Jaani Dost and Adavi Simhalu in 1983: Sridevi shoots the same film in Telugu and Hindi simultaneously

Jaani Dost (Best Friends) was released in 1983, produced by C. Ashwini Dutt, M. Arjuna Raju, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. 

It stars Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Parveen Babi, Sridevi, with music composed by Bappi Lahiri. 

The film was simultaneously made along with the Telugu-language movie Adavi Simhalu, with Krishna, Krishnam Raju, Sridevi and Jaya Prada in pivotal roles. 

Sridevi appeared in both films - Jaya Prada in only the Telugu version (amidst some controversy as Parveen Babi did her role in the Hindi version). 

Both the movies were made simultaneously by the same producer and director, some of the scenes and actors are identical in both the versions. The grand finale song was shot simultaneously, hence this star-studded tree; seven superstars of South Indian and Hindi film industry with Sridevi standing front and centre.

The Telugu version hit the theatres first on April 28th, and the Hindi was released a month later on 27th May 1983. Oddly enough, Adavi Simhalu was a smash while Jaani Dost just barely broke even. 

Left: Sridevi on the sets of the Telugu film Adavi Simhalu back in 1983.