Khuda Gawah Audio Launch (1992): Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi's Bollywood epic

What a mammoth event it was for an epic film! Here are some rare snaps of the cast and crew of Khuda Gawah at the audio launch of the most ambitious Bollywood film of the 1990s. The paparazzi went berserk for the roster of celebrities that attended.

As large as it could be, there was no canvas big enough to behold the grandeur of Khuda Gawah, which at the time, had Bollywood's biggest names associated with it. From leading superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi, to the biggest director at the time Mukul Anand (who went on to win Best Director award for the film), the powerful musical combo of Laxmikant Pyarelal who often collaborated with lyricist Anand Bakshi. Between them, they have nearly 100 awards - if not more (we aren't counting - someone else can!). 

Tips audio was shaking up the musical (near-) monopoly that was led by HMV and T-Series and had grabbed the biggest film of the decade for its portfolio. The rhythmic title song, the melancholic Tu Na Ja Mere Baadshah and the dulcet duet Mere watan Mein were all chart-toppers.

At the event, with his suit and shades, Bachchan Snr was stylin' back in the day. The Khan troika was far, far away in the horizon and there was/is no one bigger than Big B. 

Queen of the marquee, Sridevi, dressed in a simple sari with her hair pulled back was as gracious as she could be. As overwhelming as she can be on the big-screen, she was as simple and down-to-earth off it. Notably shy and demure away from the arc lights, she preferred to shy away from the spot light when it came to events. Famously she shunned the party scene but would make rare, all too brief appearances at audio launches and premieres. 

Southern sensation Nagarjuna was stepping into the spot light in Bollywood, having stepped into a role left behind by Sanjay Dutt due to unforeseen circumstances.

The film released in the summer of '92 (8 May, 1992) and went on to find critical and box-office success.

Amitabh Bachchan, Ramesh and Kumar Taurani and Sridevi

Nagarjuna, Director Mukul Anand, Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, music director Laxmikant and lyricist Anand Bakshi

Features:

Amitabh Bachchan on shooting a Bollywood film in Afghanistan

Khuda Gawah reviewed by New York Times

High Praise for Sridevi by 'g' magazine: And the Award Goes to: Sridevi

A comprehensive collection of images from the film Khuda Gawah here.