Beautiful Sridevi in Jaag Utha Insaan: Queen of pan-Indian Cinema by age 21 in 1984

 

Screengrabs of the underappreciated...well, not as well-seen as her other films... film Jaag Utha Insaan where not only did Sridevi look like a dream, danced like a temple Goddess and acted flawlessly, but covered head-to-toe, in a time were Madras-made-masala capers were doing well, this tragic love story and complex love triangle was ill-fated at the box-office. Revisiting the movie, many Johnny-come-lately Sridevi fans need to check this movie out; Sridevi is outstanding. 

Though she came back to Bollywood with a bang in 1983 and the unprecedented success of Himmatwala, she was crowned Queen quickly as the press, miffed with difficult Rekha, wanted a new heir to the throne as screen queen. 

Back then, was a Rekha fan and thought the 20-year-old Sri in 1983 was too young and too new to topple mighty Re' (a superb actress and beauty in her own right). However, was proven wrong by Sridevi's consistency and sheer productivity; Just look at her film releases in '84;

1984 - Jaag Utha Insaan

1984 - Justice Choudhary

1984 - Maqsad

1984 - Naya Kadam

1984 - Tohfa

1984 - Babulugaadi Debba

1984 - S.P. Bhayankar

1984 - Kanchu Kagada

1984 - Kode Trachu

Just weeks after her first Hindi blockbuster, Sridevi was the undisputed queen of pan-Indian cinema, seen on screen in Hindi and Telugu film screens studded around the nation. An audience of a billion, 9 films released over a span of 12 months - which other actress was "an acting machine"? Known as the 'hardest working Indian actress' of her time, she worked round-the-clock, six days a week. In fact, on Sundays she did costume fittings, discussed makeup and looks, and on occasion did a shoot or interview. 

The drive and work ethic was second to none; which is why, she was 'the' Number One!