Girish Karnad & Kader Khan Movies Together — 3 Films

Girish Karnad and Kader Khan have worked together on 3 films, with their collaboration spanning from 1981 to 1996 — a creative partnership lasting over 15 years. Their most productive decade was the 1980s, which accounted for 2 of their joint projects, cementing that era as the peak of their creative output.

Their first collaboration was "Ahista Ahista" in 1981. The film featured Girish Karnad as Actor and Kader Khan as Patron. That debut set the foundation for a partnership that would grow to 3 films over the following years.

Their highest-rated collaboration is "Ahista Ahista" (1981), which holds a rating of 6.8/10. Other critically acclaimed entries include "Shama" (6.5/10) and "Aathank". Overall, their joint filmography averages 5.6/10 — an average that reflects mixed but sustained output across their career.

In their collaborations, Girish Karnad most frequently as Actor, and Kader Khan most frequently as Patron. This pairing of Actor and Patron created a recognisable dynamic, though audience response has varied across their output.

The majority of Girish Karnad & Kader Khan's joint work is in Hindi cinema. Their sustained focus within Hindi film has allowed them to develop a distinctive shared aesthetic recognisable to fans of the industry.

Their most recent collaboration is "Aathank" (1996). As of 1996, their partnership continues to be relevant, with the film adding to a legacy built over 3 projects.

The Girish Karnad and Kader Khan partnership stands out in Hindi cinema for its longevity and volume — 3 films across 15 years is an exceptionally sustained creative relationship in any industry. Their collaborative average of 5.6/10 reflects a mixed body of work — some titles were acclaimed, others underperformed at the box office. Their best-rated title, "Ahista Ahista" (6.8/10), represents the high point of their joint output.

The highest-rated collaboration between Girish Karnad and Kader Khan is "Ahista Ahista" (1981), rated 6.8/10. Other top-rated films together include "Shama" and "Aathank".

Girish Karnad and Kader Khan have collaborated across 15 years, from 1981 to 1996. Over this period they worked on 3 films, making theirs one of the longer-running creative partnerships in Indian cinema.

The Girish Karnad & Kader Khan collaboration is a **selective partnership** in the Indian film industry. Their 15+ year association shows remarkable consistency and mutual professional respect.

Their most prolific period was the 1980s, when they delivered 2 films together. This was a peak creative period that helped define both their legacies. While they continued collaborating beyond this era (1 additional films), the 1980s remains their most concentrated and impactful output.

The chemistry between Girish Karnad and Kader Khan stems from complementary creative strengths: their roles as Actor and Patron create narrative balance.Their sustained collaboration across multiple films indicates genuine artistic synergy and mutual respect in their creative decision-making.

If you enjoy Girish Karnad & Kader Khan's films, explore other notable collaborations in Indian cinema with similar thematic focus or era. Browse our curated collections of similar creative pairings and multi-generational collaborations on the 'Similar Collaborations' section of this page.

As of 2026, their most recent collaboration was "Aathank" in 1996. With 30 years since their last joint project, fans have been hoping for a new collaboration. No official announcements have been made, but their proven creative chemistry makes a future collaboration a possibility worth watching.