36 years of Naaka Bandi: Dharmendra and Sridevi's... hit?!

Released on 4 May 1990, Naaka Bandi was completely written off by film critics, had just dreadful reviews, cannot think of a single person who loved this movie, a film so bad, Sridevi had sniffed that the movie would be painful to watch and she didn't even bother to turn up to the premiere citing "date problems" ie, she was away on location for a film shoot - which could have been plausible as she was at the peak of her sizzling career. 

And yet, the movie was a hit. Well, it recovered its exorbitant costs. Box-office powered by the star wattage of the leads, the movie recuperated its production costs.  

Though they appeared in a few films together, this was the only movie Dharmendra and Sridevi were paired together - and yes, the age gap was noteworthy - Dharmji was 28 years her senior. In fact, Sridevi appeared in films with Sunny Deol, Dharmendra's eldest son, more often than Deol Snr! 

It's the only film which included Sonam and Sridevi - Sonam was and remains a Sridevi superfan. It's also the only film Chunky Panday appeared in with Sridevi - and he was famously not a Sridevi fan; he preferred Rekha and Jaya Prada and mentioned as much in print back in the day. Oh well, not all can be born with taste. 

Rare pic: Dharmendra with Sridevi at the Ghayal success party