TBT to October 1993: Sridevi's Media blitz: Cover of G, Cine Blitz, MOVIE, Stardust! Never before, never again!

On the eve of Gumrah's film release, Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt dominated all the magazine covers, taking up real estate on all major publications. The stars dominated Stardust, Cine Blitz, G magazine, MOVIE magazine. 

Some real interviews, some editorials, some... well, fiction. 

Early days of film journalism in India was deeply suspect. Just ask the stars... and even the press who left! Today, stars can hit social media and right all the wrongs... 

Back then, they had to rely on powerful editors and poison pens. Fact checking... well, just wasn't done as its was "just" film gossip. Filmfare, g magazine and a handful of editors tried desperately to bring serious journalism to the entertainment industry. But the people wanted gossip, affairs, scandals. Essays on the empowerment of women through film and communist ideologies in Raj Kapoor movies... few were reading up on that. 

October 1993 - great time to be a Sridevi fan! She was in media, movies, Mumbai! 

Rare stills of Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt in Gumrah

 Rare stills of Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt in Gumrah 

 Tabloid paper scans hence the poor quality but... you get the gist! Sridevi was sooo gorgeous. 

The cast of Gumrah: Kunika, Sridevi, Bob Christo and Sanjay Dutt

The cast of Gumrah, L to R; Kunika, Sridevi, Bob Christo and Sanjay Dutt.

Sridevi and Sunjay Dutt on the sets of Gumrah

Sridevi and Sunjay Dutt on the sets of Gumrah. The film was well received by the critics and notched up several nominations and was the seventh highest grossing film of 1993.

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Sridevi with Sanjay Dutt on the sets of Gumrah (1993)

Sridevi, Sanjay Dutt, Anupam Kher, Mahesh Bhatt, Yash Johar... the cast and crew of Gumrah. 

Hong Kong Diaries: Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt in Gumrah (1993): Mahesh Bhatt, Yash Johar, cast and crew in HK!

Bollywood has a long connection to Hong Kong - most memorably for the latest generation, it was the location and background for the thriller Gumrah (1993). Elevated by the performances by the leading actors, the movie did decent business and Sridevi notched up yet another Best Actress nomination.  

Celebrating Gumrah: Sanjay Dutt with Sridevi: 26 years of Gumrah

Released on August 3, 1993, Gumrah. Sanjay Dutt and Sridevi's big hit of the year. Sridevi received maximum praise in this film and it was one of the biggest hits of the year. 

Gumraah publicity stills with Rahul Roy, Sridevi and Sunjay Dutt

Gumraah publicity stills with Rahul Roy, Sridevi and Sunjay Dutt

Sridevi with Sunjay Dutt / Rahul Roy with Sridevi.