Collage of the Top 90s Actresses: Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai, Juhi Chawla and Raveena Tandon

Collage of the Top 90s Actresses: Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai, Juhi Chawla and Raveena Tandon 

The costume fantasy film: Telugu Blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari

You have no idea how big a hit this 1990 Indian Telugu fantasy film was... watching the audience reaction in the summer of 1990 was something else...  Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in 
Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (roughly translates to The World Hero and the Otherworldly Beauty), also known by the initials JVAS, was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, who worked with Sri in 24 films over a span of several languages and genres.  

The plot revolves around a man who finds a ring that gives the bearer great power, but the goddess who lost the ring seeks it back to return to her world. Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari was theatrically released on 9 May 1990, an unbelievable success, the film soon became the highest grossing Telugu film of all-time and held the record for decades before SSR started making movies. A classic in the fantasy genre in Telugu cinema, the movie went on to win five state Nandi Awards (mostly technical awards). 

The film was poorly dubbed and released in Hindi - and most Hindi speaking audiences just didn't get it - the humour, the fantasy element, the songs... the poor dub just didn't work. No matter, the Telugu film made so much money for the producers, the blimp didn't matter. 

Sridevi

 Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah.

Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan in Khuda Gawah

Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan in Khuda Gawah 

Released on 8 May 1992, one of the grand epic Hindi films released in the 1990s. 

Rare pic: The Sridevi centrefold from the 90s: Rakesh Shreshta captures the Queen of Bollywood

 

This rare pic - have not seen many outtakes of this tie-dyed look - was published in Stardust annual in the early 1990s. Photographed by Sridevi's favourite Rakesh Shreshta... or was she, his favourite? Either way. This is a slightly altered image of Sridevi as fans will note - the original image is in the archive here - we asked Grok to remove the folded page wrinkle and centre the image. 

Mayapuri: Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Sridevi, Sunil Dutt and Sunny Deol on the cover!

Mayapuri: Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Sridevi, Sunil Dutt and Sunny Deol on the cover!

Sridevi with Anang Desi in the film Gumrah (1993)

Today, we honour actor Anang Desai (born 4 May 1953) who turns 73 today!  Seen here with iconic Indian actress Sridevi in the film Gumrah, a mini bio of the veteran actor;

A veteran Indian film, television, and theatre actor, best known for his iconic portrayal of the patriarch Tulsidas Parekh (Babuji) in the popular Hindi sitcom Khichdi (2002) and its film adaptation, a quick look at his enduring career in the entertainment industry.

Born in Ahmedabad, (Gujarat), India, into a well-to-do family—his father was a cardiologist and his mother a singer and painter—Desai showed an early interest in acting and singing. He graduated with a BA in Psychology and Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, before training at the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, and FTII, Pune. He spent over five years with NSD’s professional repertory company, performing extensively in Hindi theatre productions such as Mukhya Mantri, Tughlaq, and Virasat. A trained Hindustani classical singer, he also worked at All India Radio in Ahmedabad.

Desai made his film debut in 1982 with Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi, playing Indian independence leader J.B. Kripalani. His career spans character roles in numerous Hindi films, often as doctors, judges, fathers, or authority figures. He has appeared in over 70 films, including notable ones like Parinda (1989), Aashiqui (1990), Gumrah (1993), Yaadein (2001), Tere Naam (2003), Baghban (2003), Rustom (2016) as Judge Patel, and Khichdi: The Movie (2010). He has also worked in Gujarati cinema (Kevi Rite Jaish, Jaysuk Zdpayo) and even a French film!

On television, he has featured in more than 100 shows - his calm, dignified screen presence and versatility have made him a respected figure in both mainstream and parallel cinema.

Married to poet and writer Chitra Desai, the couple has two sons. Desai’s journey from Gujarati roots and intensive theatre training to becoming a household name exemplifies dedication and quiet excellence in Indian entertainment. He continues to work in films and TV, including recent projects like Khichdi 2 and Kaagaz 2

The 90s in Bollywood with Madhuri Dixit, Jaya Prada, Rekha and Sridevi

Now this collage of Indian actresses may be trending... but we'll need to fact check before confirming the numbers. According to Muvyz, Madhuri Dixit appeared in 41 films between 1990 and 1999, Jaya Prada in 29, Rekha in 19 and Sridevi in 18. 

Well, context is key, Sridevi stopped working in film early 1997 so her roster of films is lower. For the first time in her career, in 1995, Sridevi had NO film releases. As her mother Rajeshwari Ayappan was critically ill (and she tragically passed away early 1996), Sridevi stayed by her mother during her final days and was not working in movies for a spell. Post marriage and motherhood she stopped acting. As did Madhuri Dixit - who also zoomed off to the US post marriage to Dr. Nene.  

Funny how Jaya Prada and Rekha appeared in so many films in the 90s... can barely remember five! And sadly of those, the awful Madam X, Geetanjali, Mujhe Meri Biwi se Bachao come to mind... none of which did justice to the ravishing Rekha, last of the Bollywood golden divas. 

Jaya Prada's filmography in the 90s is a wide array of flops and missteps. Such a talent and beauty she was... but wasted in blah movies like Khal-Naayika, Jeevan Yudh and Paapi Devta. Her last two hit films in Hindi were as far back as 1990 - and that too other stars got the credit for it; Aaj ka Arjun was an Amitabh Bachchan vehicle all the way (though Jaya had the song Gori hai kaliyaan) and Thandedaar which the young couple Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit (and their Tamma Tamma) made news. Do you even remember Jaya Prada in Thanedaar?! 

Of course, a tally of film releases is no reflection of talent. Just hard work and output. 

As Bollywood got a bit more structure and corporatisation, the number of films stars appeared in have drastically released. Otherwise, particularly in the 1980s, actors appearing in a dozen films in a year, churning out output in the Bollywood factory. 

Divya Bharti : Sridevi

Not only did they look similar but they were styled alike often - lord knows we've archived many of the looks and similarities between Sridevi and Divya Bharti in the past in our vast archives here. 

Sridevi's golden dance costume for Nigahein

 

A behind the scenes, on set image from 1989. Sridevi's golden dance costume for Nigahein: Nagina Part II

Think this is the only sequel Sridevi has ever appeared in, Nigahein (with the one note co-star Sunny Deol), opened phenomenally... and then plummeted at the box-office.

 Released just days before Chandni, Sridevi was her slimmest and trimmest in the movie and looks and dances phenomenally. She was all of 25 when she shot the film and peak prowess... 

Her finale dance number could have been a pale version of the original Main Teri Dushman song and dance routine, but it had far more difficult steps and she looked dazzling. 

It's a personal favourite of mine for....no reason other than, Sridevi looking her finest. It's also of-the-time fashion rich; Sridevi's outfits are peak 1980s style - all of which has been archived painstakingly here. 

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna. A part of me wants to see this film to see the magic that was Sridevi. Another part doesn't as... it might be an awful film (like Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin)... that does little for the legacy of Sridevi. 

Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah

Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah! 

Finally, not all AI slop, but some benefits. Rare newspaper scans that fade quickly, finally restored!! 

Gorgeous Sridevi in an outfit designed by Neeta Lulla. The shoulder-length hair and 90s perm worked for the 28-year-old-superstar. Some of the slight criticism Sridevi faced was that  Mehendi of Khuda Gawah was too similar to Pooja of Lamhe... We didn't see it. Mehendi had such a unique diction and stance. Pooja was more effervescent. Shot around the same time, of course the hair is the same....  

Sridevi: The real pic: The AI edited, enhanced pic

A throwback to a Sridevi look from 1997 - Sridevi as a gorgeous psychologist is not a bad edit but a fake one nevertheless, in the original Sridevi was wearing a purple jacket in the film Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha (images are in the archive here).

Sridevi on the sets of Gumrah: Flashback Friday to the glorious 90s

Sridevi, 29, on the sets of Gumrah in Seychelles. 

The hair, the polka dots... her 90s look for the film. 

Sridevi in and as Banjaran: The hot pink costume

Sridevi in and as Banjaran: The hot pink costume 

Remembering Satish Kaushik on his birth anniversary

Now and then: Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Satish Kaushik

Remembering actor, comedian, director Satish Kaushik on his birth anniversary today. 

One performance in Mr.India as Calendar made him iconic! 

Love that all his pics with Sridevi, both are laughing nonstop - revisit the archive of pics here.

Sridevi in Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha (1997)

Series of images of Sridevi back in 1997 from the sets of the film Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha. 

Rare pic of Mohnish Bahl with Sridevi on the sets of the murder mystery Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha. Released on 11 April 1997, this movie had lots of twists and turns. 

Sridevi in Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha

Released on 11 Apr 1997, the trhiller/murder-mystery Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha was the last film of Sridevi with Rishi Kapoor. 

Our massive archive of images, features and reviews on the film here.

 

Rare still of Sridevi in Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha: Dancing icon of Indian cinema

Released on 11 Apr 1997, Sridevi is perfectly lovely in the thriller and murder mystery Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha. 

People mostly remember Judaai which released months before (February 1, 1997), but this was Sridevi's last film before she took a sabbatical for nearly 14 years! 

 

Sridevi and Nagarjuna

Loved the songs of this film - well, one particular one.