With just over seven feature films to his name, Kabir Khan has not only emerged as one of mainstream Bollywood’s most bankable directors but also one of its most diverse voices. From poignant narratives like Kabul Express and New York to melodramatic entertainers like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Ek Tha Tiger, here’s an ultimate list of the best Kabir Khan movies and a handy guide to stream them all.
Where can you stream Kabir Khan’s filmography?
Prime Video and Netflix are abundant in Kabir Khan movies to watch although Hotstar and Apple (only for renting) can be helpful at times. Apart from directing movies, Khan also helmed The Forgotten Army- Azaadi Ke Liye, a period military drama recounting the exploits of Indian National Army soldiers allied with Japanese forces in World War II. The single-season show is available to stream on Prime Video.
Kabul Express and New York: Kabir Khan’s Early Films
Kabir Khan loves taking on socio-political issues in the Indian subcontinent, a hallmark in his directing career that is evident from his earliest films Kabul Express and New York. The former is one of the most underrated Yash Raj Films productions to watch, exploring the journey of two Indian journalists traversing Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Instead of relying on stereotypical depictions of this conflict-ridden territory, Khan’s direction incorporated a more empathetic approach while addressing religious fundamentalism, humanised militants, and the current state of war reporting.
While not enduring as a commercial success, Kabul Express made Khan known among critics’ circles and gave way to his sophomore feature New York. Reuniting him with Kabul Express actor John Abraham and featuring Neil Nitin Mukesh and Katrina Kaif as co-leads, New York touched upon the Islamophobic racism faced by brown immigrants in a post-9/11 America. The film has only aged better with time.
From Tiger to Bajrangi: Kabir Khan’s Collaborations with Salman Khan
When it comes to minting box-office gold, Salman Khan has proven to be a lucky charm for Khan (the director). Tubelight is one exception with its mixed reviews but it was the two Khans’ collaboration Ek Tha Tiger that spawned the successful YRF Spy Universe franchise. The 2012 espionage thriller found Salman Khan playing an undercover spy who falls for his Pakistani counterpart (Katrina Kaif) in a high-stakes mission.
Kabir Khan’s second effort with the Bollywood megastar amped up the emotions with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, yet again touching upon cross-border peace as the titular Indian protagonist takes it upon himself to help a Pakistani girl reach her home.
'83 and Phantom: Continued Experimentation
Following the blockbuster legacy of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Khan is still not comfortable sticking to one formula. So, he revisited his multi-country shooting schedules and affinity for the spy genre with the terrorism-themed action thriller Phantom. His latest venture has been 2021’s sports drama ‘83 that recounts the Indian cricket team’s road to their first-ever World Cup victory. With Ranveer Singh playing the then-captain Kapil Dev and an ensemble of character actors as the rest of the men in blue, ‘83 showed Khan’s skills at helming biographical narratives.
Why is Bajrangi Bhaijaan Kabir Khan’s best movie to watch?
Offering a shockingly emotional turn by Salman Khan in the lead, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is Kabir Khan’s magnum opus for how well it captures all tropes of the director’s work. Instead of fixating on the enmity between the neighbouring countries of India and Pakistan, Khan offers a new hope with this tale of a gullible Indian man undertaking an arduous journey just so that a Pakistani girl can reunite with her parents. The movie further benefits greatly from Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s supporting act as a friendly Pakistani journalist and a tear jerking third act.
