Maqsad (1984): Sridevi and Jaya Prada's epic face off on the dance floor

Sridevi and Jaya Prada on the sets of Maqsad (1984).

Unlike the paper war of Madhuri Dixit vs Sridevi (ie it was entirely fabricated by the media), Jaya Prada and Sridevi were as much competitors as they were contemporaries. Jaya Prada took potshots at Sridevi and vice-versa - in fact, recently Jaya Prada made a slight dig at Sri on the TV show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, another in a Telugu talk show and one can easily find several unkind quotes in print. We have an archive of all we'll post at a later date. 

With Madhuri Dixit, well, it's a different story. Sri and Madz never really worked together unlike Jaya and Sri. Both refrained from commenting on the other in a negative light despite a lot of goading in the press - for which we have a lot of respect for La Dixit and La Devi! Ramesh 'Sholay' Sippy started working on a film Zameen with Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit circa 1987, but the film was never completed. Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi were even in a scene together but as Dixit said, "We didn't really interact, she was very quiet on the set and a livewire on screen." Jaya Prada and Sridevi worked on several films together and their famed dance-off perfectly encapsulates their working relationship: perfectly professional, but devoid of eye contact! 

Pics here from the song Aajao Aajao Naagraja Tum Aajao. A loud, over-the-top number. But the dance is rather spectacular. Both actresses trying to out-do each other. It would be folly to state who's better - esp as we're obviously the largest Sridevi fan club and our favoritism is clear - but even the harshest critic has to say, Sridevi's more graceful in the number. Right?! For the record both are exceptional dancers. 

 

Jaya Prada, Jeetendra, Waheeda Rehman, Rajesh Khanna and Sridevi