Sridevi as a bride on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa 
From a scene that was not on the final edit.

Sridevi's pink bridal look sure was popular in the 90s. 

Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994)

Released on 19 August 1994, Sridevi, 31, on the sets of the heavily criticised Hindi film Chaand kaa Tukdaa.  

I was today years old when I learned that this awful, awful movie... actually made money! The star power of Sridevi and Salman Khan (in that order - Sri had the title role!) meant this movie grossed more than its budget in the long run. 

Budget ₹2.75 crore

Box office ₹3.88 crore! 

Sridevi and Salman Khan in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994)

Sridevi and Salman Khan in the 1994 film Chaand Kaa Tukdaa. 

Salman Khan holding Sridevi in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

Salman Khan holding Sridevi in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

It is hard to pick which Salman Khan - Sridevi film is worse; Chandra Mukhi or Chaand Ka Tukdaa. 

Sridevi looked fantastic in both films. Danced well... that's just about all I can say... it really tests the patience of any fan of either star! 

Chaand kaa Tukdaa: Sridevi: Golden Gal on Set

Sridevi

One image is real, the other has been scrubbed by AI... What is real what isn't, its all a quagmire future gen will have to deal with. 

Sridevi on the sets of Chaand kaa Tukdaa

Sridevi on the sets of Chaand kaa Tukdaa! The shimmering silver and red.... the cap... not one of her best looks but beautiful Sridevi could (usually!) pull off any contraption shoved at her table.  

Update: Recently, singing sensation Shreya Ghoshal was on Indian Idol wearing a top that reminded us of this look of Sridevi's from Chaand kaa Tukdaa. 

Er... something about the colour cheme, red lipstick and pattern... just doesn't work on either of them! Both were infinitely talented in their own field of course, but these outfits... yikes. 

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! 

Sridevi on screen, Sridevi in still photography

Sridevi on screen, Sridevi in still photography! 

Sridevi being oh-so-cute in the (awful!) film Chaand kaa Tukdaa. 

Sridevi and Salman Khan in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

Sridevi and Salman Khan in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa 

The film poster...  

Devi, Sridevi: Golden gal on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

Sridevi looking like the classic Indian beauty she was. 

On the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa } change all the alphabets but nothing could change the fate of this ill-conceived film! Imagine a film with the star wattage of Salman Khan and Sridevi (who got top billing and title role!) that tanked so badly that people were walking out half way... or was that Chandra Mukhi? Which also faced a similar fate.

Sridevi: "Here people put you on a pedestal, only to pull you down later!"

Soon after the release of two films and fiascos with Salman Khan, Sridevi was pressed for a quote on her mega flops with the rising star. Sridevi spoke to Stardust in Nov 1994, and held her ground.  

Sridevi, "How can you say that my reign is over and that I don't have any draw at the box-office anymore? Was I the only person in the film? Chandra Mukhi and Chaand kaa Tukdaa were two major disasters of mine. I did what I was asked to do in the film. But people want to see more than just a dolled up and dancing Sridevi. 

Frankly speaking, Chaand kaa Tudkaa didn't really shape out the way it was supposed to. Saawanji had spent a lot of money on the film but it just didn't show. But I really don't have regrets doing theses films for I quite enjoyed doing all the fantasy stuff. I think my biggest mistake was that I trusted my directors totally, I hadn't even asked for the entire scripts. I just heard the basic idea and I was content with it. 

You know, in this industry, it is very easy to ridicule and run down people, specially those going through a rough patch. and yes, I agree that I am going through one of those phases where things are not going exactly in my favour at the box-office. But I have realised that here, people put you on a pedestal only because they can pull you down later. Anyway, what they say doesn't really bother me, for I know what I am all about. Saawanji is not that kind of person to say anything behind a person's back. He is quite forthright that way and I don't think that he has ever said to anyone that he has regretted taking me. He was the one who was very keen in signing me for the film. Anyway, if at all there is anyone who should have any regrets, then it should be me!" 

Rare photo: Director Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

Rare photo: Director Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa 
 

Sridevi's top billing for Chaand Kaa Tukdaa: 90s

For a leading lady to have about the title placement, for higher billing than the 'hero', and of all stars, Salman Khan no less, is a reminder to current gen how massive a star she was. Sridevi's power, aura, oversized stardom eclipsed many of her co-stars (much to their voluble chagrin) and she went about her ways with such elegant ease. 

Chaand kaa Tukdaa was... just God-awful. Tbh, the earlier Salman-Saawan Kumar Tak collab, Sanam Bewafaa, wasn't particularly great either but luck favoured the film and it went on to be a massive success - that same luck didn't extend to this catastrophe. 

Some of the songs live on and in parts the leads looked great. Less said the better. 

Released on this date 30 years ago. 

Sridevi's costumes in Chaand kaa Tukdaa

Sridevi's costumes in Chaand kaa Tukdaa 

Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan at the launch of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa in 1991

 

Launched on 9/8/1991, the biggest stars of Bollywood were at the launch/mahurat of Saawan Kumar Tak's Chaand Kaa Tukdaa. Sridevi and Salman Khan in front of the camera, Amitabh Bachchan did the first clap as Sridevi dazzled in white and Salman Khan... danced around! 

 

Sridevi on a film set: Series of images of Sridevi in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa: Another title role for a Bollywood Queen

Sridevi on the sets of the film Chaand ka Tukdaa. From part of a dance montage in the film. 

Sridevi in and as Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994)

 Sridevi in and as Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994). 

And this is news even to us; the film was not that big a dud... who knew?! 

Royally written off as a massive flop, the Salman Khan and Sridevi starrer was absolutely hated by critics and... TBH... even most hardcore Sridevi and Salman fans could barely finish watching the long yawn... er, yarn.

Let's give credit to their cumulative star power, the initial draw helped the producers and distributors as the movie broke even - in fact, it even recovered some money in certain pockets. Made in a budget of Rs2.75 crore, at final tally, the movie made Rs3.88 crore back in the summer of 1994. 

A huge sum back then. Now of course those numbers seem miniscule; Salman Khan alone makes about Rs220 crore a year these days (according to online reports)! 

Sridevi's golden look from Chaand kaa Tukdaa: Eternal cover girl

Sridevi's golden look from Chaand kaa Tukdaa: Eternal cover girl 

She looked so beautiful in Aaj Radha Ko Shaam - Rakesh Shreshta photographed a glowing, golden Sridevi in most (not all) of the covers above.