Rare stills of Sridevi in Garajna

Rare stills of Sridevi from the unreleased Hindi film Garajna. 

Thanks to a social media trend of 'get the 80s look' , our views have spiked a lot over the past week - staggering figures. But sadly, most of it bots... and ai sweep! 

The fake images of Sridevi floating online - hate them so much I can't tell you! 

Only real pics here - unless specified. You cannot be a real fan and post fake photos. Especially as the dilution of the ai generated image is such, the jpegs no longer look like Sridevi, but some distant cousin of the Indian icon with similar features. The fake outfits, the awful styling - and then the comments of... well, let's just say not the brightest bulbs in the circuit! 

Like the God-awful attempt at making Sridevi's waxwork - one of the worst jobs I've ever seen in the name of a tribute - the fan and ai generated photos of Sridevi are dreadful. Horrific work. Putting a similar crown and gown, doesn't make a lump of wax a Sridevi lookalike, it makes it a lazy rush job to meet deadline.  

We don't need to applaud the work of people just because they are outsiders attempting to honour Indian stars - unless they actually do it well. If its bad, its just bad. And no amount of automated PR can make it otherwise! 

A trending meme: Vinod Khanna with Sridevi

At the launch of the ill-fated Garajna, Vinod Khanna with Sridevi. 

A film that never saw the light of day... 

Rare photo with Sridevi with her only sister on set: Sreelatha with Sreedevi

On the sets of the sadly shelved and unreleased film Garajna (rumour has it, the entire thing is complete and in a vault somewhere lost in legal battles galore), Sridevi with her younger sister Sreelatha [now Sreelatha Sanjay]. 

There are inaccurate YouTube clips and Instagram posts stating that Sreelatha tried to do films - this is wildly untrue and speculative. Sreelatha married young and early and while she accompanied Sridevi on sets innumerable time (which we've often archived here), at no point has she ever expressed interest or enthusiasm for appearing in films. The very vocal sister of the superstar was opposite of Sridevi, who was press shy. Sreelatha has often shown in the past, she has no qualms about talking to the press. She was/is no wallflower. 

You can follow her on Instagram. She, on occasion, posts rare pics of Sridevi on her account. 

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna. A part of me wants to see this film to see the magic that was Sridevi. Another part doesn't as... it might be an awful film (like Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin)... that does little for the legacy of Sridevi. 

Lady in Red: Sridevi on the sets of Garajna

Sridevi on the sets of (the shelved film) Garajna in the early 90s, late 80s.  The lady in red... 

Rare pic: Icons Only: Nutan and Sridevi

Rare pic: Icons Only: Nutan and Sridevi on the sets of (shelved) film Garajna.

Born on June 4, 1936, today is Nutan's birth anniversary. Remembering one of the greatest Indian actresses of all-time. With another great, the one and only Sridevi. The two famously worked together in four films; the blockbuster Karma (1986), Sone pe Suhaga (1988), Guru (1989) and the shelved Garajna. 

Rare stills: Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in Garajna

Rare still: Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in Garajna 
 

Yet another rain/wet song! 

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna

 

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna! 

She really did look like a doll... 

We have soooo many pics of Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna (the cast of Chandni!) on the sets of this shelved film Garajna here - including choreographer Saroj Khan. 

While many hardcore fans are hoping the film will release - I'm a bit more iffy about it. Remember what happened to Meri Biwi ka Jawab Nahin?!  

Somethings need to be buried - for a reason. 

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna

Rare still: Sridevi on the sets of Garajna. Rare pic. 

A film with the great Nutan, Rishi Kapoor, Amrish Puri, with choreography by Saroj Khan, sadly this completed film lies in the cans somewhere. 

• Archive of images from Garajna here.
• Trailer of the film Garajna here.

 

Sridevi in Garajna

Rare still of Sridevi on the sets of the Hindi film Garajna. Sadly, the film never released and is in a vault somewhere. 

Rare pic: Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in Garajna (1991)

Rare pic: Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in Garajna (1991). One of a handful of films that Sridevi worked in - but never got released. 

The unreleased completed film Garajna with Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Nutan, Amrish Puri: Rare Bollywood Film Poster

The unreleased completed film Garajna with Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Nutan, Amrish Puri. 

All the stars mentioned have left us... 

So conflicted about this film. On one hand, would love to see anything and everything about Sridevi. On the other; the curse of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin lingers.

During the film's launch, it was the most anticipated film of the year - for years in fact. All Sridevi and Akshay Kumar fans were DYING to see the film. You know the expression, 'Be careful what you wish for?' Well, MBKJN released in 2004, decade after its launch. The poorly executed and incomplete film, dubbed so appallingly it was shocking... The horror show is unbearable. As gorgeous as the lead cast looked and the potential there was for the entire movie... and yet... uff. Unwatchable. 

The film would have released in 1991 but circumstances have left the movie in the can. (Not Cannes!). Oh to watch Sridevi just one more time... 

Left: Rare pic of Nutan with Sridevi 

Rare Clip: Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna in the unreleased Garajna

 

Rare Clip: Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna in the unreleased Garajna 

Rare pics: Sridevi with Vinod Khanna on the sets of Garajna

 

Rare pics: Sridevi with Vinod Khanna on the sets of Garajna 

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna

Sridevi on the sets of Garajna

 

Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor in Garajna (1987)

Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor in Garajna (1987)

Even if its awful, now..... in the wake of the passing of all of its leads.... there are several hardcore fans of Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna who'd like to have a quick look at Garajna. 

A film that started shooting in 1987 and never saw the light of day despite completion. A long complicated history that we've written about several times - scroll back in the archives - whenever we find rare images of Sridevi from the film we get nostalgic...  

Above: Rare clip of Sridevi with Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna in some of the songs shot for Garajna

Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in the film Garajna (1987)

Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in Garajna (1987). The film was completed - but never released. 

Rare pics of the stars from the 1980s on set. The movie was launched in 1987 and was supposed to release in 1991 - but never saw the light of day. 

Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in Garajna

Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in Garajna 

One of many shelved Bollywood films! The film started production in 1987 - and the film was due for release circa 1991 - but never hit the screens. 

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