Akshay Kumar & Aftab Shivdasani Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-02 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Akshay Kumar and Aftab Shivdasani appeared together in 3 Hindi films between 2002 and 2009. Their highest-rated collaboration was Awara Paagal Deewana (2002 — 5.9/10). Films span Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) through Kambakkht Ishq (2009).
The Akshay Kumar & Aftab Shivdasani partnership
From Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) to Kambakkht Ishq (2009). It started with Awara Paagal Deewana (2002).
The shape of the work
Akshay Kumar acted in every film; Aftab Shivdasani acted in all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Akshay Kumar personally recommended Aftab Shivdasani for the role of the sidekick in Awara Paagal Deewana (2002). The director Vikram Bhatt had not considered Aftab initially.
- In Kambakkht Ishq (2009), Akshay did most of the physical comedy and action, while Aftab handled the deadpan one-liners. They never stepped on each other's timing — Akshay set the pace, Aftab followed with dry reactions.
- Their only hit together, Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), directly inspired the 2004 Tamil remake 'Ghilli' — though that film swapped the comedy duo for a single hero. The original Hindi pair's chaotic energy was the blueprint.
- Aftab has said in interviews that Akshay treated him like a younger brother on set. During the Jaani Dushman (2002) shoot, Akshay would pull him aside and teach him how to throw a punch that looked real without hurting the other actor.
- Aftab Shivdasani once said: 'Akshay is the only co-star who would call me at 6 AM to rehearse a scene. He made me work harder than I ever had.'
3 films across 1 decade
- Awara Paagal Deewana
- Kambakkht Ishq
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 7 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Hindi being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Akshay Kumar had 47 films behind them; Aftab Shivdasani had 8. After Kambakkht Ishq, Akshay Kumar kept going for 64 more films; Aftab Shivdasani stepped back.
Before Awara Paagal Deewana, Akshay Kumar had starred in 47 films, including Hera Pheri (2000) and Khiladi (1992).
After Kambakkht Ishq, Akshay Kumar went on to appear in 64 more films, including Gabbar is Back (2015) and Gabbar is Back (2015).
Before Awara Paagal Deewana, Aftab Shivdasani had starred in 8 films, including Kasoor (2001) and Mast (1999).
After Kambakkht Ishq, Aftab Shivdasani went on to appear in 8 more films, including Mastiii 4 (2025) and 1920 - Evil Returns (2012).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Akshay Kumar & Aftab Shivdasani's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Amrita Arora is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
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