"Showman" Subhash Ghai’s action-drama Karma, released on August 8, 1986, stood tall as the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. Unfolding as a sweeping, patriotic epic, the film pitted veteran Dilip Kumar against (relative newcomer!) Anupam Kher’s iconic villain Dr. Dang, supported by a star-studded ensemble featuring Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sridevi, Poonam Dhilloon. To combat the rampant video cassette piracy of the 1980s, Ghai mounted the production in grand 70mm with six-track stereophonic sound, driving audiences into packed theaters to experience its massive cinematic scale. Ghai was a fine director, but perhaps an even more astute busienss man - they don't call it show'bizz' for nothing.
Central to the film’s immense draw was, in our opinion obviously, Sridevi, who by 1986 had achieved an unprecedented reign over Indian cinema. Commanding remuneration on par with her top male counterparts, she proved her supreme versatility across drama, comedy, and iconic dance numbers. Beyond Karma, 1986 was a career-defining year marked by four major Hindi blockbusters: the snake-fantasy Nagina, which established her solo box-office clout; the hit revenge-drama Aakhree Raasta alongside Amitabh Bachchan; and Feroz Khan’s Janbaaz, where her iconic extended appearance stole the entire show.
Despite Karma’s remarkable commercial victory, it remained the sole collaboration between Sridevi and Subhash Ghai. Ghai was a director who preferred total control over his productions, increasingly favouring younger proteges—like Madhuri Dixit in Ram Lakhan and Manisha Koirala in Saudagar—whom he could easily mold to his directorial vision. Sridevi, meanwhile, was riding a wave of solo stardom with female-centric classics like Mr. India, ChaalBaaz, and Chandni, leading her to strictly prioritise author-backed scripts.
When Ghai later approached her for a brief role in Yaadein (2001), she ultimately declined because the character lacked real substance. She was supposed to be paired with Jackie Shroff again, which would have been an interesting watch. BTW Yaadein currently is trending on social media, the film is being rehashed and discussed by new generation on Instagram and let me state, the movie is as hollow as the attempt to revive it. Great music, choreography - and innumerable cringe moments as Ghai slowly, but surely loses his deft hand in direction.
Rumours have it that Ghai couldn't communicate well with monosyllabic Sridevi on the sets of Karma, and Sridevi didn't like doing films where she had little to do in an ensemble film, so the two never really worked together again after Karma - thus it remains their first and final film together.
- We have a huge gallery of features and images from the film Karma here.
- Subash Ghai with Sridevi over the years here.
- Jackie Shroff with Sridevi here.
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