Hrithik Roshan's Peak Popularity:
* Late 1990s to Early 2000s: Hrithik's debut in "Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai" (2000) catapulted him to instant stardom. He went on to deliver hits like "Koi... Mil Gaya" (2003) and "Dhoom 2" (2006), establishing himself as a leading action hero and a charming romantic lead.
Shahrukh Khan's Peak Popularity:
* 1990s to Mid-2000s: Shahrukh Khan dominated Bollywood throughout this period with blockbusters like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (1995), "Dil To Pagal Hai" (1997), "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (1998), and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..." (2001). He was known as the "King of Romance" and had a massive global following.
Overlap and Competition:
* Early 2000s: Both stars had prominent roles in the early 2000s, with films like "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..." and "Koi... Mil Gaya" releasing in the same year. They were often considered rivals, though their relationship seemed amicable.
* Mid-2000s: Both actors continued to have successful films, but Shahrukh Khan's dominance began to wane somewhat as Hrithik Roshan emerged as a top action star with films like "Dhoom 2" and "Krrish" (2006).
Present Day:
* 2010s to Present: Both actors have maintained successful careers, with Shahrukh Khan still delivering hits like "Chennai Express" (2013) and "Dilwale" (2015). Hrithik Roshan continued to lead action films like "Bang Bang!" (2014) and "War" (2019).
Conclusion:
While both Hrithik Roshan and Shahrukh Khan enjoyed immense popularity and success, their peak popularity didn't necessarily align perfectly. They each had their own periods of dominance and have continued to be prominent figures in Bollywood. It's more accurate to say they were both big stars at different points in their careers and continue to be influential figures in Indian cinema.