Amitabh Bachchan & Kader Khan Movies Together List — 15 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Amitabh Bachchan and Kader Khan appeared together in 15 Hindi films between 1979 and 2006. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kaalia (1981 — 7.3/10). Films span Mr. Natwarlal (1979) through Family Ties of Blood (2006).
The Amitabh Bachchan & Kader Khan partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Hindi cinema. From Mr. Natwarlal (1979) to Family Ties of Blood (2006). The unfolded closed with Family Ties of Blood in 2006.
Kaalia is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Mr. Natwarlal (1979).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Mr. Natwarlal; the 2000s to Family Ties of Blood. Amitabh Bachchan acted in every film; Kader Khan acted in all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Kader Khan was actually a dialogue writer before he became an actor. Amitabh personally requested him to act in Do Aur Do Paanch (1980) because he wanted a villain who could match his own intensity with words.
- In Kaalia (1981), Kader Khan's character 'Jailor' was written specifically to be a verbal sparring partner for Amitabh. Khan would improvise long Urdu dialogues on set, and Amitabh would respond in real time — no retakes needed. The jail scene became the film's most replayed moment.
- The success of their pairing in Naseeb (1981) directly led to the trend of 'hero vs. villain with equal screen time' in 80s masala films. Before this, villains were mostly one-note. After Naseeb, writers started giving antagonists full backstories and comic timing — all because Kader Khan proved a villain could steal scenes from Amitabh.
- On the sets of Coolie (1983), Amitabh and Kader Khan would spend lunch breaks writing alternate dialogues for each other's scenes. They'd then perform both versions for the director — one serious, one comic. The director often picked the comic one.
- Kader Khan once said: 'Amitabh ne mujhe actor banaya. Woh mere dialogue sunte the, main unka acting dekhta tha. Hum dono ek doosre ke guru the.' (Amitabh made me an actor. He listened to my dialogues, I watched his acting. We were each other's gurus.)
15 films across 4 decades
The 1970s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.7/10.
The 1980s brought 7 films together, anchored by Kaalia (7.3/10).
The 1990s accounted for 5 films, averaging 5.2/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.7/10.
- Mr. Natwarlal
- Suhaag
- Kaalia
- Coolie
- Sooryavansham
- Hum
- Family Ties of Blood
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
15 films across 27 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Hindi being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
65% of Kader Khan's screen credits are with Amitabh Bachchan. After Family Ties of Blood, Amitabh Bachchan kept going for 59 more films; Kader Khan stepped back.
Mr. Natwarlal was Amitabh Bachchan's acting debut.
After Family Ties of Blood, Amitabh Bachchan went on to appear in 59 more films, including Pink (2016) and English Vinglish (2012).
Mr. Natwarlal was Kader Khan's acting debut.
After Family Ties of Blood, Kader Khan went on to appear in 8 more films, including Poster Boys (2017) and Hero (2015).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Amitabh Bachchan & Kader Khan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 6 people again and again — a small repertory company. Shakti Kapoor appears alongside them in 6 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Hindi director-actor duos
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