His earlier films in the 1980s were in a variety of genres such as family drama, action and romance. In the 1990s, he gained recognition as a comic actor after playing a mischievous young NCC cadet in the romantic movie Shola Aur Shabnam (1992) opposite the late Divya Bharti. He played leading roles in several commercially successful comedy films in the 1990s such as Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Hero No. 1 (1997) and Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999). He received the Filmfare Best Comedian Award for Haseena Maan Jayegi and Filmfare Special Award for Saajan Chale Sasural. He has successfully played dual roles in several movies like Jaan Se Pyaara (1992), Aankhen (1993), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) and Anari No.1 (1999). Apart from double roles, he has also successfully played six roles of his own family in Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000), one being Raju and others being Raju's mom, Raju's dad, Raju's sister, Raju's Grandmother and Raju's Grandfather.