status and shattered multiple theatrical records of its time. ## Entertainment (2014): A Quirky Comedy with Average Returns On August 8, 2014, the slapstick comedy **Entertainment**, directed by duo **Sajid-Farhad**, arrived in cinemas. Starring **Akshay Kumar** alongside **Tamannaah Bhatia**, the story featured a Golden Retriever dog named Entertainment as a central character. The plot followed Akhil, a man who discovers that his late father willed his vast multi-crore fortune to his pet dog rather than his son, setting off a series of comedic schemes to reclaim the inheritance. Despite comedic elements and **Akshay Kumar**'s star presence, the film could not replicate the massive box office numbers of earlier August 8 releases like 'Pardes', 'Koi Mil Gaya', or 'Chennai Express', concluding its run with an average box office verdict. ## The Legacy of August 8 at the Indian Box Office Over the years, August 8 has delivered a wide spectrum of genres to Bollywood audiences, ranging from the romantic values of **Pardes** and the alien sci-fi of **Koi Mil Gaya** to the high-energy comedy of **Singh Is Kinng** and the record-setting commercial masala of **Chennai Express**. Each of these releases left a distinct mark, solidifying August 8 as one of the most interesting calendar dates in Indian theatrical history. ## What this means for you **For Cinephiles and Trade Observers:** - **Across India:** Understanding theatrical release calendar patterns highlights how strategic release dates significantly impact box office collections. - **For Moviegoers:** The history of August 8 demonstrates how diverse cinematic genres ranging from sci-fi and romance to crime sagas and mass comedy can achieve commercial success on the same calendar window. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Which major Bollywood movies were released on August 8? Between 1997 and 2014, six major Bollywood films released on August 8: Pardes, Koi Mil Gaya, Singh Is Kinng, Gangs of Wasseypur 2, Chennai Express, and Entertainment. ### 2. Which August 8 release achieved the highest box office collection? Chennai Express, released on August 8, 2013, collected 207.69 crore rupees net in India and became the highest grossing film of that year. ### 3. What was the budget and collection of Koi Mil Gaya? Made on a budget of 28 crore rupees, Koi Mil Gaya collected 47.20 crore rupees net in India and 75.57 crore rupees worldwide, earning blockbuster status. ### 4. How did Singh Is Kinng impact Akshay Kumar's career milestone? Produced on a 40 crore rupees budget, Singh Is Kinng grossed over 100 crore rupees in India, making it one of the first films to place Akshay Kumar in the 100 crore club. ### 5. What were the box office earnings of Gangs of Wasseypur 2? Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the movie earned 25.25 crore rupees net in India and 35.13 crore rupees worldwide, securing a cult classic status. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._