Who is Bollywood's real king?

That's a tough question to answer. But man of the moment Akshay Kumar is definitely giving Shah Rukh Khan some sleepless nights.

There has been only one king in Bollywood for last 30 years and that is Amitabh Bachchan. There is no other," said Akshay Kumar to the press around the release of his hit film, Singh Is Kinng. With that statement, Kumar took a potshot at Shah Rukh Khan, recognised by most as the reigning superstar in Bollywood.

Is Kumar challenging Khan's throne? That's been the topic of heated debate in Bollywood since Singh Is Kinng's record-breaking opening.

One thing is sure: SRK is just as content combating the other big Khans (Aamir and Salman) as facing Kumar, the most formidable opponent to come along in years. But before we declare anyone the leader, let's take a look at what makes these two so regal.

Solid King Khan

Shah Rukh started his career with the super hit Deewana in 1992. He defied the odds to play negative roles in 1993's twin success stories, Baazigar and Darr. The hits made him a serious contender for the top slot, left vacant by Amitabh Bachchan's then 5-year hiatus from the silver screen. By 1995 Khan became the box office darling after the blockbuster Karan Arjun and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ), one of Bollywood's biggest hits of all time.

The triple successes Yes Boss, Pardes and Dil to Pagal Hai in 1997 along with mega-blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 confirmed that he was Bollywood's best. His reign at the top was shaky in 1999 and 2000, delivering just one hit, Mohabbatein. But he bounced back with spate of hits with yearly hits since 2001.

Last year he raised the bar by giving an award-winning performance in the blockbuster Chak De India! and followed it up with Om Shanti Om, which emerged as Bollywood's highest grossing film ever. Technically speaking all's well at Shah Rukh's end - but Kumar's meteoric rise might be currently giving him some sleepless nights.

Khiladi to King

Last year he gave four big hits in a row - Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyya and Welcome. His latest, Singh Is Kinng established him as one of the biggest overseas superstars.

But Kumar's career hasn't always been so charmed. He started his career with the mediocre Saugandh in 1991 before delivering his first hit, Khiladi in 1992. He racked up action-star hits throughout the '90s, earning him the tag of "Khiladi" (player) Kumar. Then, after more than a dozen flops - barring a cameo in Shah Rukh's Dil To Pagal Hai - he bounced back with surprise hits Jaanwar (1999) and Hera Pheri (2000), which displayed his flair for comedy.

Consistent hits from Ek Rishta in 2001 to Waqt in 2005 were balanced with flops such as Jaani Dushman, Bewafa and Insaan during the same period. His fortunes changed for better when he started accepting lead comic roles, becoming the czar of mindless entertainers, a slot that was originally held by comic king Govinda.

Poor content

So does Kumar's latest golden run entitle him to be called the box office king? There is tremendous media hype and frenzy surrounding Kumar's films but the fact is that none of his recent films - barring Namastey London and Bhool Bhulaiyya - had solid content. Most are average and purely marketing driven. After Singh Is Kinng's record-breaking opening, the film fizzled out and was not able to beat Welcome's box office gross in India. Why? Because the content was utter nonsense.

True, Khan's Om Shanti Om was also weak in terms of content, but his career graph has been built on some rock-solid films. Kumar is definitely in the best form of his career and closest to grab the crown from King Khan- but his mediocre films lack Khan's longevity. Deservingly, Kumar has reached the pinnacle of his career, but his portfolio doesn't yet allow him to be spoken of in the same breath as Shah Rukh.

Box office tussles

That could change soon. All eyes will now be on Khan's next release, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, coming this December. Nothing short of smashed box office records will be able to stop the industry's waging tongues saying Khan is losing ground.

Kumar's next film, Kambakht Ishq - co-starring Kareena Kapoor and with Sylvester Stallone in a cameo - is expected to storm the box office the same month. Kumar will be hoping he can score big with Kambakht Isqh and follow it up with the much-anticipated Warner Bros' Chandni Chowk To China. By churning out multiple hits each year - as opposed to Khan's once-a-year magic - Kumar might make it to the top spot.

Khan needs to reaffirm his position by ensuring that Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi turns into a goldmine at the box office, as his next two releases, Biloo Barber and Dulha Mil Gaya see him in smaller roles. It's not until 2010, when he has Karan Johar's next film and Don II scheduled for release, that he's got another crack at the box office. Meanwhile, Kumar has commercially lucrative films with Blue, De Dana Dan and Housefull lined up.

But sheer mathematics is not enough, Bollywood has spread out so much with top actors becoming a brand with their own kingdoms. Let's not worry about who'll rule Bollywood, but think of making better films instead. If only the emperors to-be were listening!

Other kings in line

Though everyone is talking about the SRK vs Akshay Kumar clash, big stars Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan cannot be ignored.

Aamir has a solid track record at the box office of consistently delivering quality films, including his last three, Rang De Basanti, Fanaa and Taare Zameen Par. The downside? All that quality means Aamir is only seen once every year or two. Aamir will next be seen in the hotly-tipped Ghajini this winter. If he ever decides to increase his output, there will be no stopping this perfectionist.

Salman has a huge loyal fan following and can strike big anytime. He holds the record for delivering the maximum number of hits in a year. He has a number of big-hitters - Yuvraaj, Wanted and Veer - that should help him stake a claim for the top spot.

Roshan could also be classified in the Aamir Khan category, doing one film every couple of years. Roshan has delivered huge hits with his last three films, Krrish, Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar. He will next be seen in an international project, Kites, and if he is able to maintain consistency he's got a trump card the other big players don't – he's got age on his side.