He earned positive remarks for his fabulous debut in Saawariya, but Ranbir Kapoor didn’t taste box office success of superstar league till 2009. Saawariya flopped and though Bachna Aae Haseeno did fairly well, the Khans and the Kumars were not threatened a wee bit by the new Kapoor on the block.

Things took a dramatic turn in 2009 as Ranbir Kapoor kicked off his conquest with critical and commercial success in the form of Wake Up Sid. Sid was an entertaining and nostalgic trip down the memory lane and appealed to youngsters and families alike. The chemistry between the Ranbir and Konkona Sen was exceptional and the camaraderie shared by the supporting cast was another feel-good factor. The moderate budget made it a highly profitable investment for its makers.

Rajkumar Santoshi’s Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani was the next release and it turned Ranbir into a nightmare for the superstars. It broke collection records with surprising ease. Before 3 Idiots came along, it held the rank of the year’s biggest hit and the highest earner. The music track supplemented the earnings of the movie with chart topping songs. A new superstar was born with the release of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and the new Kapoor wasn’t new anymore. A major star who can challenge the rulers of Bollywood was born.

The critics may have not been kind to Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, but they made up for their tight-fistedness when they reviewed Ranbir’s next movie. Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year didn’t do well at the BO. The failure could be attributed to the poor marketing from Yash Raj Films. Had it not been for the complacency from their end, Rocket Singh could have been another hit. Ranbir still stood to gain as the role established his capabilities as an actor who can take care of roles beyond that of a chocolate boy.

One blockbuster, one hit and posing a serious threat to every lead actor in tinsel town, Ranbir Kapoor is the King of Hits of 2009.

- Sanjoy Alexander is a contributing writer to a leading Indian magazine. He is an avid blogger who blogs on movies, cars and photography at http://reelsandwheels.blogspot.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it