Star & Style: Sridevi's last Bid for Survival

From 1984 to 1994, Sridevi had a great innings as the Number One female star of the decade. By the time, Choli ke peecheh, Dhak dhak and the unbeatable, historical run of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun came out, there was no denying that Madhuri Dixit's box-office power, if not acting prowess, had surpassed her. 

The industry puts up with anything and everything, except box-office failure. Talent be damned, endurance be damned, skills, tenure, history be damned. The tumble of her movies with Salman Khan, the fiasco of Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja, and to a certain extent, the surprise/shock of Lamhe's lukewarm numbers and response... Even we couldn't deny that the baton has been passed... albeit reluctantly. Well, Sridevi maintained that she still got the same respect, remuneration and banners } all of which was true. 

Then the double tragedy of losing her parents, her sabbatical in 1995 - the only year she had no releases in her entire career - and she started returning signing amounts and backing out of projects. 

Funnily enough, the games media play don't change - the second Madhuri was universally acknowledged as the new number one - that same press started pulling her down too. Almost immediately! First it was Juhi labelled the latest successor, then the younger brigade of Manisha Koirala, Kajol and Karisma Kapoor - and it got to Madhuri. Remember her fiery response on stage when she won Best Actress for Dil to Paagal Hai?! It was a moment.  

Fads come and go, what's in fashion is ephemeral, but talent and the eternal style of Sridevi remains. Even when Sridevi was working, her co-stars were fans. She was acknowledged as a legend by the time she was 30. Sridevi saw everything great fame and fortune had to offer her; her destiny gave her everything in life but a long one.  

"Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty."

-- Shakespeare 

Silver Jubilee of Chandni: Throwback to March 1990: Raaj Kumar, Vinod Khanna, Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Dilip Kumar, Sridevi

Silver Jubilee of Chandni: Throwback to March 1990: Raaj Kumar, Vinod Khanna, Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Dilip Kumar, Sridevi

Raasta: The Shelved film of Sridevi with Dilip Kumar, Mithun

Raasta: The Shelved film of Sridevi with Dilip Kumar, Mithun

"Releasing in March 1988" reads the poster - and we know, well, that didn't happen!! It's sort of amazing how many films are launched with great fanfare and it all fizzles out. Would have been amazing to see Sridevi with Dilip Kumar. 

We've written about the film before here - Social Media dug out this rarely seen poster. 

Dilip Kumar, "Sridevi is a wonderful artist, dancer..." A Legend who was a Famous Fan of "the great Sridevi"

Remembering Dilip Kumar on his birth anniversary today. Often touted as the greatest Indian actor of all time, Dilip Kumar was born 11 Dec 1922. The legendary superstar worked with Sridevi in only two films, both in 1986, the blockbuster Karma and the hit film Dharm Adhikari. Had the film not been shelved, they would have worked together again in Raasta. 

Dilip Kumar did the mahurat of Lamhe, while his beautiful wife, erstwhile actress Saira Banu, presented Sridevi with her Chandni silver jubilee trophy back in 1990. Sridevi was famously an ardent fan of Dilip Kumar--really there are no Indian actors who were not--and, in turn, Dilip Kumar is said to have given high praise to Sridevi when they were working together, albeit briefly. It is rare to find a clip of Dilip Kumar praising younger stars, but he did say Sridevi was a fine artist and dancer [above clip]. 

It is alleged, that Dilip Kumar told Subash Ghai, film producer and director of Karma, "This girl has beauty of Madhubala, acting of Meena Kumari, dance of Vyjayanthimala, grace of Waheeda Rehman, stardom of Rajesh Khanna, popularity of Amitabh and that all-combination made one and only Sridevi, People will never forget her as long as cinema lasts." 

As there is no recording or clip or print scan of this hyperbolic praise of Sridevi [as much as we agree with it!] from that era, it remains questionable. The 80s was not only a strange decade for films, it was stranger still when it came to film journalism! So we'll take this quote with a pinch of salt. 

What cannot be denied of course is Saira Banu's recent post remembering Sridevi and the erstwhile star's high praise of the actress[below]. 

Um... we'll take the figures with a questionable quote too... 

Dilip Kumar with Sridevi on stage

At the epic mahurat of Lamhe, Dilip Kumar with Sridevi. 

Remembering the late great Dilip sahab on his birth anniversary. 

The great one lived till the age of 98 and though he had stopped working decades ago, the entire nation stood still when he passed; his legacy entrenched with Indian cinema forever. 

Sridevi worked with the legend in two films, Karma and Dharm Adhikari, both released in 1986. Rumour has it Saira Banu was a fan of Sridevi, Dilip Kumar rarely spoke of other actresses... 

Jeetendra, Dilip Kumar and Sridevi in Dharm Adhikari (1986)

Jeetendra, Dilip Kumar, Priti Sapru (back) and Sridevi on the sets of Dharm Adhikari (1986)

One of two films Sridevi and Dilip Kumar worked in (the other being Karma). 

Rare (blurry) stills of Sridevi and the cast of Karma on set:

Released in the summer of 1986, Karma was easily the biggest film of the year. Even during production Subash Ghai, the self-anointed showman of Bollywood, had assembled an all-star cast led by the greats Dilip Kumar and Nutan, to the young guns Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah, the leading ladies Sridevi and Poonam Dhillon, supported by stalwarts like Dara Singh, Anupam Kher, Shakti Kapoor, Tom Alter and the ever-present Bindu. 

These rare stills from the set show how much fun they had in the 1980s in Bollywood. All stars in the making, many who became legends. 

Stills of Sridevi and the cast and crew of Karma

Icons Only: Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar

Icons Only: Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar 
 

Celebrating 36 years of Dharm Adhikari: Dilip Kumar, Jeetendra and Sridevi's 80s smash hit

 

Celebrating 36 years of the Dharm Adhikari, the all-star cast had a huge opening back in 1986 as the film included Dilip Kumar, Jeetendra, Sridevi, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Suji Kumar, Asrani, Rakesh Bedi, Rohini Hattangadi, Aburadha Patel and several others. 

These vintage Bollywood film posters of the 80s film. 

Sridevi doesn't have much of a role in the film but it was an opportunity to work with the great Dilip Kumar, still considered the greatest Indian actor of his, if not all, time. 

An archive of Dharm Adhikari images and features here.

Legends-r-Us: Sridevi with Dilip Kumar over the years on stage, on film..

Legends-r-Us: Sridevi with Dilip Kumar over the years on stage, on film.... 

Anil Kapoor and Sridevi at the mahurat [launch] of Lamhe; Dilip Kumar, Sridevi, Poonam Dhilloon, Dara Singh on the sets of Karma.

Jeetendra, Dilip Kumar and Sridevi on the sets of Dharam Adhikari. 

Rare Pic: Jeetendra, Dilip Kumar and Sridevi on the sets of Dharm Adhikari (1986)

 

Dharm Adhikari (1986)

When the film was first offered to Jeetendra, he was meant to play the double role of father and son - just like the original Telugu film, Bobbili Brahmanna (1984). In the original film, both lead roles were played by Krishnam Raju as a double role.

Later Jeetendra decided if Dilip Kumar could essay the role of the elder brother, the film could be sold for more and would add to the star power. Ever the savvy businessman, Jeetendra went to Dilip Kumar and offered him the film and Dilip Saab accepted. 

April 11, 1986.

Below: Excerpt from Cine Blitz in the 1980s; Sridevi in awe of Dilip Kumar on set. 

"Did we mention Dilip Kumar only a while ago? The latest to be smitten by his ageing charm is Sridevi. She can't quite believe she's working in Raghavendra's film with him. Onlookers were amused to see Sridevi's goggle eyes and open mouth, as she sat next to him on the sets one day. "Saar," was all she kept saying to Dilip, and "Working with you pleazhure." Dilip loved it all, giving her the benefit of his deep looks whenever he wanted her to say it again!"

Happy Birthday Dilip sahab: Dilip Kumar with Sridevi

Born on December 11, 1922, Indian thespian, legendary actor Dilip Kumar turns 98 today. 

Sridevi worked with Dilip Kumar in two films; Dharm Adhikari (1986) and Karma (1986). 

Left: Dilip Kumar with Sridevi at the launch of Lamhe early 1990. 

Dilip Kumar and Sridevi: Bollywood Legends

Legends of Indian cinema, Dilip Kumar with Sridevi at the mahurat (launch) of Lamhe.

The two acted in two films together back in 1986, Dharm Adhikari and in Karma. 

Left: Dilip Kumar and Sridevi on the cover of Hindi tabloid Mayapuri. Sridevi's look from Ram Avtar. 

Sridevi, Dilip Kumar, Jeetendra in Dharm Adhikari (1986)

Sridevi as a village belle in the film Dharm Adhikari. It's only one of two films Sridevi acted with the legend Dilip Kumar (the other being Karma).

Released on 11 April 1986. 

The cast and crew of Karma (1986): Dilip Kumar, Sridevi, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon, Dara Singh and others

The all-star cast of Karma:

Standing: ?, Dilip Kumar, Sridevi, Poonam Dhillon, Dara Singh,
Sitting: Bindu, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor and ?

Below, rare pics of Sridevi with producer and director Subash Ghai on the sets of Karma

Sridevi with producer/director Subash Ghai

 

Rare pic of Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Jackie Shroff on the sets of the film Karma. 

Sridevi with Dilip Kumar and Jeetendra in Dharm Adhikari (1986)

Sridevi in red. 1980s. Gorgeous. Those eyes...

Stills from the film Dharm Adhikari (1986).

Didn't know Dilip Kumar had worked with Sridevi on film - here's proof that they did! The same year, they also worked together in Karma.

Below pic,  Rohini Hattangadi, Sridevi, Jeetendra, Anuradha Patel and Dilip Kumar in a scene from the film.

Released on 11 April 1986. 

Rohini Hattangadi, Sridevi and Jeetendra 

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Jeetendra, Dilip Kumar and Sridevi on set

Above: Sridevi's different looks for the film Dharm Adhikari