5 Indian film stars who made it big in China – from Aamir Khan of 3 Idiots fame, to Fatima Sana Shaikh and Hong Kong-born Katrina Kaif
As if being a major force in the entertainment industry of the second-most populous country in the world was not enough, there are a number of Indian actors and actresses who shot to stardom in their neighbouring country, China, as well.
There are also those who skipped Bollywood altogether and opted for a Chinese audience from the get-go. Find out who these groundbreaking stars are and what their Chinese big breaks were.
1. Aamir Khan
The secret superstar of China paved the way for the Renaissance of Indian films in their neighbouring country. “Uncle” Aamir Khan initially won Chinese hearts through pirated DVDs of his comedy-drama hit 3 Idiots. Since then, they have been willing to buy movie tickets to see his work, with Dangal remaining as the highest-earning Indian movie in China at US$183.3 million. On Weibo, he has amassed more than a million followers.
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2. Fatima Sana Shaikh
Amir Khan’s Dangal daughter Fatima Sana Shaikh made waves in China after bagging the best action actress award at the fourth annual Jackie Chan Film Action Movie Week. She even snagged a photo with the Chinese superstar himself during the 2018 Shanghai Film Festival. The following year, Fatima was yet again honoured at the same event for her intense action stunts in Thugs of Hindustan.
3. Gill Mohindepaul Singh
Also known by his stage name Q Bobo, Gill carved his name in history as the first Indian actor to be signed by a local Hong Kong Chinese TV station, TVB Jade. Though the Hongkongese star never tried his hand at Bollywood, he said in an interview with Muse magazine that he felt “like an ambassador for [his] people”. Gill initially worked in the Correctional Services Department before being discovered by the network’s game show Minutes to Fame.
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4. Rani Mukerji
Despite being a household name in India’s Tinseltown, Rani Mukerji still did not anticipate building an army of Chinese movie buffs for her comedy-drama Hichki. The Indian actress took China’s box office by storm, earning nearly US$18 million in ticket sales. Hichki also received a standing ovation at the 2018 Shanghai International Festival.
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5. Katrina Kaif
Born in Hong Kong to a Kashmiri father and a British mother, Katrina Kaif had managed to become one of India's highest-paid actresses before making a mark in China. With a whopping 40 million followers on Instagram, the Bollywood actress currently serves as the face of Chinese electronics company Xiaomi.
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Bollywood stars and other Indian actors like Gill Mohindepaul Singh and Rani Mukerji who became famous in China with hits like Dangal and Hichki