Dharmendra & Rajkumar Kohli Movies Together List — 7 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Dharmendra and Rajkumar Kohli appeared together in 7 Hindi films between 1982 and 1992. Their highest-rated collaboration was Naukar Biwi Ka (1983 — 6.5/10). Films span Badle Ki Aag (1982) through Virodhi (1992).
The Dharmendra & Rajkumar Kohli partnership
From Badle Ki Aag (1982) to Virodhi (1992). The played out closed with Virodhi in 1992. It started with Badle Ki Aag (1982).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 86% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Naukar Biwi Ka; the 1990s to Virodhi. Dharmendra acted in every film; Rajkumar Kohli directed all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Dharmendra and Rajkumar Kohli first teamed up for 'Naukar Biwi Ka' (1983) only because Kohli's regular leading man, Shashi Kapoor, was unavailable. Kohli later admitted he was nervous about directing the 'He-Man' — but Dharmendra showed up on set without any starry airs and even helped fix the lighting.
- On the set of 'Jeene Nahi Doonga' (1984), Dharmendra would deliberately flub his lines in the first take to make Kohli laugh and loosen up. Kohli, known for his tense, perfectionist style, told a trade magazine that Dharmendra's playful energy was the only thing that stopped him from having a heart attack on set.
- Their 1984 film 'Raaj Tilak' was the first Hindi movie to feature a full-fledged item number by a South Indian actress (Silk Smitha). That song, 'Maine Tujhe Pa Liya', directly inspired the trend of 'south bombshell' dance numbers in Bollywood throughout the late 80s.
- After every film wrap, Kohli would gift Dharmendra a gold ring with the film's title engraved inside. Dharmendra wore all six rings stacked on his right hand during the 1993 premiere of 'Virodhi' — the last time they worked together.
- Rajkumar Kohli once said: 'Dharam ji was my lucky charm. Even when the scripts were weak, he would stand in front of the camera and make the audience believe they were watching a classic. I owe my career to his shoulders.'
- In 'Insaniyat Ke Dushman' (1987), Dharmendra insisted on doing his own stunts despite Kohli's protests. After Dharmendra sprained his ankle during a fight scene, Kohli rewrote the climax to have him fight sitting on a throne — turning a limitation into one of the film's most iconic images.
7 films across 2 decades
The 1980s accounted for 6 films, averaging 5.2/10.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 3.5/10.
- Naukar Biwi Ka
- Raaj Tilak
- Virodhi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
7 films across 10 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Hindi being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
58% of Rajkumar Kohli's screen credits are with Dharmendra. After Virodhi, Dharmendra kept going for 54 more films; Rajkumar Kohli stepped back.
Before Badle Ki Aag, Dharmendra had starred in 12 films, including Cinema Cinema (1979) and Krodhi (1981).
After Virodhi, Dharmendra went on to appear in 54 more films, including Johnny Gaddar (2007) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).
Before Badle Ki Aag, Rajkumar Kohli had directed 2 films, including Jaani Dushman (1979) and Muqabla (1979).
After Virodhi, Rajkumar Kohli went on to direct 3 more films, including Qahar (1997) and Jaani Dushman: (2002).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Dharmendra & Rajkumar Kohli's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Anita Raj is the through-line — cast on 4 of their 7 films. Anita Raj appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead. They worked with the same 7 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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Other iconic Hindi director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
