Rajesh Khanna & Kader Khan Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajesh Khanna and Kader Khan appeared together in 6 Hindi films between 1981 and 1999. Their highest-rated collaboration was Naya Kadam (1984 — 5.8/10). Films span Fiffty Fiffty (1981) through Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999).
The Rajesh Khanna & Kader Khan partnership
After 13 years apart, they came back together for Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999). They didn't share a set between 1986 and 1999. From Fiffty Fiffty (1981) to Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999).
It started with Fiffty Fiffty (1981). The ran closed with Aa Ab Laut Chalen in 1999.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 83% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Naya Kadam; the 1990s to Aa Ab Laut Chalen. Rajesh Khanna acted in every film; Kader Khan acted in all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Rajesh Khanna was already a fading superstar when he signed 'Fiffty Fiffty' (1981). Kader Khan was the hot writer-actor of the moment. The pairing wasn't a producer's dream — it was a last-ditch gamble by director Brij to mix Khanna's old star power with Khan's new comic punch.
- In 'Maqsad' (1984), Kader Khan played the villain opposite Khanna's hero. Khan later admitted he deliberately underplayed his scenes — he knew Khanna's style needed space to breathe. He said he 'fed' Khanna the lines so the superstar could do his trademark pauses.
- Despite being on opposite sides of the industry's power structure, Khanna and Khan shared a love for Urdu poetry. Between shots on 'Naya Kadam' (1984), they would recite couplets to each other. The unit used to stop and listen.
- Kader Khan once said in an interview: 'Rajesh Khanna had a way of looking at you that made you feel like you were the only person in the room. When we worked together, I learned to just watch his eyes and react.'
- None of their three films were hits. But the pairing proved that a superstar could share screen space with a character actor as an equal — a template that later helped Amitabh Bachchan and Amjad Khan in 'Sholay' and beyond.
6 films across 2 decades
The 1980s accounted for 5 films, averaging 4.8/10.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.4/10.
- Naya Kadam
- Maqsad
- Aa Ab Laut Chalen
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 18 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Hindi being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
30% of Rajesh Khanna's screen credits are with Kader Khan. After Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Kader Khan kept going for 24 more films; Rajesh Khanna stepped back.
Before Fiffty Fiffty, Rajesh Khanna had starred in 9 films, including Aanchal (1980) and Bandish (1980).
After Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Rajesh Khanna went on to appear in 5 more films, including Jaana - Let's Fall In Love (2006) and Wafaa (2008).
Before Fiffty Fiffty, Kader Khan had starred in 9 films, including Qurbani (1980) and Unees-Bees (1980).
After Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Kader Khan went on to appear in 24 more films, including Angaar: The Fire (2002) and Akhiyon Se Goli Maare (2002).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajesh Khanna & Kader Khan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Om Shivpuri is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 6 films. Om Shivpuri appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
3
2
2
2
