Yash Says KGF Beating Zero Was Never Personal

Kannada superstar Yash has addressed the long-discussed 2018 box office face-off between his breakout film KGF and Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero, clarifying that there was no rivalry intended behind the simultaneous release. Speaking on Aap Ki Adalat, the actor was pressed on whether the clash was linked to his admiration for SRK and a reported wish to meet him, a suggestion Yash brushed aside with humour.

Yash calls KGF the smaller film
The actor downplayed comparisons between the two projects, noting that his film was modest in scale next to Zero’s grandeur, and that the shared release date was simply how things worked out. Both movies opened on December 21, 2018 — Zero as one of Bollywood’s biggest anticipated releases of the year, and KGF as a Kannada production few expected to dominate nationwide. The film went on to redefine Yash’s career, positioning him as a pan-India star and paving the way for KGF: Chapter 2.

Box office numbers tell a different story
Despite Yash’s humility, KGF went on to collect close to Rs 250 crore worldwide, while Zero managed a comparatively modest Rs 100 crore. Even so, Yash insisted that commercial success hasn’t changed how he views Shah Rukh Khan, calling him a genuine superstar and stressing that believing himself bigger than his seniors would mark the end of his career.

Looking ahead, Yash will next be seen in Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, releasing August 28, alongside Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani and Tara Sutaria. He’s also set to play Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part Ramayana, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, with the first part slated for Diwali 2026.