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21 successful actor-director duos in Bollywood

Updated On: 18 August, 2019 03:31 PM IST |

Over the years, Bollywood has witnessed several examples of filmmakers working with select actors to bring out their best. On director Rohit Shetty`s birthday on March 14, here`s a look at successful actor-director duos!

Over the years, Bollywood has witnessed several examples of filmmakers working with select actors to bring out their best. On director Rohit Shetty`s birthday on March 14, here`s a look at successful actor-director duos!

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Over the years, Bollywood has witnessed several examples of filmmakers working with select actors to bring out their best. On director Rohit Shetty`s birthday on March 14, here`s a look at successful actor-director duos!

Ajay Devgn-Rohit Shetty: The director owes his success to Devgn in a big way. The actor has played central roles in Shetty`s action-packed blockbusters `Singham` and `Bol Bachchan`, apart from being part of all four `Golmaal` films and the cop-universe films - `Simmba` and `Sooryavanshi`. Even the relatively silly `All The Best` was a hit.

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Ajay Devgn-Rohit Shetty: The director owes his success to Devgn in a big way. The actor has played central roles in Shetty`s action-packed blockbusters `Singham` and `Bol Bachchan`, apart from being part of all four `Golmaal` films and the cop-universe films - `Simmba` and `Sooryavanshi`. Even the relatively silly `All The Best` was a hit.

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Sanjay Dutt-Rajkumar Hirani: The duo has collaborated in only two films, but the impact has been so significant that they ought to be included in the list. `Munna Bhai M.B.B.S` was a brilliant comedy with a poignant message while `Lage Raho Munna Bhai` was an incredibly heart-rending tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

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Sanjay Dutt-Rajkumar Hirani: The duo has collaborated in only two films, but the impact has been so significant that they ought to be included in the list. `Munna Bhai M.B.B.S` was a brilliant comedy with a poignant message while `Lage Raho Munna Bhai` was an incredibly heart-rending tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Salman Khan-Sajid Nadiadwala: Sajid Nadiadwala and Salman Khan have been the best of friends for over 20 years. So it isn`t surprising that when Sajid donned the director`s hat for the first time in `Kick`, he chose Salman to play the lead. The film went on to be a blockbuster and broke all box-office records in 2014. Their professional association dates back to 1996 when they first worked together in `Jeet`. From there on, Sajid has produced several films starring Salman like `Judwaa`, `Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega`, `Mujhse Shaadi Karogi` and `Jaan-E-Mann` and most recently `Kick`. The duo is said to reunite with the second instalment of Kick series.

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Salman Khan-Sajid Nadiadwala: Sajid Nadiadwala and Salman Khan have been the best of friends for over 20 years. So it isn`t surprising that when Sajid donned the director`s hat for the first time in `Kick`, he chose Salman to play the lead. The film went on to be a blockbuster and broke all box-office records in 2014. Their professional association dates back to 1996 when they first worked together in `Jeet`. From there on, Sajid has produced several films starring Salman like `Judwaa`, `Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega`, `Mujhse Shaadi Karogi` and `Jaan-E-Mann` and most recently `Kick`. The duo is said to reunite with the second instalment of Kick series.

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Govinda-David Dhawan: The `no. 1` actor-director jodi of Bollywood, Chi Chi and Dhawan gave innumerable comic super hits in the 90`s - `Aankhen`, `Raja Babu`, `Coolie No. 1`, `Hero No. 1`, `Deewana Mastana`, the list goes on. Critics may have panned some of the films, but the audiences lapped up the same without much contemplation.

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Govinda-David Dhawan: The `no. 1` actor-director jodi of Bollywood, Chi Chi and Dhawan gave innumerable comic super hits in the 90`s - `Aankhen`, `Raja Babu`, `Coolie No. 1`, `Hero No. 1`, `Deewana Mastana`, the list goes on. Critics may have panned some of the films, but the audiences lapped up the same without much contemplation.

Akshay Kumar-Priyadarshan: Akki and Priyadarshan are a potent force in the Hindi film industry. Starting with the all-time favourite `Hera Pheri`, they have collaborated in `Garam Masala`, `Bhagam Bhag`, `Bhool Bhulaiyaa` and `De Dana Dan`, most of which did well at the box office.

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Akshay Kumar-Priyadarshan: Akki and Priyadarshan are a potent force in the Hindi film industry. Starting with the all-time favourite `Hera Pheri`, they have collaborated in `Garam Masala`, `Bhagam Bhag`, `Bhool Bhulaiyaa` and `De Dana Dan`, most of which did well at the box office.

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Shah Rukh Khan-Yash Chopra: The legendary director eked out three of SRK`s best ever performances - the dangerously obsessed lover in `Darr`, the eternal romantic in `Dil To Pagal Hai` and the unconditional lover in `Veer-Zaara.` Not only this, the director made his last film Jab Tak Hai Jaan starring Shah Rukh Khan, and the credits shared the montage of the director.

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Shah Rukh Khan-Yash Chopra: The legendary director eked out three of SRK`s best ever performances - the dangerously obsessed lover in `Darr`, the eternal romantic in `Dil To Pagal Hai` and the unconditional lover in `Veer-Zaara.` Not only this, the director made his last film Jab Tak Hai Jaan starring Shah Rukh Khan, and the credits shared the montage of the director.

Shah Rukh Khan-Karan Johar: SRK and KJo gave mush a new meaning in Bollywood. Their romantic and closely-knit family films became the trend of the 2000s. `Kuch Kuch Hota Hai`, `Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham` and `Kal Ho Naa Ho` all won audience appreciation. In contrast, the much more serious `My Name Is Khan` got mixed reviews, but was still a major success.

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Shah Rukh Khan-Karan Johar: SRK and KJo gave mush a new meaning in Bollywood. Their romantic and closely-knit family films became the trend of the 2000s. `Kuch Kuch Hota Hai`, `Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham` and `Kal Ho Naa Ho` all won audience appreciation. In contrast, the much more serious `My Name Is Khan` got mixed reviews, but was still a major success.

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Salman Khan-Sooraj Barjatya: The alliance that gave birth to one of Bollywood's most lovable characters ' aptly titled Prem ' Barjatya and Salman gave us all-time classics like 'Maine Pyar Kiya' and 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', with an amalgamation of romance and family bonding. Even though 'Hum Saath-Saath Hain' paled in comparison, it was a big hit in itself. The team reunited for 'Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo' which saw Sonam Kapoor as the female lead.

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Salman Khan-Sooraj Barjatya: The alliance that gave birth to one of Bollywood's most lovable characters ' aptly titled Prem ' Barjatya and Salman gave us all-time classics like 'Maine Pyar Kiya' and 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', with an amalgamation of romance and family bonding. Even though 'Hum Saath-Saath Hain' paled in comparison, it was a big hit in itself. The team reunited for 'Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo' which saw Sonam Kapoor as the female lead.

Sunny Deol-Rajkumar Santoshi: Some of Sunny`s best works came under Santoshi`s direction. Action flicks like `Ghayal` and `Ghatak` firmly established Sunny as the macho man of Bollywood while his power-packed performance as the lawyer in `Damini` brought his numerous accolades.

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Sunny Deol-Rajkumar Santoshi: Some of Sunny`s best works came under Santoshi`s direction. Action flicks like `Ghayal` and `Ghatak` firmly established Sunny as the macho man of Bollywood while his power-packed performance as the lawyer in `Damini` brought his numerous accolades.

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Anil Kapoor-Subhash Ghai: They teamed together for a number of power-packed films in the mid and late `80s. `Meri Jung`, the multi-starrer `Karma` and `Ram Lakhan`, all were big hits. In the late `90s, they did `Taal` again. Although this time Kapoor was in a supporting role, that fact was that the film was a big hit.

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Anil Kapoor-Subhash Ghai: They teamed together for a number of power-packed films in the mid and late `80s. `Meri Jung`, the multi-starrer `Karma` and `Ram Lakhan`, all were big hits. In the late `90s, they did `Taal` again. Although this time Kapoor was in a supporting role, that fact was that the film was a big hit.

Ajay Devgn-Prakash Jha: The actor-director duo was part of hard-hitting dramas like `Gangajaal` and `Apaharan` before both went their separate ways due to differences that cropped up during `Raajneeti`.

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Ajay Devgn-Prakash Jha: The actor-director duo was part of hard-hitting dramas like `Gangajaal` and `Apaharan` before both went their separate ways due to differences that cropped up during `Raajneeti`.

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Sanjeev Kumar-Gulzar: Their intense combination delivered classics like Koshish, Aandhi, `Mausam` and `Namkeen`. To prove their versatility, their joined hands for `Angoor` and the result was Bollywood`s best ever comedy.

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Sanjeev Kumar-Gulzar: Their intense combination delivered classics like Koshish, Aandhi, `Mausam` and `Namkeen`. To prove their versatility, their joined hands for `Angoor` and the result was Bollywood`s best ever comedy.

Amitabh Bachchan-Prakash Mehra: If not for Mehra, Big B wouldn`t be what he is today. If `Zanjeer` gave birth to the angry young man, `Muqaddar Ka Sikander`, `Laawaris` and `Sharaabi` consolidated his position as a superstar. Mehra exploited Amitabh`s comic talent to the hilt as well in the evergreen `Namak Halaal`.

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Amitabh Bachchan-Prakash Mehra: If not for Mehra, Big B wouldn`t be what he is today. If `Zanjeer` gave birth to the angry young man, `Muqaddar Ka Sikander`, `Laawaris` and `Sharaabi` consolidated his position as a superstar. Mehra exploited Amitabh`s comic talent to the hilt as well in the evergreen `Namak Halaal`.

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Amitabh Bachchan-Manmohan Desai: If Mehra made Big B the angry young man, Desai turned him into the funny young man, retaining his serious tone wherever needed. Desai`s typical masala movies like Amar Akbar Anthony, Suhaag and Naseeb complemented Big Bs hard-hitting roles, turning him into a versatile superstar.

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Amitabh Bachchan-Manmohan Desai: If Mehra made Big B the angry young man, Desai turned him into the funny young man, retaining his serious tone wherever needed. Desai`s typical masala movies like Amar Akbar Anthony, Suhaag and Naseeb complemented Big Bs hard-hitting roles, turning him into a versatile superstar.

Rajesh Khanna-Hrishikesh Mukherjee: Take out `Anand`, `Bawarchi` and `Namak Haraam`, and Kaka`s work as an actor loses significant weight. It was thanks to Hrishida`s sensitive films with social messages that Khanna is today remembered amongst India`s finest actors in spite of a career that went awry after a bright start.

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Rajesh Khanna-Hrishikesh Mukherjee: Take out `Anand`, `Bawarchi` and `Namak Haraam`, and Kaka`s work as an actor loses significant weight. It was thanks to Hrishida`s sensitive films with social messages that Khanna is today remembered amongst India`s finest actors in spite of a career that went awry after a bright start.

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Rajesh Khanna-Shakti Samanta: The credit for giving birth to India`s first superstar must go to Samanta among others. With a mix of romance, melodrama and unforgettable songs in `Aradhana`, `Kati Patang` and `Amar Prem`, Khanna became a never-before-seen (and never-after-seen) phenomenon in Hindi cinema.

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Rajesh Khanna-Shakti Samanta: The credit for giving birth to India`s first superstar must go to Samanta among others. With a mix of romance, melodrama and unforgettable songs in `Aradhana`, `Kati Patang` and `Amar Prem`, Khanna became a never-before-seen (and never-after-seen) phenomenon in Hindi cinema.

Shatrughan Sinha-Subhash Ghai: At a time when both were struggling, Sinha and Ghai proved to be equally lucky for each other. The two combined to deliver action-packed blockbusters like `Kalicharan` and `Vishwanath` and went on to become big names in Bollywood.

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Shatrughan Sinha-Subhash Ghai: At a time when both were struggling, Sinha and Ghai proved to be equally lucky for each other. The two combined to deliver action-packed blockbusters like `Kalicharan` and `Vishwanath` and went on to become big names in Bollywood.

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Dev Anand-Vijay Anand: The brothers forged a formidable alliance in a number of films. `Guide` was undoubtedly their best work together, but `Jewel Thief` and `Johny Mera Naam` were highly successful ventures as well.

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Dev Anand-Vijay Anand: The brothers forged a formidable alliance in a number of films. `Guide` was undoubtedly their best work together, but `Jewel Thief` and `Johny Mera Naam` were highly successful ventures as well.

Sunil Dutt-B.R. Chopra: B.R. Films is noted for making socially relevant films, and Dutt was the face of Chopra`s best movies. Be it `Sadhna`, where a prostitute and professor fall in love, `Gumrah`, which deals with the woes of a married woman entangled between her feelings for her lover and her duty towards her family or the murder mystery `Hamraaz`, the Dutt-Chopra combo hit bullseye each time.

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Sunil Dutt-B.R. Chopra: B.R. Films is noted for making socially relevant films, and Dutt was the face of Chopra`s best movies. Be it `Sadhna`, where a prostitute and professor fall in love, `Gumrah`, which deals with the woes of a married woman entangled between her feelings for her lover and her duty towards her family or the murder mystery `Hamraaz`, the Dutt-Chopra combo hit bullseye each time.

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Shammi Kapoor-Shakti Samanta: Films like `Kashmir Ki Kali`, `An Evening in Paris`, and `Pagla Kahin Ka` gave a major fillip to Shammi`s romantic hero image. Undoubtedly, their alliance was among the more memorable ones in Indian cinema.

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Shammi Kapoor-Shakti Samanta: Films like `Kashmir Ki Kali`, `An Evening in Paris`, and `Pagla Kahin Ka` gave a major fillip to Shammi`s romantic hero image. Undoubtedly, their alliance was among the more memorable ones in Indian cinema.

Amol Palekar-Hrishikesh Mukherjee: This feature will be incomplete without this combo even though Palekar never became a `Superstar`. Clean comedies like `Gol Maal`, `Naram Garam` and `Rang Birangi` continue to entertain us every time we watch them. They don`t make it like that anymore.

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Amol Palekar-Hrishikesh Mukherjee: This feature will be incomplete without this combo even though Palekar never became a `Superstar`. Clean comedies like `Gol Maal`, `Naram Garam` and `Rang Birangi` continue to entertain us every time we watch them. They don`t make it like that anymore.

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