Classic Bollywood films starring the magnificent duo Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna

Generations of performers and filmmakers have been inspired by the great performances of Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan.

Showbiz

By Sneha Sengupta On May 30, 2024

The films starring Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna highlight their on-screen talents. With their exceptional talent and captivating on-screen personas, the two legendary personalities of Indian film have left an enduring impression on the business. Often dubbed the “Shahenshah of Bollywood,” Amitabh Bachchan is praised for his powerful performances and rich baritone voice. Famed for his sophisticated style and adaptable acting, Vinod Khanna has been a cherished celebrity in his own right.

These are the top nine films starring Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna that epitomize the golden age of Bollywood

Amar Akbar Anthony

Three separated brothers—Hindu (Amar, played by Vinod Khanna), Muslim (Akbar), and Christian (Anthony, played by Amitabh Bachchan)—are brought up in different religious faiths in this classic comedy. They reunite as adults, navigate amusing circumstances because of their differing religious backgrounds, and seek for retribution.

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar

Bollywood action drama Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) stars Amitabh Bachchan as Sikandar, an orphan raised in Mumbai’s slums who works for a wealthy man and develops feelings for his daughter (played by Rakhee). A rival love interest is portrayed by Vinod Khanna. With themes of love, class, and fate, the movie is loosely based on Devdas and Cyrano de Bergerac.

Batwara

Bollywood action drama Batwara (1989) is set against the backdrop of social upheaval in India following independence. It narrates the tale of the strained friendship between an aristocrat named Vikram (Vinod Khanna) and a lower caste police officer named Dharmendra. After his brother was killed by peasants, Vikram seeks retribution, while the policeman works to protect the law. Though not a major character in the movie, Bachchan makes a cameo appearance.

Parvarish

Beside his own troublesome son, a policeman raises the son of a bandit who was captured by him. Amit, the adopted son who grows up to become a moral police officer, is portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan years later. The actor Vinod Khanna plays Kishen, the biological son of the officer, who joins his true father’s gang without realizing it and descends into a life of crime. The big showdown will come when Amit has to face his own brother.

Zameer

In the action-drama film Zameer (1975), a young prince who was abducted is returned years later, but the king is unsure of who he is. Vinod Khanna plays the king’s biological son, and Amitabh Bachchan plays the prince who battles for acceptance. A complicated family dynamic results from romance as the prince develops feelings for the king’s daughter.

Reshma Aur Shera

Despite the infamous rivalry between their families, Reshma (Waheeda Rehman) and Shera (Sunil Dutt) find love in the 1971 film Reshma Aur Shera. Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan play supporting parts, probably as members of their respective families entangled in the drama. The destructive nature of family disputes and star-crossed lovers are two topics that are explored in the movie.

Hera Pheri

One of Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna’s best films from 1976 is Hera Pheri, a masala film that stars two best friends who also happen to be petty criminals, Vijay and Ajay. When a long-kept secret from their history surfaces, their friendship breaks down and they become sworn rivals. The movie takes advantage of Bachchan’s comedic timing and the actors’ burgeoning prominence by combining action and romance.

Kunwara Baap

In the comedy-drama Kunwara Baap (1974), Mahesh (Mehmood), a destitute rickshaw puller, adopts an abandoned infant. The child’s polio diagnosis throws the movie into a severe spiral. Mahesh nurtures the boy in spite of the difficulties.

Guddi

The 1971 film Guddi tells the coming-of-age tale of Kusum, a schoolgirl who becomes fixated on Dharmendra, the movie star. Her uncle calls Dharmendra to have a reality check because of her shenanigans and lack of desire in an arranged marriage. The movie was Jaya Bachchan’s career breakthrough. The film’s charm was enhanced by Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna’s uncredited cameo cameos alongside other Bollywood celebrities.