First-ever Variety India magazine cover sparks excitement and debate among Bollywood fans
Bollywood superstars Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn have come together for the first-ever cover of Variety India, creating a rare and powerful visual that quickly set social media buzzing. While many fans celebrated the iconic collaboration, others questioned the absence of Shah Rukh Khan from what they felt could have been a “complete” generational moment.
Released on February 1, the cover features Akshay Kumar seated on a couch, with Salman, Aamir and Ajay standing behind him, their hands resting on each other’s shoulders. The magazine described the four actors as “Unshakable. The superheroes that broke the rules of stardom,” highlighting their enduring influence on Hindi cinema over decades.
As the cover circulated online, fan reactions poured in. Several users praised the image as “legendary” and “four pillars of Bollywood,” while others expressed disappointment over Shah Rukh Khan’s absence. Comments such as “This picture is incomplete without SRK,” “Where’s Shah Rukh Khan?” and “It would’ve been a generational photo with SRK” dominated the discussion. Some fans also mentioned that actors like Hrithik Roshan could have been included.
Despite the mixed reactions, the cover was widely appreciated for bringing together four of Bollywood’s biggest stars in one frame—an occurrence that remains rare in the industry.
Variety India marked the launch of its magazine with a grand event in Mumbai on Sunday. The star-studded evening saw the attendance of Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, along with Shanaya Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Arjun Kapoor, Tiger Shroff and several other prominent personalities.
On the work front, Salman Khan is preparing for the release of Battle of Galwan, directed by Apoorva Lakhia and slated to hit theatres on April 17. Akshay Kumar will next be seen in Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla, scheduled for a May release. Ajay Devgn is set to return with Drishyam 3 on October 2, while Aamir Khan is awaiting the release of his production Ek Din, starring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi, on May 1.