Here’s how Abbas-Mastan gave Akshay Kumar his first major break — as well as the Khiladi moniker

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Revisiting Khiladi: 30 lesser-known facts about Akshay Kumar’s breakout film

Here’s how Abbas-Mastan gave Akshay Kumar his first major break — as well as the Khiladi moniker

Team CE

Published:9th Jan, 2021 at 5:07 PM

Directed by Abbas-Mastan, the 1992 thriller was the first entry in the Khiladi line of films starring Akshay Kumar

The film follows a group of college friends who pretend to kidnap their rich classmate. The fun ends when the classmate mysteriously dies.

This was Akshay’s first collaboration with the director duoThis was Akshay’s first collaboration with the director duo

They would later work together on Ajnabee (2001) and Aitraaz (2004)

Khiladi was Akshay’s first major hit. The film is credited for establishing his career

The film took inspiration from the Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh-starrer Khel Khel Mein (1975)

Akshay’s role was first offered to Arbaaz Khan, who refused because he was committed to be launched in Sohail Khan's directorial debut Ram.

Khiladi is the first of four films where Akshay’s character is named Raj Malhotra. He would adopt the same name for Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, Andaaz and Aitraaz.

Deepak Tijori essayed Boney, Akshay’s friend who joins him on the prank

Ayesha Jhulka was cast as the female lead opposite Akshay

Pooja Bedi had reportedly turned down the film

Ananth Mahadevan, later revealed as the film’s villain, won plaudits for his performance

Johnny Lever played the comic character Anna. He would later appear in many Abbas-Mastan films.

Akshay and Deepak decide to hide the body of Sheetal (Sabeeha) in the parking lot of cinema hall after seeing the poster of Saajan (1991) at Satyam cinema

Towards the end, Raj takes an injured Boney to ‘Ameeta Hospital’. Ameeta was a Bollywood actor and mother of Sabeeha, who plays Sheetal in the film.

Dinyar Contractor who played the college principal became famous for his ear-twitching ability.

The background music playing when Boney is hiding from goons under a jeep is lifted from Agneepath (1990)

Khiladi was the first film produced by music label Venus

David Dhawan’s Shola Aur Shabnam (1992) was originally titled Khiladi but lost the rights to Venus.

Music composers Jatin-Lalit delivered their first major hit with the Khiladi soundtrack

Tracks like Wada Raha Sanam, Khud Ko Kya Samajhti Hai and Kya Khabar Thi Jaana were big draws

The song Hoke Mann Aaj Magan was edited out before the film’s release.

Its tune was partially recycled by Jatin-Lalit for the title song of Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman.

Strangely, despite the success of the music, Jatin-Lalit and Abbas-Mastan never worked together again

Khiladi was the 10th highest-grossing release of 1992.

Mithun Chakraborthy’s film Jhooti Shaan was originally titled Khiladi

Reportedly, Deepak Tijori insisted to the media that he was the hero of Khiladi and the main reason for its success. This upset Akshay.

The theme of a kidnapping gone terribly wrong is echoed by later films like Paanch and Shaitan

So far, there are seven entries in the (unrelated) Khiladi series. The last one was Khiladi 786 released in 2012.

The Indian version of Fear Factor, initially hosted by Akshay, is titled Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi