Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)

Director:

Umesh Mehra

Writers:

Umesh Mehra (screenplay)
Umesh Mehra (story)

Release Date:

14 June 1996 (India)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Plot:

Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi is about the deadly game of survival in a ruthless world of crime & sleaze, Akshay...

Plot Keywords:

Gymnasium | Violence | Loyalty | Vengeance | Mud

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Rekha	...	Maya
Akshay Kumar	...	Akshay Malhotra
Raveena Tandon	...	Priya
Deven Verma
Anjana Mumtaz	...	Mtrs. Malhotra (Akshay's mom)
Tiku Talsania	...	Priya's uncle (as Tiku Talsaniya)
Kishore Anand Bhanushali	...	Ajay's friend (as Kishor Bhanusali)
Umesh Shukla
Jugnu
Dinesh Anand
Rakesh Sood
Anita Naik
Dolly Bindra	...	Bhagwanti
Gavin Packard		(as Gavin)
Gulshan Grover	...	King Don

Also Known As:

Players of the Game (International: English title) (informal literal title)

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi | English

Color:

Color

Certification:

India:A

Filming Locations:

Apollo Video & Audio, 7154 Airport Rd, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Company:

D.M.S. Films

Trivia:

Although the Undertaker character appears in this movie, it isn't actually the real Undertaker played by Mark Calaway, it is a lookalike.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Bade Dilwala (1999)

Possibly the best Indian action film!

Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi is a pleasure to watch. This is one of the best Indian action films, and who would be a better choice for the leading role in the film if not the action hero himself, Akshay Kumar? The film is well shot, with good cast, great and catchy songs, good camera work, relatively high production values and superb locations. It was quite racy and surprising in many aspects. First, the WWF sequences with real undertakers who make appearances throughout the film. Secondly, Rekha, in a completely different role. Thirdly, the unusual locations, including Canada and Russia. The film, in a brilliant mix of romance, comedy, thriller and of course action, tells the story of Akshay, an army officer who flies to USA for his brother's marriage. On his way he meets and falls for the beautiful Priya. He later finds out that his brother has disappeared, and the one responsible for this is a vicious and cruel criminal commonly known as Madam Maya, coincidentally Priya's sister. There starts the story of Akshay getting close to Maya.

This film is a complete entertainer. It never looks slow, it never bores. It's an interesting and compelling flick. The action sequences are terrific and evidently well-invested. Akshay Kumar, the film's main protagonist, is fantastic in this "angry young man" role, which he plays in his own special style. He is good-looking, impressive, and manages to combine toughness and sensibility very well. This is one of his most underrated works. Raveena is beautiful and gentle but does not really have much to do.

The film, however, entirely belongs to Rekha who is astonishing as the vicious and merciless Maya. She is convincing, intense, beautiful, glamorous, and kudos for the courage romancing the much younger Akshay. And boy, I'm still shocked when I get reminded of her explicit clip with Akshay Kumar, they mud-wrestled like heated animals, and then had a joint shower! They literally took a shower together! Akshay is so lucky man. She was sizzling and so sexually attractive, even at her forties. This actress never feared controversy, and here she is a complete winner!

All in all, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi is a must-watch. It represents the magic of Bollywood's 1990s cinema. Whether you're a Rekha fan, an Akki fan, a fan of action films, a fan of Bollywood films, or simply someone who likes good and entertaining films, you can't miss this film.