Boney Kapoor, Sridevi and Javed Akhtar: Javed saab turns 81!

Honouring a favourite writer, lyricist, poet and above all, notable wit, Javed Akhtar today. Born on 17 January 1945, he is renowned for his extensive work in Hindi cinema, has won five National Film Awards and a whopping 16 Filmfare Awards.

Honoured with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007, two of India's highest civilian honours, there are few, if any, mountains left to climb for the great writer and inspiration. I'm so glad new gen has discovered his immense talent and wit on social media, where his clips are viewed by millions.

Sridevi has known Javed saab since 1984 - he was at the mahurat of the Sridevi-Anil Kapoor film, Govinda, back in the early 1980s. The movie was never made but the team somehow morphed into  the cast and crew of the much-loved film Mr.India, which Javed Akhtar wrote. The writer also wrote the story, lyrics and screenplay of the ill-fated Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja. Well... no one's perfect. 

Our archive of images of Sridevi with Javed Akthar over the years here.

TBT: Javed Akhtar, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor: When Boney first met Sridevi

Jab they met: At the launch of the film Govinda, produced by Boney Kapoor back in 1984, here's the first official picture of Sridevi with Boney Kapoor together. Ever.  

The launch was epic... but the movie was never made. Instead, the Kapoors went on to make a little film called... Mr.India! 

In our vast archives, we think this is the first official picture we have of Sridevi and Boney Kapoor meeting as its the earliest one we could find. As film producer, Boney Kapoor was aware of the Sridevi phenomenon already as he had seen Tamil films with the star of the south in the late 70s. When Sridevi hit Bollywood with a bang in 1983, soon after, he signed her on. They went on to work in Mr.India, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Judaai and finally, Mom.  

Sridevi looks like a doll here - and look how young and thin writer/lyricist/poet Javed Akhtar looks. Between Boney Kapoor's cleavage and paunch, we don't know where to look....  

More stunning image of Sridevi at the launch here in earlier post.

Sridevi and Anil Kapoor's look for the film Govinda here.

Anil Kapoor and Sridevi's cover shoot for Stardust for the film here.

Flanked by men of power and influence; the sole superstar Sridevi

We have often seen this composition and set up in several pictures - many a time,  in the past five decades of Sridevi's life on set, she's very often one of the few women around. A line up of the movers and shakers of the film industry, almost always men, and the sole, singular sensation, Sridevi. 

Above: Sridevi flanked by the cast and crew of Mr.India back in 1986 - the film was released on 25 May 1987!

Below: At the grandiose premiere of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Sridevi in the centre with legends of Bollywood; L to R: Music director Laxmikant [of Laxmikant Pyarelal fame], film producer Boney Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, writer, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, Raaj Kumar and Anil Kapoor. 

Happy 75th Javed Akhtar! Sridevi the the writer and lyricist over the years

Born on January 17, 1945, writer and lyricist Javed Akthar turned 75 recently. He wrote a handful of movies with Sridevi as leading lady - in particular Roop Ki Rani, Choron Ka Raja.

He was a fan of her work and spoke highly of the actress on several occasions.

Above: The grand, ridiculously lavish premiere of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja from back in April 1993. L to R; Boney Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, Javed Akhtar, Raaj Kumar, Anil Kapoor and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.  

Above: Sridevi, Javed Akhtar and Rekha at the preview of the film Mom in 2017

The summer of 1987 with Mr India: The dawn of 1988 with Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja

Above: Rare picture from the lavish premiere of Mr India on 25 May 1987 - from L to R: Laxmikant, Shekhar Kapur, Javed Akhtar, Boney Kapoor (looking, smiling on at Sridevi!), Anil Kapoor and Sridevi.

Below: 25 weeks later, at the Silver Jubilee of the film, the launch of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. With Anil Kapoor and Sridevi and Shekhar Kapur.

Below: Rare clip of the title song and launch of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja with Anil Kapoor and Sridevi! 

Javed Akhtar's couplet for Sridevi, told to us by Amitabh Bachchan

T 2729 -

"रहने को सदा देहर में आता नहीं कोई
 तुम जैसे गये ऐसे भी जाता नहीं कोई"
~ कैफ़ि आज़मी.


 देहर - means .. the world .


Javed Akhtar narrated this sher to me at funeral of Sridevi .. said it was written at time of Guru Dutt demise ; but so appropriate for today ..



(R) Sridevi and Javed Akhtar at the premiere of Roop Ki Rani, Choron Ka Raja

Rare Pic: #TBT: Boney Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, Javed Akhtar, Raaj Kumar, Anil Kapoor and Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Boney Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, Javed Akhtar, Raaj Kumar, Anil Kapoor and Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Anil Kapoor had joked way back when, "Flop film, Superhit premier!" And he wasn't far off the mark. The opening night of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja was the most lavish affair to hit Mumbai - the turnout was stellar. We've been finding and archiving the images from that night for a while now. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the night was when Amitabh Bachchan brought Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit together in the same frame, but really, the entire night was the most photograph-able event of the year. Eg the above image, such a random collection of super stars from the Indian film industry; the producer, the actors, the writers, the directors, the lyricist... and of course, the diva. Sridevi, the singular sensation. The powerful leading lady, in a line-up of powerful men.

Sridevi at the mahurat (launch) of Govinda (1984) : Shelved from from the 80s in Bollywood

 

Sridevi at the launch of the film Govinda (with co-star Anil Kapoor, produced by Boney Kapoor!) back in 1984. The movie was launched before Mr.India but the project never took off, instead the film was scraped and the big-budget bonanza Mr.India came into fruition (and went on to become a classic).

The two even did a cover shoot for Stardust magazine with a new look for Sridevi and Anil Kapoor - see images from that shoot here.

At the launch, Sridevi met many people her illustrious career became entangled with. A young Javed Akhtar and Boney Kapoor flank her in the pics below. And a surprise appearance by producer/director Yash Chorpa at the launch had the industry abuzz.

Upon recommendation by Amitabh Bachchan, Yash Chopra had seen Sadma and been wanting to work with Sridevi since the mid '80s - he finally worked with her in 1988 in Chandni (the film was released in Sept 1989!)and then again in Lamhe of course. In several interviews he stated the greatest actress he's worked with has been Sridevi (actor, he said was Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan). The common thread all three superstars had, their ability to surprise him and a seemingly endless talent pool.

These images of Sridevi taken at the launch went viral in print and we've seen various photographs taken from that day in print in several media outlets. Wonder what this film was about... wonder what it could have been like on the big screen... Sridevi's village belle get-up, Anil Kapoor' tan, rough and rowdy look...

click to enlarge 

Click on any of the images below to enlarge

Sridevi and Anil Kapoor at MAMI 2015: The cast and crew of Mr India reunite: Discuss prospect of a sequel

The reunion of Mr India team on stage at MAMI 2015 was phenomenal! The cast and crew of the iconic Indian film met on stage after 27 years and the audience reaction brought down the house! When Anil Kapoor and Sridevi took the stage, the response was incredible. The beloved fantasy film - a firm favourite of innumerable children - was talked about at length. 

And the talks of Mr India 2, the highly anticipated sequel that's yet to launch, was brought up again. As producer Boney Kapoor pointed out, unless and until a solid script arises, the cast isn't stepping on set yet. And, Shekhar Kapur, the director was conspicuous in his absence. However, he did send a video taped message across for the team and the fans.

Boney Kapoor also said that it would be unlikely that Shekhar would direct the sequel as he's busy with other projects in Hollywood.