Sridevi and Jeetendra in Akalmand (1984): Film anniversary today!

Released on 4 May 1984, Sridevi was 21 and part of the Jeetendra-Sridevi Madras movie making machinery that churned out about 16 films in five years! It was such a hightly productive time that when you look at a still from that time period, you can't tell which look is from which film with any immediacy.  

Akalmand (1984) is the fifth film in the Jeetendra–Sridevi filmography and sadly (for the producers) one of the few turkeys in their filmography. Akalmand was a flop and did not rank among the top box office films of 1984. It was overshadowed by Tohfa, Maqsad, and Sharaabi, which were the year’s biggest successes. The movie's status did little to affect their ranks as the flops were easily dismissed as the hits were so huge!

• Jeetendra–Sridevi pairing: 16 films total (1983–1988).

• Hits vs flops: 13 hits, 3 flops.

• Akalmand’s position: Released in 1984, it was their 5th collaboration.

• Film details: Directed by N.S. Raj Bharath, starring Jeetendra as Dr. Kiran and Sridevi as Priya.

Filmography Order (First 6 Collaborations)

1. Himmatwala (1983)

2. Jaani Dost (1983)

3. Justice Chaudhry (1983)

4. Mawaali (1983)

5. Akalmand (1984)

6. Tohfa (1984)

Shot in less than three months on average, they make Akshay Kumar seem lazy by comparison! 

 

36 years of Naaka Bandi: Dharmendra and Sridevi's... hit?!

Released on 4 May 1990, Naaka Bandi was completely written off by film critics, had just dreadful reviews, cannot think of a single person who loved this movie, a film so bad, Sridevi had sniffed that the movie would be painful to watch and she didn't even bother to turn up to the premiere citing "date problems" ie, she was away on location for a film shoot - which could have been plausible as she was at the peak of her sizzling career. 

And yet, the movie was a hit. Well, it recovered its exorbitant costs. Box-office powered by the star wattage of the leads, the movie recuperated its production costs.  

Though they appeared in a few films together, this was the only movie Dharmendra and Sridevi were paired together - and yes, the age gap was noteworthy - Dharmji was 28 years her senior. In fact, Sridevi appeared in films with Sunny Deol, Dharmendra's eldest son, more often than Deol Snr! 

It's the only film which included Sonam and Sridevi - Sonam was and remains a Sridevi superfan. It's also the only film Chunky Panday appeared in with Sridevi - and he was famously not a Sridevi fan; he preferred Rekha and Jaya Prada and mentioned as much in print back in the day. Oh well, not all can be born with taste. 

Rare pic: Dharmendra with Sridevi at the Ghayal success party

Sridevi in and as Chandni: A Career Defining role

Grok'd. The warm glow and lens flare which everyone now looks down on... well, in the original pic of Sridevi by Rakesh Shreshta, it kinda works... 

Sridevi as a teenage sensation in Tamil films

Sridevi in the 1970s in Tamil cinema (Johnny was released in 1980 but shot in 1979). She was experimenting with looks, perforamances, roles... as Tamil cinema was going through seismic change. Many refer to the The Golden Age of Tamil cinema to be the 1950s to the 1970s. This era was defined by the rise of legendary actors like M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Sivaji Ganesan, strong social narratives, and the establishment of landmark films that blended entertainment with social change. Some perspectives highlight the 1980s–2000s as a significant era for commercial cinema, starring actors like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Others refer to the 2000s (2001-2008) as a "golden age" for music and new-age filmmaking. 

The Sridevian era to us is obviously most fascinating as Sridevi redefined the role of a leading lady - from early on. Rarely a victim, she rebelled, she self-empowered, she fought back, she used her sensuality, she kept her innocence, she had agency and she had money. It is an uncomfortable conversation but in many ways, we cannot not talk about; Sridevi (and her fiercely protective mother) were very clear about monetary transactions, film contracts and legal notifications - Sridevi's father was after all, a lawyer. In the Tamil version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Sridevi mentions the conversation she had with Rajinikanth about dreaming about higher pay, or at least equal pay to the superstars of their time. Both achieved it and how - Sridevi was often touted as the highest paid Indian actress of her time. And Rajinikanth's remuneration in films made for the record books. Both of them refused to be long-suffering penniless artists and stars in the name of high art. It was commercial cinema all the way that built the mansions. And they paid the price for it; Sridevi's health, her sacrifice of a personal life, higher education, freedom. She mentioned in several interviews that she would look at the clock like a schoolgirl and wait for the time to turn six so she could run home; never wasted a second of her time longer than necessary to be on set. But while she was on; she gave it her all. 

The 90s in Bollywood with Madhuri Dixit, Jaya Prada, Rekha and Sridevi

Now this collage of Indian actresses may be trending... but we'll need to fact check before confirming the numbers. According to Muvyz, Madhuri Dixit appeared in 41 films between 1990 and 1999, Jaya Prada in 29, Rekha in 19 and Sridevi in 18. 

Well, context is key, Sridevi stopped working in film early 1997 so her roster of films is lower. For the first time in her career, in 1995, Sridevi had NO film releases. As her mother Rajeshwari Ayappan was critically ill (and she tragically passed away early 1996), Sridevi stayed by her mother during her final days and was not working in movies for a spell. Post marriage and motherhood she stopped acting. As did Madhuri Dixit - who also zoomed off to the US post marriage to Dr. Nene.  

Funny how Jaya Prada and Rekha appeared in so many films in the 90s... can barely remember five! And sadly of those, the awful Madam X, Geetanjali, Mujhe Meri Biwi se Bachao come to mind... none of which did justice to the ravishing Rekha, last of the Bollywood golden divas. 

Jaya Prada's filmography in the 90s is a wide array of flops and missteps. Such a talent and beauty she was... but wasted in blah movies like Khal-Naayika, Jeevan Yudh and Paapi Devta. Her last two hit films in Hindi were as far back as 1990 - and that too other stars got the credit for it; Aaj ka Arjun was an Amitabh Bachchan vehicle all the way (though Jaya had the song Gori hai kaliyaan) and Thandedaar which the young couple Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit (and their Tamma Tamma) made news. Do you even remember Jaya Prada in Thanedaar?! 

Of course, a tally of film releases is no reflection of talent. Just hard work and output. 

As Bollywood got a bit more structure and corporatisation, the number of films stars appeared in have drastically released. Otherwise, particularly in the 1980s, actors appearing in a dozen films in a year, churning out output in the Bollywood factory. 

Sridevi

 Guns ablaze...  

 Sridevi in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja. 

 Just after the yet-another-rain-song-and-dance routine. But it was one of the more pleasant numbers in the movie, Jaanewale zara ruk ja. 

Trending meme of Sridevi