Bobby Deol & Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Bobby Deol and Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla appeared together in 3 Hindi films between 2001 and 2012. Their highest-rated collaboration was Ajnabee (2001 — 6.2/10). Films span Ajnabee (2001) through Players (2012).
The Bobby Deol & Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla partnership
After 10 years apart, they came back together for Players (2012). They didn't share a set between 2002 and 2012. From Ajnabee (2001) to Players (2012).
It started with Ajnabee (2001).
The shape of the work
The 2000s belonged to Ajnabee; the 2010s to Players. Bobby Deol acted in every film; Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla directed all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Bobby Deol was not the first choice for Ajnabee (2001). Abbas-Mustan originally wanted a bigger star. Bobby auditioned and convinced them he could pull off the double role — a gamble that paid off when the film became a hit.
- On the set of Humraaz (2002), Abbas-Mustan let Bobby Deol improvise his villain's laugh. That unhinged cackle became the most memed part of the film — and Bobby later said the directors told him, 'You made the character scary without a single line change.'
- Because Ajnabee (2001) worked, Abbas-Mustan cast Bobby again in Humraaz (2002) — and that film's success directly led to the duo making Players (2012), a heist remake. Without those first two hits, Players never gets greenlit.
- Bobby Deol has said Abbas-Mustan treated him like family. After Humraaz, they would call him for dinner at their home even when no film was on the table. He still refers to them as 'my directors' in interviews.
- Bobby Deol once said about Abbas-Mustan: 'They gave me the most memorable roles of my career. Ajnabee and Humraaz — those films changed everything for me.'
3 films across 2 decades
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.8/10.
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.2/10.
- Ajnabee
- Humraaz
- Players
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 11 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Hindi being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
33% of Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla's screen credits are with Bobby Deol. After Players, Bobby Deol kept going for 16 more films; Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla stepped back.
Before Ajnabee, Bobby Deol had starred in 10 films, including Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997) and Dillagi (1999).
After Players, Bobby Deol went on to appear in 16 more films, including Animal (2023) and Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit (2025).
Before Ajnabee, Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla had directed 5 films, including Khiladi (1992) and Baazigar (1993).
After Players, Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla went on to direct 1 more film, including Race 2 (2013).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Bobby Deol & Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Bipasha Basu is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
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