Rare still: Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Annu Kapoor in Mr.India (1987)

Rare still: Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Annu Kapoor in Mr.India (1987)

As the perpetually frustrated editor, Annu Kapoor was the funniest character actor in this ever-entertaining movie. 

A fab actor - be it serious or comedy, he can do all. 

 

Rare stills from the film Chaalbaaz: Anupam Kher, Sridevi, Shakti Kapoor and Annu Kapoor

 Rare stills from the film Chaalbaaz: Anupam Kher, Sridevi, Shakti Kapoor and Annu Kapoor 

Rare bw pics of Sridevi, Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor and Rohini Hattangady in Chaalbaaz

Rare bw pics of Sridevi, Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor and Rohini Hattangady in Chaalbaaz

Rare Pic: Rohini Hattangadi, Sridevi and Annu Kapoor in Chaalbaaz (1989)

 

Rare Pic: Rohini Hattangadi, Sridevi and Annu Kapoor on the sets of the film Chaalbaaz (1989)

Sridevi, Rohini and Anupam Kher. 

In character: Sridevi with Annu Kapoor

Born on 20 February 1956, Indian actor, emcee, reality tv host, radio personality Annu Kapoor turns 64 today. We salute the fine thespian and look back at the films he did with Sridevi. 

Annu Kapoor in Mr.India (1987)

Perhaps most memorably Annu Kapoor's all-too brief role as the harassed newspaper editor in Mr.India (1987) is the first role that comes to mind - its pure comedic genius. The frustration of a common man, done with such humour and natural ease, Kapoor is barely in the film but, like every character actor of his merit, shines no matter what the length of his role. In a film with such larger-than-life characters - be it Mogambo, Ms Hawa Hawaii or even Mr. India himself - the plight of a stressed out editor is all too relatable. There are so many moments where the actor makes you laugh-till-you-cry... 

Chaalbaaz (1989)

And speaking of cry, the way he pulls at your emotional chords as the abused manservant in Chaalbaaz (1989) is another memorable act. In the film, he attains that fine balance between pathos and sly wit, enslaved by his dire circumstances, and yet finding his moment of respite with a slight dig here and there. The film was studded with superb actors, be it Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangady - and of course, the leading lady who went on to win one of her many Best Actress Filmfare awards, Sridevi. 

Annu Kapoor (born Anil Kapoor, who changed his name to Annu to not confuse audiences with the other, all-too-familiar eponymous actor) has stood out in several films throughout the 80s and 90s; Ram Lakhan, Tezaab, Hum and Muskurahat - for which he should have won more awards and recognition. Thankfully, rightful, long-delayed recognition came for the actor in Vicky Donor (2012), for which the actor finally picked up half a dozen awards. A film so well-liked by Sridevi, she praised the movie throughout her press junkets in 2012 while promoting her own film English Vinglish!  

We wonder how his - and Sridevi's double role - in Garajna was like...  Launched with great fanfare back in 1987, legend has it that the complete film lies somewhere, in some vault in Mumbai, but the film never saw the light of day due to financial juggernauts too complicated to explain here. 

Many Sridevi fans have stated they'd like to see the complete film - based on the trailer and the fondness for the principle leads, be it Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor or Vinod Khanna - all of whom, have since passed. All three shone in Chandni, but will the three be able to recreate the same magic? Doubtful, but with Khanna dying in 2017, Sridevi in 2018 and Kapoor in 2020, for nostalgia's sake, perhaps the dated film could find an audience in an online platform...  

Below, a rare pic featuring Sridevi, Annu Kapoor and choreographer Saroj Khan, who is also no longer with us...  

Garajna 

Shakti Kapoor, Annu Kapoor and Sridevi rock out Chaalbaaz (1989)

It wasn't just Sridevi but the amalgamation of these fine actors all working together, on top of their game that made the comedy of Chaalbaaz so rip-roaring fun. 

Shakti Kapoor Annu Kapoor and Sridevi in their rollicking scenes in the 1989 hit. 

Rare Pic: The Cast of Chaalbaaz (1989): Anupam Kher, Sridevi, Rohini Hattangady and Annu Kapoor: Bollywood's finest actors

The (partial) cast of #Chaalbaaz, Anupam Kher, Sridevi, Rohini Hattangady and Annu Kapoor.

Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna in Garajna (1987 - 1991)

With the super-hit cast of Chandni, the film Garajna with Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna never saw the light of day - despite most of it being complete.

The film in fact began production long before Chandni and would have been yet another film where Sridevi had a double role. 

Behind the scenes, the film was riddled with problems. The cast and crew of the film took the producers to court for non-payment and the mostly complete film is - allegedly - in a vault somewhere. If things had gone according to plan, the film would have released in March 1991. Now here we are, nearly three decades later - we might never see the final result.

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Click on the image above to know more about behind-the-scenes drama of the film.

You can see the making of a song below - a doll-like Sridevi rehearse with choreographer Saroj Khan and dance with Rishi Kapoor. Song looks super cute. 

In the Lehrein clip, it clearly indicates the song was being shot on 6 September, 1988!

Above: Rare pic of Sridevi, choreographer Saroj Khan and character actor Annu Kapoor 

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Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor. Click to enlarge

 

Above: 6/9/1988 when the scene was shot. Note how young Sridevi looks and how thin Rishi Kapoor was...