Sridevi on the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin

 

Beautiful Sridevi on the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin 

The tragedy of this film -- and there are several tragic moments throughout  -- it could have been a rockin' comedy, alas was hastily released (even with a 10 year delay!) without proper editing or completion. Sridevi and Akshay Kumar could have reworked this into something magical. But but but... 

Sridevi in court! On the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin

 Sridevi in court! On the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin 

Happy Birthday Akshay Kumar: Superstar turns 54 today

 

It's Akshay Kumar's 54the birthday today - although celebrations are notably absent this year as he lost his mother earlier this week. 

Seen here with his favourite Indian actress Sridevi, from a promotional shoot for the film Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin back in early 1994. 

Akshay was just four years younger than Sridevi but the two tall stars looked so good together in the publicity stills.  She matched his height, he tried to match her stature. At the time, Sridevi was the reigning queen of Bollywood while Akshay was just four years in the industry, riding the wave of Khiladi success. And what a player he ended up being; one of the highest earning stars of his time now. Like she was in hers. 

TBT: Sridevi on the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin 1994

 

TBT: Sridevi on the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin back 1994

Such a rare clip of Sridevi on the sets of her film - which was launched early and an incomplete half-baked product was thrown at the cinemas in 2004. Such wasted talents of all involved... 

Sridevi looks so beautiful on set. Rare moment of her with director Pankaj Parasher. 

Sridevi with Akshay Kumar in Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin

Images from 1994 - but the film was released, half baked at 2004!

The tragedy of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin.., 

So many talents behind the scenes but what a fiasco  - and again, why release a barely complete film? There should have been more thought to this. 

Left: Rare picture of Sridevi with Akshay Kumar and director Pankaj Parasher on the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin. 

Q: One more controversy. We hear an old film of yours with Sridevi, Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin, is going to release soon. But has it been completed?

Akshay Kumar: No, the film is not complete. I haven't dubbed for it yet because they haven't paid me my money. How can they release the film? I have filed a complaint with the Cine Artistes Association. I will take legal action against them if they try to release the film as it is.

-- Filmfare Magazine 2004

Akshay Kumar with Sridevi on the sets of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin in 1994

Akshay Kumar with Sridevi on the sets of the Hindi film Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin back in 1994! This pull quote from the article shows how powerful Sridevi was back then, not only were scripts written with her in mind and title roles served on a silver platter, she had the power to decide who could be in and out of her films. 

Sridevi with Akshay Kumar

Sridevi and Akshay Kumar publicity still from Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin in 1994! The film was eventually released, a half-baked one at that, in 2004!

Legend has it, the original co-star for Sridevi in the film was meant to be Jackie Shroff. His packed schedule (he had six releases in 1994 alone!) didn't allow him time to work on the movie so choreographer Chinni Prakash (who famously did Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast with Akshay Kumar) introduced Sridevi to the work of Akshay. Sri, all-powerful and headlining the project, gave the nod and at the time, she was the first A-list actress to work with Akshay Kumar.

Till date Akshay states his all-time favourite actress was and is, Sridevi.

Sridevi with Akshay Kumar on set: Behind the scenes of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin in 1994

The debacle that was Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin - such a shame as it had all the potential of a great comedy with a stellar cast. A travesty of editing and direction... and scripting... and... oh never mind. The gorgeous stars of the movie; Akshay Kumar and Sridevi.

And yes, yet another title role for the superstar that was Sridevi.

Left: Sridevi and Karishma Kapoor in MOVIE magazine, contents page.

Sridevi and Akshay Kumar in Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin

Sridevi and Akshay Kumar in Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin.

Mahurat of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin: Launch of Sridevi and Akshay Kumar's film in 1993

A pap shot of Sridevi at the mahurat [launch] of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin.

 

Laxmikant Berde, Kanika, Sridevi and Akshay Kumar

Below: Video magazine program Lehrein was there during the mahurat (launch) of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin back in 1993, when Sridevi was the ultimate superstar and Akshay Kumar, a rising star with just one-hit under his belt. The incomplete film was released a decade later, and the dubbed, hastily released product tanked at the box-office.

Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin was launched on 11/1/1993! 

Meri Biwi Ka Jawaab Nahin: Sridevi and Akhsay Kumar's only film - and flop - together

Stills from the film Meri Biwi Ka Jawaab Nahin with Akshay Kumar and Sridevi.