Sridevi in Feroz Khan's Jaanbaaz: An Adult Film that was a huge hit in 1986

Released on 20 June 1986, Sridevi's extended guest appearance in Feroz Khan's Jaanbaaz was a surprise hit. She had an incredible song in the film, the profoundly lyrical Har kisi ko nahin milta, sung by the mellifluous Sadhana Sargam (a favourite singer) and Manhar Udhas.  

Legend has it that the picturisation of the song, Sridevi in monochrome chiffon saris seductively swaying at the beach, influenced the production and picturisation of the song Kate Nahin Kathe in Mr.India, which released a year later. According to online features (again, not a reliable source but...)  originally, the seductive song on Sridevi was going to be shot in some Arabic costumes but changed entirely after the team saw how gorgeously, and simply shot Har kisi ko was. This could be pure internet speculation, but then there is some similarity in styling. The red, then all white fabric swaying with Sridevi with minimal accessories is an inspired look in Mr.India too... Either way, Sridevi rocked both songs with such unfiltered sensuality, proving that you can be covered head to toe, and still be considered sexy. 

An "Adult Film" that was a huge hit in 1986, the movie came with the usual bandwagon of controversies... 

But you know Bollywood; a hit is a hit, is a hit. 

Trying to find photos of the movie premiere but so far, nothing has cropped up - a film that featured reigning queens Rekha, Sridevi and Dimple Kapadia all in one film... what a casting coup! 

Sridevi in Jaanbaaz (1986)

Though she's barely there in the film Jaanbaaz (an extended cameo with a scene and a song), thanks to the sensuous picturisation of Sridevi in the chart-buster Har kisiko Nahin milta, she strut away with all the credit for the film's success.  

Legend has it, Feroz Khan wanted Sridevi to wear western outfits in the film. Sridevi however, convinced Khan to let her wear Indian outfits. Sridevi felt Dimple and Rekha were already wearing glamorous western outfits so she should do something different. Feroz agreed and told her "All I need is your face. Just give me oozing sex appeal with your expressions".

Sridevi delivered. And how. 

Though Feroz Khan worked with every single top actress in the history of Bollywood, for years after he said, Sridevi was the most gorgeous actress he worked with. Ever. 

Legend also has it that Boney Kapoor threw down the gauntlet to Shekhar Kapur, when it came to picturising a sensuous song Kate Nahin Kat the. "

In fact the song, I love you was not in the original script of Mr.India. It was added later. One day Boney Kapoor came and told me that he had seen Jaanbaaz and was stunned by the sensuality Sridevi exuded in a song sequence. "She can't look more sensual," he said. 

I went and saw the film and accepted the challenge to present her more sensually The result was I love you. She looked so sensual, fully clothed."

Cineblitz Magazine 1990

Sridevi in Jaanbaaz

 Sridevi in Jaanbaaz

Sridevi in Jaanbaaz; a guest-appearance that rocked the film

Sridevi and Feroz Khan in the memorable song Har kisiko nahin milta, from the film Jaanbaaz (1986).

Sridevi in white: What dreams are made of: Sridevi stuns in Jaanbaaz

Sridevi in white: What dreams are made of: Sridevi stuns in Jaanbaaz 

Feroz Khan and Sridevi in Jaanbaaz (1986): White Sari Clad-siren Sridevi

Feroz Khan and Sridevi in Jaanbaaz (1986). \

Sridevi appears for less than 15 minutes in the film with her extended guest appearance. Her song Har kisiko nahin milta was a blockbuster on the charts and sensuous Sri was all the rage. 

Soon after Feroz Khan died, Sridevi said in an interview, he had come to see her in the early 80s and spoke to her mother in Tamil and charmed the family into agreement. Sridevi rarely did guest spots in films, but she did it for the debonair Feroz Khan.

Sridevi, "I had accepted Jaanbaaz only because Feroz had promised to compensate me with a very good role in his next film."

Feroz Khan with Sridevi in Jaanbaaz (1986)

Producer and director Feroz Khan with Sridevi on the sets of Jaanbaaz. The song 'Har kisiko nahin milta' is too beautiful for words - made more stunning visually by Sri's enchanting presence. Having worked with all the top actresses in Bollywood [Hema Malini, Rekha, Dimple Kapadia and so on], when asked (by Filmfare) who he thought was the most stunning Indian actress of all time, he said simply. Sridevi.

Jaanbaaz had a casting coup of sorts in the '80s, Khan managed to get the top three actresses of the time into the same film - although none of them shared the same frame together in the movie. Though Dimple Kapadia was the lead, Rekha and Sridevi had memorable guest appearances in the film. 

Feroz Khan was double Sri's age during the time of making of the film (he was 47, Sridevi was just 23!) but oddly, the two looked sooooo good together in film. Or perhaps it was the way the music and photography lulled us into believing it as such...

click to enlarge

Sridevi and Feroz Khan in the posters of Jaanbaaz.