After a 14-year hiatus, the dynamic duo of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan is set to reunite for the upcoming project 'Bhooth Bangla', rekindling excitement among fans. In a recent interview, Priyadarshan expressed concerns over meeting the audience's expectations with 'Bhooth Bangla,' given that his past films with Akshay have been major successes. As we await their next collaborative venture, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of their most iconic and entertaining partnerships.

Akshay and Priyadarshan's past collaborations have yielded some of Bollywood's most beloved comedies, showcasing their unmatched chemistry and flair for crafting unforgettable stories. Interestingly, all their successful collaborations have one more element in common - they all have Paresh Rawal in an important role. Here are their most memorable on-screen triumphs:

‘Hera Pheri’ (2000):

The iconic comedy drama marked the first collaboration between Akshay and Priyadarshan. Along with Akshay, the film also starred Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal in the leading roles, with Akshay and Suniel as tenants Raju and Shyam, while Paresh was seen playing landlord Babu Bhaiya’s role. ‘Hera Pheri’ opened to a lukewarm response, only to gain traction later, and became a sleeper hit. It received widespread acclaim for all its elements, especially for the comic timing of Akshay and Paresh.

‘Garam Masala’ (2005):

Five years after ‘Hera Pheri’, the actor-director duo reunited for another comedy brilliance, titled ‘Garam Masala’. Featuring John Abraham and Akshay in the lead, the movie is about two photographer friends, Mac and Sam, who enjoy flirting with multiple women. The supporting cast included Paresh, Rimi Sen, and Neha Dhupia. ‘Garam Masala’ is a Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s Malayalam film ‘Boeing Boeing’, which itself was a remake of an English movie of the same name.

‘Bhagam Bhag’ (2006):

Featuring Govind, Akshay, and Paresh in the leading roles, ‘Bhagam Bhag’ is another successful venture of Akshay and Priyadarshan. Also starring Lara Dutta, Rajpal Yadav, Arbaaz Khan, Jackie Shroff, Shakti Kapoor, Razak Khan, Manoj Joshi, Sharat Saxena and Asrani, the film made a collection of over Rs. 67 crore. Adapted from the subplot of a Malayalam movie titled ‘Mannar Mathai Speaking’, ‘Bhagam Bhag’ received mixed reviews upon its release but has gained cult status over the years.

‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ (2007):

After ‘Hera Pheri’ the most loved film of Akshay and Priyadarshan is the 2007 horror comedy ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’. Also starring Vidya Balan and Shiney Ahuja, apart from Vikram Gokhale, Ameesha Patel, Paresh, Rajpal, and others, it is a remake of Malayalam director Fazil’s film ‘Manichitrathazhu’. It earned nearly Rs. 83 crore at the box office. Just like ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ has also been developed into a franchise.

‘De Dana Dan’ (2009): 

Akshay and Priyadarshan’s last work together was ‘De Dana Dan’. The film is said to be partially adapted from Hollywood’s 2000 film ‘Screwed’ while some parts of it have also been adapted from Priyadarshan’s Malayalam movie ‘Vettam’ which was released in 2004. ‘De Dana Dan’ earned Rs. 82 crore, becoming a moderate success.