Some of his notable films as lead hero were "Ab Kya Hoga, Khan Dost, Yaaraon Ka Yaar, Dillagi, Vishwanath, Muqabla" and "Jaani Dushman". He then became a bankable action hero from early eighties to mid-nineties. He co-starred with Sanjeev Kumar in "Bereham, Hathkadi, Bad Aur Badnaam, Chehre Pe Chehra, Hirasat" and "Qatl". He starred in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's "Naram Garam", Brij's "Bombay 405 Miles" and "Taqdeer". He has sung the song "Ek Baat Suni Hai Chachaji" with singer Sushma Shrestha in the film "Naram Garam" in 1981, composed by R. D. Burman. However, when his films as lead hero like Prakash Mehra's "Jawalamukhi", Amjad Khan's "Chor Police", "Ameer Aadmi Garib Aadmi" and Raj Khosla's "Mera Dost Meraa Dushman" became flops, despite being appreciated by critics, there was threat to his career as lead hero. He also produced and acted in the film "Kalka", based on life of coal mine workers, released in 1983.