Everybody remembers Akshay Kumar’s scorching pairing with Katrina Kaif, Raveena Tandon and Ayesha Jhulka. But the Khiladi‘s chemistry with his male costars is equally fun.
Look at his whopping filmography and you’ll see he’s shared screen space with everyone — be it established, contemporary or newcomer — in the business.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan pits him and Tiger Shroff in titular avatars.
While we wait to catch their distinct personalities play off against each other, Sukanya Verma offers a lowdown on Akshay’s two-hero jodis in the past.
Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan
Collaborations: Yeh Dillagi, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Keemat, Tu Chor Main Sipahi, Arzoo, Tashan
Akshay’s daredevil vigour and Saif’s imp impressions locked horns and joined forces to create a delightful chalk and cheese energy on screen.
Hit or miss, there’s never a dull moment around the Khiladi-Anari equation.
Akshay Kumar-Suniel Shetty
Collaborations: Waqt Hamara Hai, Hum Hain Bemisaal, Mohra, Sapoot, Dhadkan, Aan: Men at Work, Hera Pheri, Phir Hera Pheri, Awara Pagal Deewana, Deewane Hue Paagal, De Dana Dan
’90s action wouldn’t have half its stamina if not for the combined brute force of two of its nimblest heroes channelling their inner Stallone, Arnie and Van Damme with gusto in a slew of potboilers.
Exactly why the shift in dynamics as comical loons of the post-Hera Pheri era is all the more amazing.
Akshay Kumar-Ajay Devgn
Collaborations: Suhaag, Khakee, Insan, Simmba, Sooryavanshi
While on the subject of ’90s dishoom dishoom, can two of its foremost poster boys be far behind?
One’s carefree fervour, another’s brooding intensity, frontbenchers loved every minute of it.
Unabashed display of their middle-aged machismo continues to prosper under Rohit Shetty’s action packed wand in the Simmba-Singham-Sooryanvanshi cop universe.
Akshay-Salman Khan
Collaborations Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Jaan-e-Mann
Taking turns in conveying a Tom and Jerry-like camaraderie whilst pursuing a mutual love interest has led to much mirth on screen.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see newer facets of their love and hate relationship?
Akshay Kumar-Bobby Deol
Collaborations: Ajnabee, Dosti, Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo, Thank You, Housefull 4
Punju bros coming together to assert their good looks and pleasant chemistry in all kinds of movies: Thrillers, dramas, comedies benefits from their real-life warmth for each other.
Akshay Kumar-Deepak Tijori
Collaboration: Khiladi
When the conversation of Akshay’s two-hero journey comes up, there’s no way we will forget his OG partner-in-phony kidnapping gone wrong.
From campus jokers to murder suspects, Akki and Deepak Tijori made quite an endearing jodi as besties standing by each other like a rock.
Akshay Kumar-Riteish Deshmukh
Collaborations: Housefull franchise, Heyy Babyy
Horseplaying in slapstick comedies catering to the lowest common denominator finds wholehearted commitment in Akshay Kumar-Riteish Deshmukh’s fool proof chemistry.
Akshay Kumar-Amitabh Bachchan
Collaborations: Waqt, Khakee, Ek Rishta, Family, Aankhen, Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo
Either father-son or boss-subordinate, the Big B’s seasoned heft and Akshay’s reckless energy works well against each other.
Their collective charisma is one of the best things about their best work together, be it Khakee, Aankhen or Waqt.
Akshay Kumar-John Abraham
Collaborations: Garam Masala, Desi Boyz, Housefull 2, Dishoom
When gun toting experts go the leave-your-brains behind way.
Like Akshay’s sly guy and John Abraham’s himbo, capturing these two tall, handsome hunks at loggerheads for comical purposes has led to reasonable success.
Akshay Kumar-Sanjay Dutt
Collaborations: Amaanat, Blue, Samrat Prithviraj
In-your-face masculine fervour and face offs between the dynamic duo has surprisingly not led to much explosion at the movies.
Akshay Kumar-Govinda
Collaboration: Bhagam Bhag
When the King of Comedy in his comfort zone and an actor finding newfound comfort in comedy join hands, you get Govinda and Akki in Bhagam Bhag.
Akshay Kumar-Nagarjuna
Collaboration: Angaaray
Few recall when the Telugu superstar shared screen pace with a shaggy-haired Kumar as childhood friends confronted by ideological differences in a State of Grace rip-off.
Akshay Kumar-Abhishek Bachchan
Collaborations: Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, Housefull 3
From schmaltzy melodrama in an old-fashioned love triangle to hare-brained comedy in a silly comedy of errors, Akshay-Abhi have tried it all.
Akshay Kumar-Imran Khan
Collaboration: Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara!
Imran Khan is much too miscast as chain-smoking gangster Akshay Kumar’s minion for us to have any lasting memory of their time together in this retro tripe.
Akshay Kumar-Sidharth Malhotra
Collaboration: Brothers
A terrible remake of Hollywood’s Warrior stars Akshay and Sidharth as estranged brothers forced to fight it out in a wrestling ring.
Despite the likeness in their physicality and zeal, the bromance is nowhere to be found.
Akshay Kumar-Diljit Dosanjh
Collaboration: Good Newwz
Good Newwz‘s bumpy take on modern methods of bringing a baby in the world aside, Akshay and Diljit’s authentic love, loathing and candour as foolish daddies-to-be adds locking horns at every opportunity adds zing to the proceedings.
Akshay-Emraan Hashmi
Collaboration: Selfiee
The friction between a haughty superstar and disgruntled fan takes a mountain of a molehill turn when the latter is humiliated by his hero in this remake of the Malayalam movie, Driving License.
Despite their individual abilities, the combination of Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi wasn’t exciting enough to draw in the audiences.
And many more.
It’s not just two but three and more hero movies like Khakee, Aankhen, Blue, Awara Pagal Deewana, Deewane Hue Pagal, Thank You… where Akshay Kumar’s collaborations has produced fantastic or forgettable results.
