Sridevi's look test for the (shelved) film Bus Conductor: Early 90s in Bollywood

Sridevi's promo shots for the film Bus Conductor - a film that was eventually shelved. The film had a grand mahurat with Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher and the film's director Satish Kaushik, soon after the success of Laadla in mid 1994. But this, like other projects of that era, never took off beyond a lavish launch.

Sridevi on the sets of the film Bus Conductor (1995): Shelved Film

This odd little film title with Anil Kapoor was launched... but it never took off; Sridevi and Anil Kapoor [not in pics] publicity stills for Bus Conductor.

In the wake of the unexpected success of Laadla [The Anil - Sri combo had had three flops in a row prior to its release], a production house tried to recreate the success by pairing the theme of a working class man falling for a high society gal. The film never took off beyond pre-production stage and a trial shoot they did for print media. Sridevi tried this short-crop wig on for her look. Early 90's.

She looks cool and all, but cinema was changing at the time and what worked in the past no longer sparked interest. So perhaps all too rightfully, they put the project on hold. The film was supposed to have been directed by Satish Kaushik. Rumours about re-starting the film in 1997 were circulating in the media with Tabu in the lead (Sridevi had opted to have a baby and retire from films by then). But nothing came of it.

Oh what we wouldn't do to see Sridevi again on the big screen. Where she belongs!

November 2010

Below: Mahurat (launch) of Bus Conductor with the cast and crew (minus Sridevi was on location shooting for another film). Music directors Anand Milind, actors Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher, actor/director Satish Kaushik, film producer Nitin Manmohan and... ?..