The 1992 film Khiladi marked a significant success for the director duo.
Director duo Abbas-Mustan shaped the career of many stars with their suspense thriller films like Khiladi, Aitraaz, Baazigar, Race and Ajnabee.
Many stars in Bollywood have risen to fame through different paths, some due to their family connections, while others through immense struggle. Iconic actors from Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra to Akshay Kumar and Shahrukh Khan have captivated audiences with their talents over the years. However, the directors behind these stars’ films also have fascinating stories. A famous director duo shaped the careers of many stars with their suspense thriller films like Khiladi, Aitraaz, Baazigar, Race and Ajnabee, among others.
Here we are talking about the director duo Abbas-Mustan, who is believed to have collaborated for over six decades, contributing to the stardom of many actors. While you may be familiar with Abbas and Mustan, you might not know that they have a third brother named Hussain. The elder brothers shined together in Bollywood whereas the younger brother stayed away from the limelight.
Abbas-Mustan played a pivotal role in giving many hit films for four actors in the industry— Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Bobby Deol, and Akshaye Khanna. Akshay Kumar’s Khiladi marked the turning point in his career, while Shah Rukh Khan’s luck shined with Baazigar. Both Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna have been frequent collaborators in their films.
Moreover, they’ve not only been consistent in shaping male actors’ careers but have also launched actresses like Shilpa Shetty, Bipasha Basu, and Preity Zinta through their films. Abbas-Mustan’s signature suspense thriller films are etched in people’s memories for their iconic scenes, memorable villains, and plot twists.
It’s interesting to note that Abbas, Mustan, and Hussain all hail from Surat, Gujarat. Their full names are Abbas Burmawala and Mustan Burmawala. The ‘Burmawala’ surname originated from their grandfather, who was originally from Burma (Myanmar) and had a furniture business. Eventually, he migrated to India and settled here. Upon their arrival in Mumbai with their father, Abbas and Mustan began living in a small apartment in Colaba, where they also ventured into the furniture business.
Abbas-Mustan faced significant challenges during their childhood when their father’s brother deceived them in a business deal, leaving their family with problems. Due to their family’s difficult circumstances, Abbas discontinued his education after the 9th grade and took on the responsibility of supporting his family. Abbas initially began his career in film editing, and over time, his work gained recognition. The turning point came when both brothers collaborated as assistant directors during the making of the film Ganga Ki Saugandh. This experience opened doors for them, and in 1985, Abbas got the opportunity to direct a Gujarati film. Subsequently, all three brothers joined forces with Abbas and Mustan directing films, and the youngest brother, Hussain, taking on the role of film editor.