Snehashish roy
When the audio teaser for Spirit — directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas — dropped on the actor’s birthday, it began on a high note: a hush, an announcement, the title card declaring “India’s biggest superstar Prabhas”. But what should have been a moment of celebration quickly flipped into a fan-war battlefield, as supporters of Shah Rukh Khan rushed to the keyboard to challenge the bold claim.
For Prabhas’s legion of fans, the tag felt overdue. The “Rebel Star” shot to pan-India fame with the Baahubali franchise, and after a string of less-successful films, the recent successes of Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD reignited his superstar trajectory. One social-media user wrote, “Box office collections are proof that Vanga is right here.”
Yet for Shah Rukh’s fandom, the title card struck a deeply charged nerve. One tweet read: “India’s Biggest Superstar? Nice try but there’s only one Badshah who rules hearts from Mumbai to Morocco — #SRK.” Another created a meme borrowing from The Ba**ds of Bollywood* spoof, captioning it: “‘Ghante ka biggest superstar’.”
The clash goes beyond a birthday tribute and promo line. It underscores how fandoms lobby for cultural territory — legacy, visibility, size of following, history of hits — and how one claim can feel like a red flag. Prabhas’s supporters pointed to his blockbuster grosses, especially Kalki 2898 AD crossing ₹1,000 crore, and said the tag was valid.
On the other hand, Shah Rukh’s peers brought up his decades-long career and record-breaking run: Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki all marked milestones. As one commenter asked, “Legacy isn’t declared in posters, it’s earned over decades of magic, charm, and global love.”
The drama also reveals how the Indian film ecosystem is increasingly pan-regional. A Telugu-star being labelled “India’s biggest superstar” challenges Bollywood-centric ego. It reflects the new reality: box-office power, pan-India reach and multilingual fandoms matter more than industry origin.
As for Spirit, it remains one of the most anticipated releases of early 2026. Before it hits screens, Prabhas has The RajaSaab lined up, and Shah Rukh’s fans will certainly be watching the rollout closely.
At its core, this story isn’t just about a promo card—it’s about how star power is claimed and contested in the age of digital fandom. Whether or not anyone agrees with the label, Prabhas’s supporters have used it as a rallying call, and Shah Rukh’s legion responded accordingly.
In the world of megastars, the crown doesn’t come wrapped in a title card. It’s carried by films, followers and decades of resonance. But for now, the internet’s turned it into a battleground.