Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in Judaai

 

Anil Kapoor, 40, and Sridevi, 33, in Judaai - back in 1997! 

The music and movie was a surprise hit. 

Raveena Tandon with Sridevi in Laadla: Happy Birthday Raveena Tandon!

Ravishing Raveena Tandon turns 54 today. Though the two worked in only one film together, Laadla, the two stars go back a long time. Raveena Tandon's father Ravi Tandon's last film as director, Nazrana, featured Sridevi as a leading lady and young Raveena Tandon saw Sridevi work as a child. 

There's only a nine year age gap between the two, but Sridevi was such a prolific actress, the gap seems longer. Sridevi appeared in around 266 films, Raveena's appeared in around 70. 

Just as Raveena Tandon was getting really, really good - a National Award included - she opted out of films and chose marriage and motherhood. Now, in her second innings not only is she acting better than ever, she's never looked better. People forget that Raveena was a model and in advertising before her dream launch in Pathar ke Phool. Her debut hit the screens on 22 February 1991, just a few months shy of her 19th birthday. Its startling to see her daughter's first film now, as our generation remembers Raveena's first film so well - esp the music and the way all the songs were picturised so beautifully. 

The G magazine centrefold: Sridevi in technicolour

 

The original scan vs the Grok'd ai edited version of the image. They get a lot of it right.. but... something int he face they get it wrong.. It looks sort of like Sridevi, but not Sridevi... 

Sridevi on set

 

Sridevi: her most regal photoshoot from 1993

Sridevi's double act in Gurudev

When the film first started, Sridevi had a certain look as the barkeep in Gurudev. The film was on hold for a while when the director Vinod Mehra tragically died mid-way during the film's production. When the film was launched - she had one look (R), and when the film hit the floors, she had another - with a wig in place (R) to differentiate between the two characters she played. Though Rishi Kapoor and Anil Kapoor split the title role, it was Sridevi's movie all the way in her double act. 

To be confirmed but Sridevi just might have done more double roles on film than any other actoress in Indian cinema. Ever. Actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and even Mithun have done lots of double roles, but for a leading lady to capture the most real estate on film - that might just be uniqe to Sridevi! 

Sridevi reprised the role with a new director with a more polished avataar.  The film had its moments but the long production delays and edits didn't help the movie's fate at the box-office. The film started in 1988 - and was released in 1993!

Screen: Madhuri Dixit: Sridevi

 

Getting the Sunday papers for me when in India meant buying Screen.

Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi... when these fabulous ladies were always the talk of the town, whether their films were hits or flops, people were talking about it!