Khiladi (1992)

I was in the mood for some old skool Akshay plus this film is directed by one of my favourite commercial hindi film directors Abbas Mustan, as usual with a Abbas- Mustan flick i had lots of fun watching this hilarious even if a bit silly 90's masala

Raj (Aksahy Kumar) and Bonny (Deepak Tijori) are pranksters who bet on numerous things with Raj winning mostly, his uncle Suresh (Shakti Kapoor) is a police officer and he urges Raj to be a more serious minded person

In college Raj meets and falls for Neelam (Ayesah Jhulka) who in typical filmi style is reluctant at first before falling head over heels for him


When Raj, Neelam, Bonny and Sheetal (all college friends) are caught in mischief Sheetal's father Kailashnath bails them out

Following this Raj the prankster whose ego needs a check comes up with a bet that he can make Sheetal's dad beg him

They pull up a prank and call Kailashnath (Prem Chopra) that Sheetal (Sabeeha) has been captured, and should he want her back alive he'd better give up 5 lakhs

Sheetal's Dad (Kailashnath) goes to the bank to get the money but the bank manager notice his nerves and he alerts the Police who somehow manage to draw a conclusion that kailashnath is being blackmailed

When Raj's uncle asks Raj about Sheetal he denies knowing anything. They get the money and on the way to get Sheeetal back to her dad, they find Sheetal's murdered body where they had left her

Who Killed Sheetal? Will Raj, Bonny & Neelam come clean and tell the cops about their pranks? How will they be punished for pulling such a prank? Will the killer ever be found?

As usual for most early '90's college set films, Khiladi is a fun, silly and enjoyable escapist fare from Abbas-Mustan in what i believe was their first major hit movie. This film had a vibrant youthful feel and energy and the comedy side plot wasn't too tedious. The suspense element is quite good too, i couldn't have guessed the killer

Other things about Khiladi i found exciting were the fun playful and sometimes romantic picturisatons

men dancing with giant ballons (one has to give a hand to bollywood for making this things look endearing)

men in minnie mouse masks

some dirty dancing style choreography

Men in Drag

Some hilarious fashion, i think i need to send this picture of Deepak Tijori in the two tone jeans to fugly bollywood


Akshay was fun in this, i find '90's Akshay so unaplogetic and so care free, although i like '00's Akshay as well i prefer 90's Akshay so much more, he just seems so manufactured now


Deepak Tijori was funny and comical too, he mostly produces movies these days, but I miss his 90's antics, he was one of my favourite things about 'Jo Jeeta Wohi sikander'


so was Ayesha Jhulka, she's so cute and endearing, does anyone have any news on her



The songs of Khiladi are indeed one of my favourite things about this movie, from the fun 'khudkho kya samajthi hai' which sounds like its inspired a bit by Nena's '99 red balloons' the joyful and highly euphoric kya khabat thi jana the romantic and sensual 'Dekha teri mast' ( check out the dirty dancing style chorography) and my favourite 'vada raha sanam' which just reminds me of how much i love Alka Yagnik



Total score: 6/10 ( Enjoyable 90's whodunnit masala)

Khiladi is available on Youtube with English Subtitles in 16 parts