Sridevi with Rekha on set

Throwback to the mid 1980s; Rekha dropped by to visit good friend Sridevi while Sri was shooting for a song and dance routine in Nazrana.

Dancing diva: Sridevi rocked Bollywood to the core in the 1980s

Released 39 years ago today, Nazrana was the last film directed by Raveena Tandon's father, producer/director Ravi Tandon. 

Sridevi is lovely in the film - her dances are stunning. 

Credits were not clearcut - we don't know who did which song and dance in the film but according to the  screengrab from the film, the movie's dances were choreographed by P.L.Raj, Suresh Bhatt and Saroj - we are assuming this is Saroj Khan, Sridevi's favourite in the 1980s. 

Sridevi as a dancer in Nazrana

Sridevi as a dancer in Nazrana 

Released on 27 January 1987, a month after the tragic and untimely passing of Smita Patil, the movie was dedicated to her. The melodrama with twists and subplots was an Indian soap opera on the big screen--and the modest budget film went on to become a hit. 

Rare pics of Sridevi on the sets of Nazrana (1987)

Rare pics of Sridevi on the sets of Nazrana (1987) 

 

Sridevi as a street dancer in Nazrana

Throwback to 1987, Sridevi on the sets of Nazrana - from the song Mera Naam Tu Puchega (sung by Lata Mangeshkar). 

38 years of Nazrana: Sridevi stuns in a film with veterans Rajesh Khanna and Smita Patil

Directed by Ravi Tandon (Raveena Tandon's father), the movie had an all-star cast featuring veteran Rajesh Khanna, National-award winning Smita Patil and newish to Bollywood Sridevi. Released 38 years ago today, it was sensuous and stunning Sridevi who stole the show. The film premiered a month after the tragic death of Smita Patil and there was tremendous media fuss over the film as it was supposed to be a clash of the female titans; Smita, parallel cinema's emblematic actress, and Sridevi, the national craze of commercial cinema. In those days, the lines were distinctly made. (Rekha was one of the few who balanced both commercial and parallel cinema with sari-clad and lipstick stained ease!) 

The melodramatic plot, based on the novel by Gulshan Nanda, had several twists and turns that kept the audience engrossed, if not the critics, who were not in favour of Khanna's overacting and the commercial elements of the movie. In retrospect with today's enlightened lenses, dark-skinned Sridevi finding herself as the object of desire only when she's light skinned... er Ok. A rather questionable scene where the rain washes off her tan and wows Rajesh Khanna is all too bizarre a plot point to make sense in 2025. But then the sensibilities of cinema have changed much since the dire decade that was the 1980s in Hindi cinema! 

A series of images of gorgeous Sridevi on the set of the film.  

 

Left: A collage of images from the film set of Nazrana. Looking at the images, couldn't but help think of Raj Kapoor's unrealised project Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol. 

Back in 1988, Raj Kapoor was planning to offer the film to Sridevi but it never came to fruition. The title has been making the news lately, even though the phrase comes from a popular song sung by Geeta Dutt back in 1950. Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol was made by Ananth Mahadevan circa1998/1999 (a different project but with the same title). 

Raj Kapoor died in the summer of 1988, by then Sridevi was firmly established as the Number One star. Wonder what they could have created together if the project had met its potential? Earlier had mentioned that perhaps Sridevi would have refused the film as Raj Kapoor's sense of sensuality and eros was a bit beyond her comfort zone until a fellow writer pointed out, Raj Kapoor had made Prem Rog without a hint of erotica and a social message. Ah coulda woulda shoulda...

Sensuous Sridevi in Nazrana

It wasn't often Sridevi played the other woman in film - Nazrana was one of the few exceptions. Sridevi as the sensuous seductress - and that too opposite senior Rajesh Khanna, compeiting with Smita Patil no less. 

Its an oddly compelling drama - all the stars shine - released after the tragic demise of Smita Patil, the film was a tribute to her. 

Sridevi looks gorgeous in the film - and dances up a storm in several songs. 

Sridevi in Nazrana

 

Sridevi in Nazrana 

Sridevi in classic 80s melodrama: Nazrana

 

Sridevi in classic 80s melodrama, the weepy Nazrana.

Before the television industry became this wildly oversaturated and oversubscribed behemoth, there were classic Bollywood melodramas, "women's picture" as the tag was in the early days. Sridevi, Rekha, Jaya Prada, Meenakshi all appeared in so many of them. The sari and sindoor weepy dramas with loads of songs and Jeetendra/Rishi Kapoor/Mithun...

While others were a bit more Sati-Savitri... Sridevi, provided the oomph factor, a cheeky sensuality that made her a top draw at the box-office... and criticism. Mind you, the sharpest arrows came from her competitors, be it Jaya Prada, or even an unkind word from Meenakshi, neither of them had the box-office power or success of Sri. 

Well, all water under the bridge now as each have been singing praises of Sridevi in tear-eyed tributes. A mea culpa in hindsight... Hmm. But we don't forget.  

Sridevi

Gorgeous, gorgeous Sridevi. Looking so simple and yet so beautiful in Nazrana back in 1987. 
 

Sridevi stuns in Nazrana (1987)

Sridevi stuns in Nazrana (1987)

Despite the presence of stalwarts like Smita Patil and superstar Rajesh Khanna, newcomer to Hindi films Sridevi steals the show. 

One of her underrated films, performances and song and dance routines. 

The movie was in the news as it released soon after the tragic passing of Smita Patil. 

Saw it again recently and yes, its 80s melodrama and Khanna over-acts as usual (stardom unlike no other but finite talent - Naseer was right ya know). but jus mesmerised by the magical Sridevi. Once again.   

Sridevi getting ready on the sets of Nazrana

Sridevi getting ready on the sets of her Hindi film Nazrana circa 1986 - which was in production for a while and finally released  in Jan 1987

Rare Pics: Smita Patil with Sridevi in Nazrana (1987)

Rare Pics: Smita Patil with Sridevi in Nazrana (1987)  Released after the tragic and untimely passing of the Smita Patil at age 31, the melodrama was a hit at the box-office. Sridevi was still in her early 20s when she shot the film and Smita Patil took her under her wing, especially when Rajesh Khanna was being difficult on set. After the experience, Sridevi never worked with Khanna again. 

Sridevi has rarely spoken ill about anyone in media, with only slight hints at her displeasure given to print. She stated that she was always nervous when working with petulant Rajesh Khanna as you never knew what mood he was going to be in. Hmm. 

BTW yes, Sridevi had a darker foundation on for the scenes above - if you've seen the film you know why... Um. More on the brown face controversy can read here in CNN. com 

click to enlarge

Sridevi in Nazrana (1987)

Sridevi on the sets of the film Nazrana (1987)

Sridevi in Nazrana (1987): 80s in Bollywood

Gorgeous Sridevi in Nazrana (1987). The yellow chunri, costume... 

TBT: Sridevi and Rekha: On the cover of Madhuri!

Sridevi on the sets of Nazrana - when Rekha popped in for a visit! In the early days, the two were tight friends.