When Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff redefined bromance with their first film together

In the fickle world of Bollywood, finding bonds of lifetime is really scarce. But there have been certain camaraderies that started on screen and lasted beyond that too. One such bond existed in the period of the 80s and early 90s, and exists even today, between two reigning stars of that time. And the stars were Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. Both of them had arrived as leading heroes in Hindi films in the same year 1983, and went on to work together in many memorable films like ‘Parinda’, ‘Karma’, ‘Yudh’, ‘Kala Bazaar’, ‘Ram Lakhan’ and ‘1942: A Love Story’. But, did you know was this ultimate bromantic jodi first worked together? Or rather, when did we see the magic of the camaraderie unfold for the first time, on the big screen? It was in the 1984 released film ‘Andar Baahar’. And it was today, on September 7, that the movie first hit the screens, and we got to witness the magic of Anil and Jackie’s chemistry, on the screens.

Talking about the film, it was loosely based on the 1982 Hollywood action comedy ‘48 Hrs.’, and was directed by Raj N Sippy. The plot of ‘Andar Baahar’ showed an honest police officer Ravi Khanna, who gets permission to release a criminal named Raja, and take him in his custody, so that he may help Raja track down another notorious and dangerous criminal Shera, who had killed Ravi’s friend and close associate Ajay Sahani. While, Jackie played the role of police officer Ravi, the ‘jhakaas’ Anil played the role of a flirtatious and expert safe-cracker Raja. Their chemistry and bromance which took place in the duration of them trying to nab Shera, became the highlight of the movie and went on to win the audiences. (Also Read: When Anil Kapoor’s acting tips turned into his loss, and Jackie Shroff’s gain)

During the time their feud turned into a friendship, in the movie, the audience had got a jodi that would go on to be remembered for their onscreen and off-screen bromance.

Later, they continued to share screen space in many films that indeed delighted their fans and admirers out there. The duo was last seen together in ‘Shootout at Wadala’ where Jackie played a cameo role of a Police Commissioner and his scene was with the character of ACP Afaaque Baaghran, played by Anil Kapoor. Even in the animated film ‘Mahabharat’, both of them had given their voice-overs for the characters of Duryodhana and Karna, who were also best friends in the epic.

Till date, both Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff have remained the best of friends. Indeed, this date is a special one. It kickstarted one of the best onscreen camaraderies. We just wish we see the two of them together in a movie, again.

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.