It's a three minute scene - the prowess of Sridevi as a stellar actress is astounding, where she switches from seduction and temptress to gauche ingenue. A masterclass in acting by a leading lady of Indian cinema.
Above: Dev Anand and Sridevi share a cover of a Gujarati version of G magazine. Sridevi's picture from the sets of Sadma.
Dev Anand and Sridevi never worked together - though Sridevi was offered the film Sache Ka Bol Bala [or Tehelka as it was originally titled before the name changed] while it was being shot over 1988-1989. Legend has it, Dev Anand did not like the way Sridevi worked and called her "weird" as there was no communication between the actress and the director. The lack of communication from Sridevi who was not fluent in Hindi or English at the time meant the director had to drop her and replace her with his discovery Meenakshi Sheshadiri.
While some bemoan the fact that the legendary actor and Sridevi never worked together, realistcially, its a blessing. By the 1980s, Dev Anand had lost what limited gifts he had as a director and made one flop film after another. The movie was no great shakes either a critical and commercial failure that Sridevi escaped.
Much later, in 2006, the two stars met again, but this time on stage as Dev Anand was being conferred one of many lifetime achievement awards for his contribution as an actor to Indian cinema. There seemed to be no ill feeling as the two exchanged pleasantries on stage.
Sridevi's distinct looks in the film Sadma. No costumes, but natural clothes - which was not common for the actress.
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