Sridevi and The Kapoors: Sanjay Kapoor turns 60 today!

Sanjay Kapoor was born on October 17, 1965! He's only two years younger than Sridevi!! Sanjay Kapoor turns 60 today. Wow. Time really does fly by...  I remember getting the audio-tape of his first film from HMV! 

His much delayed debut, the painfully dull Prem (another Satish Kaushik fiasco) set the bar low. If ever a man was given innumerable opportunities... its the quixotic Kapoor, Sanjay. He landed films with Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit (in his sole mega-hit Raja), Mamta Kulkarni, Shilpa Shetty, Tabu... the list is long. What's emerged from these decades on film; Sanjay Kapoor is unfailingly popular and well-liked within the industry, he works hard, appears on set on time, is cordial and respectful to his elders, and there's a warm camaraderie with his co-stars, male or female. Everything favoured him... except box-office. And luck. 

But the tides have slowly changed...

He's having a renaissance on OTT currently, but reality TV showed his obvious and underrated talent; his self effacing comedy. He's naturally very funny and the youngest of the Kapoor clan - Boney, Anil leading the way - Sanjay has the infamy of being the first to officially announce to the media, the tragic passing of Sridevi. Before that, it was speculative unbelieved gossip online. 

His potty-mouthed wife Maheep on that love-to-hate-watch show, Bollywood Wives has somehow emerged as a reality TV "star", after an aborted career in films. She's a blunt, uncensored truth-teller that makes others uncomfortable - but highly entertaining to (cringe) watch. Now their daughter is... trying. You can already tell the son's being groomed for film and the entertainment industry as well. Let's... see.

Watch the Tanmay Reacts to the reality show - and all the comedians stated that Sanjay Kapoor is the star by far - his one-liners were cracking up every viewer on the panel. Unscripted Sanjay Kapoor is funnier than any role he's every played. 

The Keeping up with the Kapoors would be an interesting watch... At age 60, Sanjay Kapoor finally has what he always wanted; an audience. 

BTW the above photo was taken on Sridevi's birthday, not Sanjay's... 

Sridevi attends an event for G magazine: Gorgeous

A grok over correction of below picture... its almost Sridevi... but not quiet... 
 

Bhawana Somaaya

@bhawanasomaaya

In 90s when I was editor g#Sridevi was chief guest for our 5 year celebrations. She flew down from #Chennai, attended our event without chaperons, sat, smiled n quietly exited. Her presence was overpowering. It is 3 years n we still sense your fragrance

@SrideviBKapoor

Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah

Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah

TBT to 1979: Sridevi with her parents

 

Teenaged Sridevi at the Solva Saawan audio launch party back in 1979! Her father Ayappan Naidu, her mother Ayappan Rajeswari (born Rajeshwari Reddy) look on at their superstar teenaged daughter making her hesitant steps into Bollywood. 

The third remake of her original hit 16 Vayathinale, Solva Saawan nose-dived at the box office despite capable performances by the leading stars  (ever reliable Amol Palekar included) and the melodies of Jaidev. 

Yet another massive age-gap, teenaged Sridevi's co-star was nearly 19 years older. Sridevi was tired of the re re remake and predicted the film wouldn't work well at the Hindi belt. 

Tried watching it online - you can find the film on YouTube... but its... slow. 

Sridevi’s Top 10 Hits: In Order: Ranked by Return on Investment: 1983-1997: Sridevi's Bollywood Highlights

 Collage from https://www.instagram.com/ayappansreedevi/

Film	Release Year	Estimated Budget	Worldwide Gross	ROI Multiplier (Gross ÷ Budget)	Box Office Verdict
1. Nagina	1986	₹1.50 Crore	₹13.00 Crore	~8.67x	Blockbuster
2. Tohfa	1984	₹1.25 Crore	₹9.00 Crore	~7.20x	Blockbuster
3. Karma	1986	₹2.65 Crore	₹13.00 Crore	~4.91x	Blockbuster
4. Judaai	1997	₹6.00 Crore	₹28.00 Crore	~4.67x	Super Hit / Hit
5. Himmatwala	1983	₹1.40 Crore	₹5.00 Crore	~3.57x	Blockbuster
6. Chandni	1989	₹8.00 Crore	₹27.20 Crore	~3.40x	Blockbuster
7. Khuda Gawah	1992	₹5.70 Crore	₹17.05 Crore	~2.99x	Super Hit / Hit
8. ChaalBaaz	1989	₹5.00 Crore	₹14.50 Crore	~2.90x	Super Hit
9. Mr. India	1987	₹3.80 Crore	₹10.00 Crore	~2.63x	Super Hit / Blockbuster
10. Masterji	1985	₹1.75 Crore	₹4.00 Crore	~2.28x	Hit

Highlights of the Commercial Rankings

• Highest ROI — Nagina (1986): Made on a modest budget, this supernatural drama was an unprecedented financial miracle, generating over eight times its production cost through packed theatrical runs driven by Sridevi's iconic performance, memorable music - and a climactic song and dance routine we are STILL talking about 40 years later.

• Biggest Overseas & Big-Budget ROI — Judaai (1997): Demonstrating her long-standing box-office longevity right before her temporary retirement, Judaai brought massive theatrical returns both in India and in particular the overseas markets ensured the Kapoors had a solid hit.

• The High-Budget Tentpoles — Khuda Gawah & Mr. India: Because films like Mr. India and Khuda Gawah were among the most expensive Hindi productions ever mounted at their time of release, their absolute box-office returns were massive, though their ROI multipliers reflect their high initial investment.

Sridevi’s Top 10 Career Hits (1983–2018)

Rank	Film	Release Year	Estimated Budget	Worldwide Gross	ROI Multiplier	Box Office Verdict
1	Nagina	1986	₹1.50 Crore	₹13.00 Crore	~8.67x	Blockbuster
2	Tohfa	1984	₹1.25 Crore	₹9.00 Crore	~7.20x	Blockbuster
3	Karma	1986	₹2.65 Crore	₹13.00 Crore	~4.91x	Blockbuster
4	Mom	2017	₹37.00 Crore	₹185.78 Crore	~5.02x	Super Hit (Global)
5	Judaai	1997	₹6.00 Crore	₹28.00 Crore	~4.67x	Super Hit / Hit
6	English Vinglish	2012	₹20.00 Crore	₹83.60 Crore	~4.18x	Hit / Super Hit
7	Himmatwala	1983	₹1.40 Crore	₹5.00 Crore	~3.57x	Blockbuster
8	Chandni	1989	₹8.00 Crore	₹27.20 Crore	~3.40x	Blockbuster
9	Khuda Gawah	1992	₹5.70 Crore	₹17.05 Crore	~2.99x	Super Hit / Hit
10	ChaalBaaz	1989	₹5.00 Crore	₹14.50 Crore	~2.90x	Super Hit

(Note: Masterji and Mr. India move out of the top ten ROI spots to accommodate English Vinglish and Mom).

Key Takeaways on Her Late-Career Box Office Impact

• The International Power of Mom (2017): While Mom had a strong, profitable run in domestic Indian theaters, its massive release in China (May 2019) pushed its total gross to ₹185.78 crore. With a ~5.02x multiplier, it ranks as one of her top 4 highest ROI films ever.

• The Comeback Juggernaut English Vinglish (2012): Made on a lean budget of ₹20 crore, the film grossed over ₹83 crore worldwide, fueled by exceptional overseas runs in Japan, Taiwan, and the US/UK markets, delivering a ~4.18x multiplier. For the longest time, the film was second only to 3 Idiots, the relatable angst of being lost in a city where the lingua franca is alien, it hit a nerve across the region. Plus, good lord she looked lovely. 

• 35 Years of Box Office Viability: Sridevi remains one of the few actors in Indian cinema history to deliver a top-tier ROI blockbuster in 1983 (Himmatwala), 1997 (Judaai), and again in 2017 (Mom). 50 years in cinema, her track record is unbeatable. 

Sridevi and Anil Kapoor On Set

Sridevi and Anil Kapoor - what looks like the two on the sets of the film Main Tera Dushman. Sridevi had an extended cameo in the film. Looks like Anil Kapoor dropped in on the set. Or he didn't complete the film and Sunny Deol took over. 

To be confirmed...