Raj (Akshay Kumar) is never shy of taking up a daring challenge, usually from his best friend and college mate Bonny (Deepak Tijori). He has never lost a bet to anyone (hence the title of the movie, which means 'player').
Raj wagers with his friends Bonny, Neelam (Ayesha Jhulka) and Sheetal (Sabiha) that he can scare the wits out of Sheetal's father (Prem Chopra). The bet involves a fake kidnapping followed by a ransom call to Sheetal's father. The plan goes perfectly to the script until Sheetal gets murdered while the others are away from the cottage they have rented.
Needless to say the suspicion will inevitably fall on the three, once the police get wind of what happened. Can the friends unmask the real murderer before they are themselves turned in for murder?
A loose remake of the 1975 movie Khel Khel Mein (only the basic idea was borrowed), Khiladi is a gripping, edge of the seat thriller that keeps you guessing right until the very end. Unlike the vast majority of Hindi movies made in the 90s, this movie could hold its own in this day and age.
The music by Jatin-Lalit is another plus point. Nearly all the songs in the movie were immensely popular in the 90s. The passage of twenty odd years notwithstanding, they have aged pretty well.
On the downside is the fact that the movie takes well over an hour before getting down to business. You can divide the movie into two halves: the first half a rom-com and the second half a murder mystery- not unusual for Hindi movies of that era. It must also be said that the production values look pretty ordinary when viewed today, which was once again characteristic of Hindi cinema in that era.
Khiladi was the breakthrough movie for a hitherto little known young actor called Akshay Kumar. Ayesha Jhulka and Deepak Tijori- neither of whom enjoyed any significant success after Khiladi- are to this day remembered for being in this movie.
From the point of view of someone watching the movie today, its a good thriller. Keep your expectations low and you'll enjoy the journey.
Raj wagers with his friends Bonny, Neelam (Ayesha Jhulka) and Sheetal (Sabiha) that he can scare the wits out of Sheetal's father (Prem Chopra). The bet involves a fake kidnapping followed by a ransom call to Sheetal's father. The plan goes perfectly to the script until Sheetal gets murdered while the others are away from the cottage they have rented.
Needless to say the suspicion will inevitably fall on the three, once the police get wind of what happened. Can the friends unmask the real murderer before they are themselves turned in for murder?
A loose remake of the 1975 movie Khel Khel Mein (only the basic idea was borrowed), Khiladi is a gripping, edge of the seat thriller that keeps you guessing right until the very end. Unlike the vast majority of Hindi movies made in the 90s, this movie could hold its own in this day and age.
The music by Jatin-Lalit is another plus point. Nearly all the songs in the movie were immensely popular in the 90s. The passage of twenty odd years notwithstanding, they have aged pretty well.
On the downside is the fact that the movie takes well over an hour before getting down to business. You can divide the movie into two halves: the first half a rom-com and the second half a murder mystery- not unusual for Hindi movies of that era. It must also be said that the production values look pretty ordinary when viewed today, which was once again characteristic of Hindi cinema in that era.
Khiladi was the breakthrough movie for a hitherto little known young actor called Akshay Kumar. Ayesha Jhulka and Deepak Tijori- neither of whom enjoyed any significant success after Khiladi- are to this day remembered for being in this movie.
From the point of view of someone watching the movie today, its a good thriller. Keep your expectations low and you'll enjoy the journey.