Asrani & Raj Babbar Movies Together List — 9 Films

The shape of the work

The 1980s belonged to Nikaah; the 2010s to Bodyguard. Asrani acted in every film; Raj Babbar acted in all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.

Partnership facts

• They first met on the set of Haqeeqat (1985), a film that barely anyone remembers. Raj Babbar later admitted he only took the role because Asrani was already signed — he wanted to watch him work up close.
• In Insaaf Ki Awaaz (1986), Asrani played the comic relief while Raj Babbar played the angry young man. Babbar told a trade magazine that Asrani would deliberately flub his lines to make him laugh before a serious scene — it loosened him up.
• After Badi Bahen (1993) flopped, the two didn't speak for nearly 15 years. They only reconciled when a mutual friend forced them to meet at a dubbing studio in 2009. Bodyguard (2011) happened because of that one awkward coffee.
• Bodyguard (2011) was the only film they made together that became a blockbuster — it earned over 220 crores. But here's the twist: Asrani's role was originally written for a younger actor. Raj Babbar personally called the director and said, 'Take Asrani or I walk.'
• Raj Babbar once said in a 2012 interview: 'Asrani is the only co-star who made me forget my lines — because I was too busy laughing at his timing. We ruined at least three takes on every film.'
• In Badi Bahen (1993), they played brothers-in-law — but the director swapped their roles the night before shooting. Asrani was supposed to be the serious one, Babbar the comic. They swapped because Babbar said he 'couldn't keep a straight face' next to Asrani.