Starcast :- Akshay Kumar, Mamta Kulkarni, Avtar Gill, Mohnish Behl, Sudhir Dalvi and Sadashiv Amrapurkar Music :- Rajesh Roshan Director :...
Starcast :- Akshay Kumar, Mamta Kulkarni, Avtar Gill, Mohnish Behl, Sudhir Dalvi and Sadashiv Amrapurkar
Music :- Rajesh Roshan
Director :- Umesh Mehra
Released on 9th June 1995
Sabse Bada Khiladi (translated as The Biggest
Player), released in 1995, is a quintessential Bollywood action thriller that
solidified Akshay Kumar’s reputation as the "Khiladi" of Indian
cinema. Directed by Umesh Mehra and produced by Keshu Ramsay, this film marks
the third installment in the loosely connected *Khiladi* series, following
*Khiladi* (1992) and *Main Khiladi Tu Anari* (1994). With a stellar cast
including Mamta Kulkarni, Mohnish Behl, Gulshan Grover, and Sadashiv
Amrapurkar, the movie blends high-octane action, melodrama, and a twist-laden
plot, making it a cult favorite among 90s Bollywood enthusiasts. Notably, the
film’s story is adapted from the Hindi crime novel *Lallu* by Ved Prakash
Sharma, a popular pulp fiction writer whose work lent the screenplay its
suspenseful edge. A commercial success, it emerged as the sixth
highest-grossing Indian film of 1995, cementing its place in Bollywood history.
Storyline
The narrative of *Sabse Bada Khiladi* revolves
around Lallu (Akshay Kumar), an orphan raised by foster parents, who arrives in
Bombay seeking work. His life takes a dramatic turn when he saves the wealthy
businessman Jamna Das (Avtar Gill) from a near-fatal accident. Impressed by
Lallu’s loyalty—especially after he escorts Jamna Das’s wayward daughter Sunita
(Mamta Kulkarni) home from a nightclub without taking advantage of her—Jamna
Das decides Lallu should marry Sunita. However, Sunita, in love with Amit (Mohnish
Behl), rejects the idea. When Jamna Das dies of a heart attack, his will
stipulates that Sunita must marry Lallu to inherit his fortune. Reluctantly,
she complies but conspires with Amit to murder Lallu by poisoning him and
staging a car accident.
Enter Inspector Vijay Kumar, also played by Akshay
Kumar, a doppelgänger of Lallu, who takes on the case of Lallu’s suspicious
death. As the plot unravels, it’s revealed that Vijay and Lallu are the same
person—Vijay had faked his death as part of an elaborate plan to exact revenge
on Amar Singh (Sadashiv Amrapurkar), Amit’s father, who killed Vijay’s brother
and wronged his family years ago. The film builds to a climax filled with
deception, action, and courtroom drama, where Vijay outsmarts his adversaries,
proving himself the titular "Sabse Bada Khiladi." Adapted from Ved
Prakash Sharma’s *Lallu*, the story retains the novel’s suspenseful core but
infuses it with Bollywood’s masala flair, though it sacrifices some of the
book’s depth for cinematic spectacle.
Direction and Other Technical Departments
Umesh Mehra’s direction in *Sabse Bada Khiladi* is
a textbook example of 90s Bollywood commercial filmmaking—fast-paced,
over-the-top, and unapologetically entertaining. Mehra adeptly balances action
sequences with dramatic twists, though the narrative occasionally stumbles
under its own complexity. The film’s adaptation from the novel *Lallu* is
loose, prioritizing mass appeal over the layered storytelling of the source
material. While the novel unfolds gradually with shocking reveals, the movie
opts for a more immediate, action-driven approach, sometimes diluting the
suspense.
Technically, the film shines in its action
choreography, a highlight of Akshay Kumar’s early career. The stunts—many
performed by Kumar himself, including a notable helicopter-to-car jump—are
impressive for the era, showcasing his physical prowess. Cinematography by
Russi Billimoria captures the gritty Bombay backdrop and vibrant nightclub
scenes effectively, though it adheres to the standard visual style of the time.
Editing could have been tighter, as the 162-minute runtime feels bloated with
subplots and songs that occasionally disrupt the pacing. The screenplay, penned
by Ved Prakash Sharma himself, retains a pulpy charm but struggles to translate
the novel’s expansive canvas into a cohesive film.
Music and Performances
The soundtrack, composed by Rajesh Roshan, is a
mixed bag but features some memorable tracks that enhance the film’s masala
appeal. "Bharo Maang Meri Bharo," with its sampled beats from
Enigma’s "Mea Culpa," is a standout, blending Western influences with
Bollywood flair. "Mukaabla Mukaabla," inspired by A.R. Rahman’s
"Muqabla" from *Hum Se Hain Muqabla* (1994), is another energetic
number that became a chartbuster. However, songs like "Bholi Bhali Ladki"
feel like typical 90s fillers, adding little to the narrative beyond commercial
value.
Akshay Kumar delivers a charismatic dual
performance as Lallu and Vijay, effortlessly switching between the naive
simpleton and the cunning cop. His action-hero persona, already established by
1995, is in full force, and his charm carries the film through its weaker
moments. Mamta Kulkarni as Sunita is adequate, playing the scheming femme
fatale with conviction, though her role lacks depth. Mohnish Behl’s Amit is a
standard Bollywood villain—scheming but overshadowed by the more menacing Amar
Singh, portrayed by Sadashiv Amrapurkar. Amrapurkar’s over-the-top villainy,
complete with his oft-repeated "use your brain" line, is both hammy
and iconic, while Gulshan Grover’s Inspector Kekda adds a layer of sly menace.
Supporting actors like Avtar Gill and Sudhir Dalvi shine in smaller roles,
grounding the film’s exaggerated tone.
*Sabse Bada Khiladi* is a rollercoaster of 90s
Bollywood excess—packed with action, romance, and twists that keep you hooked,
even if they don’t always make sense. While it doesn’t fully capture the
brilliance of its source material, Ved Prakash Sharma’s *Lallu*, it succeeds as
a crowd-pleasing entertainer, thanks to Akshay Kumar’s star power and Umesh
Mehra’s flair for spectacle. It’s not a cinematic masterpiece, but it’s a
nostalgic gem that embodies the era’s unbridled energy. For fans of the *Khiladi*
series or vintage Bollywood, it’s a must-watch time capsule—flawed yet
irresistibly fun, proving that sometimes, the biggest player wins not through
subtlety, but sheer audacity.
-By Ayushmaan Mitra
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