In a move that has effectively “broken the internet,” four of Bollywood’s most enduring titans—Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn—have appeared together on the inaugural cover of Variety India.
The debut of the Indian edition of the iconic global entertainment trade magazine was marked by a visual that many industry insiders are calling “the frame of the decade.” Released on February 1, 2026, the cover features the four superstars under the bold headline: “Unshakable: The superheroes that broke the rules of stardom.”
For fans who have followed Hindi cinema since the early 90s, the sight of these four actors in a single frame is a rare occurrence. The cover image captures a powerful sense of camaraderie: Akshay Kumar is seated at the center on a couch, while Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Ajay Devgn stand behind him, hands placed on each other’s shoulders.
The shoot marks the official arrival of Variety in the Indian market, a collaboration between the global brand and Thursday Tales Publishing. According to the magazine, the choice to feature these four actors was a tribute to their “unshakable” grip on the box office and their ability to reinvent themselves over three decades.
Following the digital reveal of the cover, a star-studded launch event was held in Mumbai on Sunday night. The red carpet saw a mix of veteran legends and new-age stars.
Salman Khan made a rugged appearance in a crocodile-embossed brown leather jacket. Akshay Kumar arrived in a sharp, tailored black suit with his signature aviators, accompanied by wife Twinkle Khanna, whose avant-garde blazer-and-skirt ensemble became a major talking point for fashion critics.
Other attendees included Sidharth Malhotra, Arjun Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Mrunal Thakur, and Shanaya Kapoor, highlighting the magazine’s intent to bridge the gap between traditional stardom and the emerging generation of talent.
While the majority of the response has been celebratory, the absence of Shah Rukh Khan has sparked a massive debate on social media. Within hours of the cover’s release, “Where is SRK?” began trending on X.
Fans noted that while the four actors present are undoubtedly “pillars” of the industry, the “Big Five” era feels incomplete without the King of Bollywood. However, others defended the choice, calling it a “legendary frame” that captures a specific brand of action and mass-appeal stardom that these four represent.
The cover story dives into the future projects of these icons, who show no signs of slowing down: Salman Khan is preparing for the April 17 release of the high-stakes actioner Battle of Galwan. Akshay Kumar is returning to his roots with Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla this May.
Ajay Devgn is deep into the production of the highly anticipated Drishyam 3. Aamir Khan is focusing on his production Ek Din, featuring his son Junaid Khan.
Variety India’s debut signifies a new chapter in Indian entertainment journalism, aiming to provide the same level of deep-dive industry analysis that the brand is known for in Hollywood. To know such latest updates tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
