Rare photo of Sridevi with Anupam Kher

Gorgeous Sridevi with Anupam Kher - a rarely seen photo from the early 90s in Bollywood. 

At an event for Gumrah

Yash Johar, Anupam Kher, Sridevi, Sanjay Dutt and Mahesh Bhatt in Hong Kong for Gumrah

Hindi film producer Yash Johar, actors Anupam Kher, Sridevi, Sanjay Dutt and director Mahesh Bhatt in Hong Kong for Gumrah. The cast and crew of the hit 90s film on location. 

Sridevi was 29 when she shot the film - a stellar performance by the iconic Indian actress, Gumrah released on August 3, 1993. 

The cast and crew of Gumrah

 Film producer Yash Johar, Anupam Kher, Sridevi, Sanjay Dutt and director Mahesh Bhatt. 

 The cast and crew of the film Gumrah in Hong Kong! 

Sridevi and Anupam Kher's 13 films together over a decade: Screen Veterans had a Remarkable Dynamic

Chaalbaaz (1989) 

When you place Sridevi next to any veteran actor, one thing comes to mind; age rarely dictates experience. 

Anupam Kher, born on March 7, 1955, was nearly nine years older than Sridevi (born August 13, 1963). Yet, when Kher made his breakthrough with Saaransh in 1984, Sridevi was 21 but already a battle-hardened veteran of the silver screen. 

As most fans know, she had begun as a child artist in 1967 at the tender age of four in Kandhan Karunai and amassed well over 100 films by 1984 - primarily in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada industry. By the mid-1980s she had more films than years under her belt. 

Simultaneously, in 1984, Anupam Kher was a promising newcomer in his late 20s, making his debut in the much-beloved heart-breaking, slice of life classic that was Saranash. A small budget with a big impact, it was a fine example of what parallel cinema in Bombay [Mumbai later!] was creating. Whereas, on a screen across the road, in another cinema, Sridevi's jhatkas among the matkas was raking in the big bucks. Would a commercial star like Sridevi ever meet Best Actor winner Kher? It seemed unlikely that year - but by 1986, the twain met - and went on to work together in over a dozen films spanning a decade. 

This fascinating reversal of roles defined their off-screen reality and on-screen chemistry. In Subhash Ghai’s blockbuster Karma (1986), Kher played the ruthless villain Dr. Michael Dang, while Sridevi starred as the spirited Radha amid an ensemble cast including Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Naseer. But that was just the beginning - in the ensuing years, Kher and Sri navigated intense dramatic confrontations, comedy, melodrama, tragedy, battles and shared screen space with effortless command in one film after another. Anupam Kher repeatedly stated that Sridevi was his favourite actress - with good reason.  

Their pairing shone in lighter and more complex avatars too. In Chaalbaaz (1989) as comical foes, Lamhe (1991) as friends, and their strained, estranged father daughter relationship in Guumrah (1993), they slipped into roles as feuding adversaries, loyal friends, comrades-in-arms, and even quirky co-conspirators. Whether trading witty barbs in comedy sequences or anchoring emotional moments, their on-screen rapport felt natural and lived-in. Films like Mr.Bechara further highlighted their easy camaraderie in a movie that didn't make blockbuster returns in cinema halls, but made an impact as a gentle comedy of errors. 

Despite the age gap, Sridevi’s early start made her the seasoned guiding light, while Kher brought raw intensity, gravitas and versatility. Their collaborations remain a testament to talent transcending timelines - two icons who lit up the screen together, proving that in cinema, true veterans are defined by reel miles, not calendar years. 

Below the definitive listicle of films featuring both Sridevi and Anupam Kher together;

Karma (1986)

1. Karma (1986)
   • Verdict: Blockbuster
   • Director: Subhash Ghai
   • Main Cast: Dilip Kumar, Sridevi, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher
2. Aakhree Raasta (1986)
   • Verdict: Hit
   • Director: K.Bhagyaraj
   • Main Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Anupam Kher 

     

     Main Tera Dushman (1989)

3. Main Tera Dushman (1989)
   • Verdict: Average
   • Director: Vijay Reddy
   • Main Cast: Jackie Shroff, Jaya Prada, Anupam Kher, Sridevi (Special Appearance), Sunny Deol (Special Appearance)    

   

   On the sets of Nigahein back in 1989!

4. Nigahein: Nagina Part II (1989)
   • Verdict: Average
   • Director: Harmesh Malhotra
   • Main Cast: Sridevi, Sunny Deol, Anupam Kher

   • 

     Rishi Kapoor, Sridevi and Anupam Kher in Chandni (1989)

     
     
5. Chandni (1989)
   • Verdict: Blockbuster
   • Director: Yash Chopra
   • Main Cast: Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Anupam Kher 

   

   Sridevi and Anuapm strike a pose in Chaalbaaz (1989) 

6. ChaalBaaz (1989)
   • Verdict: Hit
   • Director: Pankaj Parashar
   • Main Cast: Sridevi, Rajinikanth, Sunny Deol, Anupam Kher
   • 
7. Lamhe (1991)
   • Verdict: Average but a critical & overseas success
   • Director: Yash Chopra
   • Main Cast: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Waheeda Rehman
   • 
     

     

     Anupam Kher as the odious uncle to Sridevi's Heer
     in Harmesh Malhotra's Heera Ranjha 

     
     
8. Heer Ranjha (1992)
   • Verdict: Flop
   • Director: Harmesh Malhotra
   • Main Cast: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher
   • 
     

     

     The cast and crew of Gumrah

     
     
9. Gumrah (1993)
   • Verdict: Hit
   • Director: Mahesh Bhatt
   • Main Cast: Sridevi, Sanjay Dutt, Anupam Kher
   • 
     

     

     Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Anupam Kher
     in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja

     
     
10. Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993)
    • Verdict: Flop
    • Director: Satish Kaushik
    • Main Cast: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Anupam Kher
    • 
11. Laadla (1994)
    • Verdict: Hit
    • Director: Raj Kanwar
    • Main Cast: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher
    • 
12. Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994)
    • Verdict: Flop
    • Director: Saawan Kumar Tak
    • Main Cast: Sridevi, Salman Khan, Anupam Kher
    • 
      

      

      Anupam Kher and Sridevi in Mr.Bechara

      
      
13. Mr. Bechara (1996)
    • Verdict: Average
    • Director: K Bhagyaraj
    • Main Cast: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher

Total collaborations: 13 films (mainly 1986–1996) spanning a decade. Did we miss anything? - comment below if yes and let us know which film we missed out on.

My Lamhe CD and Audio Book images: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher

Sridevi and Anupam Kher's expression is just everything... 

From the most memorable moments in Lamhe. 

Still an all-time favourite film despite many a critic finding the film problematic today - and back then. 

Newsflash to contemporary critics on social media - yours is not an original or clever thought. The crticis and vox populi also condemend the movie long ago. 

 

Anupam Kher with Sridevi in Lamhe! Best Friends on FilmC

Comedy gold - Anupam Kher and Sridevi were too cute in Lamhe

Anupam Kher, 26, with Sridevi, 28 in our favourite Yash Chopra classic Lamhe!
 

Anupam Kher, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi and film producer/director Ramesh Sippy of Ram ki Sita, Shyam ki Gita

 

Anupam Kher, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi and film producer/director Ramesh Sippy of Ram ki Sita, Shyam ki Gita. Alas this double/double role--Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan x 2--case of mistaken identity and mishaps never went beyond the launch. 

What a film it could have been! Directed by Ramesh 'Sholay' Sippy no less... 

Coulda woulda shoulda... 

Archive with more info, images and even a clip in the archive here.

Sridevi in Lamhe: The joy of shooting in London for this Bollywood classic

 

Rare still of Gumrah released by Dharma Productions: Remembering Sridevi

Released on Aug 3, 1993, Sridevi was 29 when the film Gumrah released. One of her better, stellar performances along with Anupam Kher, Sanjay Dutt and Rahul Roy.

Dharma Productions on their official social media accounts--Twitter and Facebook--released these rarely seen stills. 

Gorgeous Sridevi. 

Sridevi with Anupam Kher in a bad wig: Chaand kaa Tukdaa shenanigans

Sridevi with Anupam Kher in a bad wig: Chaand kaa Tukdaa shenanigans 

As great as both are/were, they've also done so many meh films. Thankfully, we remember the good movies and great work, and the woeful ones are a surprise when it crops up on cable TV! 

Anupam Kher and Sridevi on the sets of Nigahein (1989)

 

Anupam Kher and Sridevi on the sets of Nigahein (1989). 

Anupam Kher has referred to this film a few times as one of his worst performances on the big-screen.

Honestly, we were only looking at Sridevi and remember little else. 

Anupam Kher in Aap Ki Adalat (2025), "Sridevi was one of the finest actresses in the world!"

Waheeda Rehman, Sridevi, Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor

 

Recently, on the popular chat show Aap ki Adalat, Anupam Kher, a frequent co-star of Sridevi since the mid 1980s, spoke at length about how much he admired the work and work ethic of Sridevi. The clip has gone viral across several social media platforms. 

Excerpt: Anupam Kher, "Sridevi was one of the finest actresses in the world. In the world. I have worked with many great actresses, international actresses, but Sridevi was effortless. She would be eating, she would be having fun on the set, but when the director suddenly said the shot was ready, and in an electrifying manner, be it in Chaalbaaz, Chandni or Lamhe, in a beautiful way… she left us too soon.

Host Rajat Sharma: And not just her face, her body, her every pore was acting.

Anupam Kher: She was a complete actress She was the most amazingly international actresses in India. Amazing. I really miss her. She left us too soon. She used to work a lot. She was very good. I got to learn a lot from her..."

Sridevi, Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher at the launch of Lamhe

Sridevi, Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher at the launch of Lamhe 
 

Rare pics: Sridevi with Anupam Kher over the years

Sridevi with Anupam Kher on the sets of
Roop ki Rani Choron Ka Raja

.

So many films together, just a few images from the sets of various films of Sridevi and Anupam Kher.

 

Anupam Kher with Sridevi in Laadla

Anupam Kher with Sridevi in Nigahein  

Sridevi with Anupam Kher in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

Sridevi with Anupam Kher over the years

Sridevi and Anupam Kher have worked in the good, the bad and the ugly... films of Hindi cinema over the years. Some memorable stills here of the two in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa, Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja and Laadla. 

 

Anupam Kher with Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan

Anupam Kher with Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan. From the sets of Nigahein (1989) and the launch of a Ramesh Sippy film that never saw the light of day... 

Anupam Kher and Sridevi worked in nearly a dozen films together of course, including;

Chandni (1989)

Chaalbaaz (1989)

Lamhe (1991)

Karma (1986)

Nigahein (1989)

Mr Bechara (1996)

Sridevi, Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher in Mr. Bechara (1996)

Released on 30 August 1996, Mr.Bechara. The stellar cast elevated some of the moments on film, esp the phenomenal Sridevi, Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor. 

Anupam Kher and Sridevi in Main Tera Dushman (1989)

 

Anupam Kher and Sridevi in Main Tera Dushman (1989). 

If you see the set... yeah, same as Chaalbaaz, and same stars! Different looks tho'....

Anupam Kher with Sridevi in Lamhe

Anupam Kher, 36, with Sridevi, 28, in Lamhe 

Sridevi looked so cute in this scene. Gorgeous throughout the movie... 

Throwback to Sridevi on stage in Dec 1988

Sridevi with her family - can see her sister Sreelatha and mother Rajeshwari 

The great Nutan, Sridevi, and Bappi Lahiri

Finally - some more clear shots of Sridevi on stage back in Dec 1988, with Anupam Kher, Nutan, Bappi Lahiri and others. More in the archive here.