Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi is a pleasure to watch. It is one of the best Indian action films, and who would be a better choice for the leading role in the film if not the action hero himself, Akshay Kumar? The film is well shot, well cast, with great and catchy songs, good camera work, relatively high production values and superb locations. It was quite racy and surprising in many aspects. First, the WWF sequences with real undertakers who make appearances throughout the film. Secondly, Rekha, in a completely different turn. Thirdly, the unusual locations, including Canada and Russia, which were quite refreshing for the times.
The film, in a good mix of romance, comedy, thriller and of course action, tells the story of Akshay, an army officer who flies to USA for his brother's marriage. On his way he meets and falls for the beautiful Priya. He later finds out that his brother has disappeared and is now probably held hostage, and the one responsible for this is a vicious and cruel criminal commonly known as Madam Maya, coincidentally Priya's sister. There starts the story of Akshay getting close to Maya, trying to gain her trust as an employee, all in order to reunite with his brother.
This film is complete entertainment. It moves at a very steady pace, it never bores, and is overall an interesting and highly enjoyable flick. The action sequences are terrific in comparison to the usual Hindi action fare of the times. The stunts as well as the players assigned to the action portions are really a rereshing change from the poor action in other films, despite the poor sound. Akshay Kumar, the film's main protagonist, is fantastic in this "angry young man" role, which he plays in his own special style. He is good-looking, charismatic, and proves yet again his superior prowess as an action star. This is one of his most underrated roles at that time. Raveena is beautiful and attractive but does not really have much to do other than be just that.
Despite being essentially a star vehicle for Kumar, the film entirely belongs to Rekha who is sizzling as the vicious Maya. Apart from her famous sex-appeal and beauty which there's plenty of here, she convincingly creates this stylish and glamorous persona of a merciless woman with a somewhat soft inside, and kudos for the courage romancing the much younger Akshay. And boy, I'm still shocked when I watch her rather steamy clip with Akshay where the two mud-wrestled like heated animals and went on having a joint shower (Akshay must be so lucky, man!). The erotic tension in this unconventional and otherwise embarrassing number shows this actress never feared controversy, and here she emerges as a complete winner.
All in all, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi is a must-watch. It encompasses some of the magic of Bollywood's 1990s cinema, which was otherwise really bad. Whether you're a Rekha fan, an Akki fan, a fan of action films, a fan of Hindi films, or simply someone who looks for entertainment, you shouldn't miss this film.
