Vaiyapuri & Riyaz Khan Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vaiyapuri and Riyaz Khan appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1999 and 2023. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kallazhagar (1999 — 3.8/10). Films span Kallazhagar (1999) through Kapil Returns (2023).
The Vaiyapuri & Riyaz Khan partnership
After 21 years apart, they came back together for Un Kadhal Irunthal (2020). They didn't share a set between 1999 and 2020. From Kallazhagar (1999) to Kapil Returns (2023).
Their most recent film, Kapil Returns, came out in 2023 — the partnership is still active. It started with Kallazhagar (1999).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Kallazhagar; the 2020s to Un Kadhal Irunthal. Vaiyapuri acted in every film; Riyaz Khan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Vaiyapuri and Riyaz Khan first shared screen space in Kallazhagar (1999), but they didn't have a single scene together. The director just needed two bulky guys to stand in the background of a fight sequence. They didn't even exchange names on set.
- In Un Kadhal Irunthal (2020), Riyaz Khan played the strict father who opposes the hero. Vaiyapuri played the comic sidekick who tries to soften him. The trick was: Riyaz would deliver his lines dead serious, then Vaiyapuri would break the tension with a one-liner. They never rehearsed together — Riyaz said it made the comedy feel real.
- After Kallazhagar, they didn't speak for 21 years. Then a mutual friend brought them together for Un Kadhal Irunthal. On the first day of shoot, Vaiyapuri walked up and said, 'Remember me? I was the guy behind you in that fight scene.' Riyaz laughed and said, 'You were the one who kept stepping on my foot.'
- The success of Un Kadhal Irunthal (2020) directly led to Kapil Returns (2023). The producer saw their father-son dynamic test well with audiences and greenlit a full comedy where they play a bickering landlord and tenant. That film is the only reason these two have a third credit together.
- Riyaz Khan told a behind-the-scenes interviewer during Kapil Returns: 'Vaiyapuri doesn't act. He just reacts. So I had to keep changing my dialogue delivery every take to surprise him. That's the only way to get a genuine laugh out of him.'
3 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 3.8/10.
The 2020s accounted for 2 films.
- Kallazhagar
- Un Kadhal Irunthal0
- Kapil Returns
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 24 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
60% of Riyaz Khan's screen credits are with Vaiyapuri.
Before Kallazhagar, Vaiyapuri had starred in 3 films, including Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998) and Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998).
After Kapil Returns, Vaiyapuri went on to appear in 9 more films, including Kaantha (2025) and Others (2025).
Before Kallazhagar, Riyaz Khan had starred in 1 film, including Athma (1993).
After Kapil Returns, Riyaz Khan went on to appear in 1 more film, including Petta Rap (2024).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vaiyapuri & Riyaz Khan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Vaiyapuri & Riyaz Khan's films together
