Anupam Kher & Naseeruddin Shah Movies Together List — 13 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah appeared together in 13 Hindi films between 1986 and 2022. Their highest-rated collaboration was A Wednesday! (2008 — 7.7/10). Films span Karma (1986) through Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal (2022).
The Anupam Kher & Naseeruddin Shah partnership
Their work runs across 5 decades of Hindi cinema. After 8 years apart, they came back together for Paheli (2005). They didn't share a set between 1997 and 2005.
From Karma (1986) to Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal (2022). A Wednesday! is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Karma; the 2020s to Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal. Anupam Kher acted in every film; Naseeruddin Shah acted in all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Their first film together, Karma (1986), was directed by Subhash Ghai. Ghai cast Naseeruddin Shah as the villain and Anupam Kher as a loyal sidekick — but Kher was initially hesitant to play a character who dies early. Shah convinced him to take the role, telling him it would be a memorable death scene.
- On the set of Tridev (1989), Naseeruddin Shah would deliberately flub his lines in the first take to throw Anupam Kher off guard. Kher later said this forced him to stay sharp and improvise — and that Shah only did it with actors he respected.
- A Wednesday! (2008) was originally written with a single lead. Naseeruddin Shah suggested splitting the role into two characters — the common man and the police commissioner — and insisted Anupam Kher play the cop. That film became a cult hit and inspired the 2013 Hollywood remake A Common Man.
- Despite playing rivals on screen in multiple films, the two have been close friends since the 1980s. Anupam Kher once said Naseeruddin Shah is the only actor who can call him at 3 AM and he'll pick up — and that they've never had a single argument in 35 years.
- Anupam Kher on Naseeruddin Shah: 'He is the only actor who can make me nervous even after 30 years of working together. When he looks at me during a scene, I know I have to bring my A-game.'
13 films across 5 decades
The 1980s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.9/10.
The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 4.3/10.
The 2000s brought 3 films together, anchored by A Wednesday! (7.7/10).
The 2010s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.0/10.
The 2020s accounted for 1 film.
- Karma
- Tridev
- Chaahat
- Lootere
- A Wednesday!
- Paheli
- Aiyaary
- Dirty Politics
- Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
13 films across 36 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Hindi being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
36% of Anupam Kher's screen credits are with Naseeruddin Shah.
Before Karma, Anupam Kher had starred in 7 films, including Saaransh (1984) and Utsav (1984).
After Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal, Anupam Kher went on to appear in 16 more films, including IB 71 (2023) and Vijay 69 (2024).
Before Karma, Naseeruddin Shah had starred in 34 films, including Aakrosh (1980) and Sparsh (1980).
After Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal, Naseeruddin Shah went on to appear in 8 more films, including Gustaakh Ishq (2025) and Fateh (2025).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Anupam Kher & Naseeruddin Shah's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Jackie Shroff appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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