Arshad Warsi & Anees Bazmee Movies Together List — 4 Films

The shape of the work

The 1990s belonged to Hulchul; the 2010s to Pagalpanti. Never on the same side of the camera — Arshad Warsi actor, Anees Bazmee director, across all 4 films. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.

Partnership facts

• Arshad Warsi was a complete unknown when Anees Bazmee cast him in 'Hulchul' (1995). Bazmee saw him in a small role in 'Tere Mere Sapne' and took a gamble on the newcomer for his directorial debut.
• On 'Pagalpanti' (2019), Bazmee let Warsi improvise most of his dialogue. Warsi would rewrite his lines on set, and Bazmee would just nod and say 'go with it' — the final film had almost no scripted dialogue from Warsi's character.
• After 'Hulchul' flopped, Bazmee didn't work with Warsi for 22 years. They reconnected only when Warsi called Bazmee out of the blue in 2016 and said, 'Sir, let's do something again.' That call led to 'Aankhen 2'.
• Anees Bazmee once said about Arshad Warsi: 'He is the only actor who can make me laugh even when the camera is not rolling. On set, he is my stress-buster.'
• Their first collaboration 'Hulchul' (1995) introduced a young Akshaye Khanna in a supporting role. That film was Khanna's second ever — and it directly led to him being cast in 'Dil Chahta Hai' six years later.