Jeetendra and Sridevi poster: Sridevi in pigtails!

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Tohfa (1984): Sridevi and Jeetendra's blockbuster

Sridevi in Tohfa

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Tohfa (1984).

Personally, loved the song Gori tere, ang ang main... sung by the greats Kishore Kumar and Aasha Bhosle... a bit more than Nainon main sapna... 

The movie was the BIGGEST hit of 1984, putting the numbers of Himmatwala (also a blockbuster!) to shame! 

Sridevi and Jeetendra

 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Sarfarosh - back in 1985!

More in the archive here.

Sridevi and her costars: Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor

 Sridevi and her costars: Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor! 

 Stills from Khuda Gawah, Garajna and... can you guess the Jeetendra and Sridevi film?! One of many! 

Sridevi and Jeetendra rock out in Bollywood in the 1980s

 Sridevi and Jeetendra rock out in Bollywood in the 1980s

Sridevi and Jeetendra on the sets of Ghar Sansar (1986)

The Hindi film Ghar Sansar was released on 11 July 1986 

Directed by K. Bapayya and produced by Vimal Kumar under the Shivam Chitrya banner, it is a remake of the 1983 Telugu film Maga Maharaju. The movie stars Jeetendra, Sridevi, and Kader Khan, with music composed by Rajesh Roshan. 

Jeetendra and Sridevi's controversial cover for Mayapuri

Jeetendra and Sridevi's controversial cover for Mayapuri 
 

From the sets of Balidaan back in 1985!

Not a great film... but Sridevi looks great in the movie. 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Jaani Dost (1983)

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Jaani Dost (1983). 

Released on 27 May 1983, this film with heavy hitters Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Parveen Babi and newcomer to Bollywood, 20-year-old Sridevi. 

By the time of the film's release, Himmatwala had already stormed the screens a few months before, so when Sridevi pops up in her song, the whistles were loud and clear; there's a new cine-queen in town. 

Considering the scale and cast of the film, the movie wasn't considered a hit back then, but when you look at the numbers, it just about broke even. As the Telugu version Adavi Simhalu was a hit, the makers were not at a financial loss. 

In this blog, I'm noting down box-office results often as it really is "show" "business", movies have to break even at the bare minimum. The economics of movie making is a (faulty) science of its own, and as history has repeatedly proved, its not about looks or talent, but results. You can have a lengthy career as long as audiences turn up at the cinema. 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Akalmand (1984): Film anniversary today!

Released on 4 May 1984, Sridevi was 21 and part of the Jeetendra-Sridevi Madras movie making machinery that churned out about 16 films in five years! It was such a hightly productive time that when you look at a still from that time period, you can't tell which look is from which film with any immediacy.  

Akalmand (1984) is the fifth film in the Jeetendra–Sridevi filmography and sadly (for the producers) one of the few turkeys in their filmography. Akalmand was a flop and did not rank among the top box office films of 1984. It was overshadowed by Tohfa, Maqsad, and Sharaabi, which were the year’s biggest successes. The movie's status did little to affect their ranks as the flops were easily dismissed as the hits were so huge!

• Jeetendra–Sridevi pairing: 16 films total (1983–1988).

• Hits vs flops: 13 hits, 3 flops.

• Akalmand’s position: Released in 1984, it was their 5th collaboration.

• Film details: Directed by N.S. Raj Bharath, starring Jeetendra as Dr. Kiran and Sridevi as Priya.

Filmography Order (First 6 Collaborations)

1. Himmatwala (1983)

2. Jaani Dost (1983)

3. Justice Chaudhry (1983)

4. Mawaali (1983)

5. Akalmand (1984)

6. Tohfa (1984)

Shot in less than three months on average, they make Akshay Kumar seem lazy by comparison! 

 

Jeetendra and Sridevi

80s icons of Bollywood! Superstars Jeetendra and Sridevi.

As a businessman - part of 'show biz' - the most enduring, long-lasting career was that of Jeetendra. He hasn't been given his due for his contribution to Hindi cinema. The man was an industry onto himself; so many jobs, so many families, so many workers were employed because of his churning out of movies that the critics dismissed, but the masses loved. 

A film unit comprises of nearly 200 people, think of the technicians, camera crew, lighting crew, spot boys, dancers, costume designers, makeup artists, catering, fashion team, along with the cast and crew of the film - that lengthy scroll of credits at the end of a movie, all those pople got a paycheck because of the success of formulaic feel-good movies Jeetendra led. 

And some of those art-house films made on a shoe-string budget with minimal crew, that didn't change cinema as much as they would like to believe - or elevate the lives of the working people in industry. Making 12 critics happy and boring audiences, box-office figures were a stunning indictment of the art-house cinema movement. 

It's easy to be dismissive of pop art and pop culture cinema, but lets list their merits too.  It's equally easy to praise art films for the reflection on humanity, a slice of life in contemporary India...but let's also critique its slow pacing, its poor cinematography, its shoddy lighting! Was watching Bazaar the other day and the first painful minutes are just completely unnecessary shots of Smita Patil getting ready - a decent editor could have cut that to a few seconds. For the longest time was waiting for the story to kick off. And the dialogues were... well, who talks like that? Sure the film covered painful reality and subjects unspoken of, but as an entertainer, falls short. There are several documentaries that have faster pace and make the point in fewer minutes... 

Today's rant ends here. Let's give Jeetendra his due credit. In local parlance, give him his flowers now. The man is 84. His legacy is feeding new stars and new gen till date. The seeds he planted that's become this television behemoth, Balaji, runs the kitchens of many a home. 

Jeetendra and Sridevi

Jeetendra holding on to his lucky charm; gorgeous Sridevi! 

It's funny how much praise Jeetendra has bestowed upon Sridevi in the past, and especially after her sudden, shocking passing. 

In turn, Sridevi acknowledged that their successful pairing was a surprise and she felt lucky that he agreed to work with her when she was considered "a flop" actress after the initial failure of her first Hindi film as a leading lady, the box-office bomb, Solva Saawan.

He gave her a foothold in Bollywood, her youthful exuberance and sex-appeal--she was known as sensuous Srievi in the early days-- gave his flagging career a second boost in the 1980s! Jeetendra himself has acknowledged the Telugu superstars Sridevi and Jaya Prada were his bread and butter in the 1980s.

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Aulad

Jeetendra and Sridevi on the sets of the film Aulad (1987).  

Jeetendra and Sridevi rocked the 1980s in Bollywood: Jeetendra turns 84 today

Sridevi's frequent co-star in Hindi films, Jeetendra, turns 84 today! 

21 years her senior, they made a fab pair - and we give all credit to the fitness regime of the actor who was so careful to maintain his weight and youthful looks as a leading man in Bollywood. 

Sridevi and Jeetendra were commercial super star successes in the 1980s across the Hindi belt, with an overwhelming majority of their movies being box-office successes. 

For an entire generation in fact, their fun and frothy films with core values - good vs evil, the noble vs the villain, the moral vs the immoral -- with colourful songs and dances, predictable happy endings where the righteous win and the villains meet their natural end, was all good family fun. It wasn't erotic as it was cheeky, good clean fun and movies you can watch with your entire family. It was TV soap opera before the advent of Zee!  

It wasn't earth-shattering Oscar nominee films, but a fun time at the cinema. 

 Actor Anupam Kher flanked by the biggest stars of 1980s; Sridevi and Jeetendra. 

Shobha Kapoor, Jeetendra, Sridevi share Stardust cover with Sanjay Dutt, Rati Agnihotri

Oh Stardust! You are missed.

A throwback to this early 1984 edition of the ultimate Bollywood tabloid,  the infamous Stardust - with a young Sanjay Dutt on the cover. 

Jeetendra, flanked by his wife Shobha Kapoor and frequent co-star Sridevi; trying to put rumours to rest! More on that in earlier post here. 

 

Jeetendra and Sridevi in Sarfarosh

Jeetendra and Sridevi in Sarfarosh (1985)

Jeetendra and Sridevi movies: The listicle: 16 Films in 4 Years!

Released on February 25, 1983, Himmatwala was one of the biggest hits of 1983 - the blockbuster started the trend of Jeetendra and Sridevi masala capers and ignited Sridevi's enduring career and lasting legacy in Bollywood. 

The successful duo went on to appear in 16 films together over a period of four years! Majority of the films were fantastic ROI; return on investment! Doing box-office gold, it was almost a guaranteed success for so long, the Madras movie factory churned out remakes one after another, the quality being... well, let's just say no one's calling any of the overall films a classic! 

The songs are remembered fondly, perhaps even the fashion, dance steps and so on. A time capsule of the era that was. But certainly, Mubi* isn't curating any film on this list!! However, the film producers - and famously a diligent business-minded Jeetendra - made a lot of money in that era. 

Have you seen all their films together? Which was your favourite? Comment below;

1. Himmatwala (1983), 
2. Jaani Dost (1983), 
3. Justice Chaudhry (1983), 
4. Mawaali (1983), 
5. Akalmand (1984), 
6. Maqsad (1984)
7. Tohfa (1984), 
8. Balidaan (1985), 
9. Suhagan (1986), 
10. Ghar Sansar (1986), 
11. Dharm Adhikari (1986), 
12. Aulad (1987) 
13. Sone Pe Suhaaga (1988).
14. Sarfarosh (1985), 
15. Aag Aur Shola (1986), * guest appearance 
16. Himmat Aur Mehanat (1987).

* Postscript: Just to be sure, we just checked out Mubi.com - they have curated a handful of Sridevi films here.

The Reignition of Sridevi's Bollywood Career: Himmatwala in 1983

After the underwhelming performance of Solva Saawan in 1979, Sridevi's return to Bollywood came via the smashing success of Himmatwala, where though Jeetendra had the title role, Sridevi's entry, song and dance routines and confident performance is was taken note. A star was re-born as she went on to work in several films that year that went on to become stellar hits. In less than a year, Bombay's filmy press crowned her the new Number One actress of cinema, usurping Rekha, who seemed to have no problems with passing the baton. 

We need to do a deep dive on Rekha's empathy and kindness to innumerable starlets, actresses and newcomers as there are so many stories of her generosity, advice and direction that many have spoken about. Be it Shabana Azmi, Sridevi, or even Madhuri and Rani, none have a bad word to say about Re'. 

Himmatwala, as Sridevi said, was no Mughal-E-Azam, but a hit is a hit is a hit. The movie is tepid fare with strong visuals in the colourful song and dance routines. Sridevi really appears like a temple Goddess come to life, all curves, sparkles and expressions. A hallmark film only because it was a stepping stone that boosted the career of an actress who went on to become one of the biggest stars in the country - before the age of 21! 

Sridevi and Jeetendra on the Filmfare cover:

 

A Friday Flashback with Filmfare, January 1984 edition! 1983 has been an eventful year for star watches: Shabana Azami, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, Sridevi

Still of Jeetendra and Sridevi from Tohfa! 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in the biggest hit of 1984; Tohfa

The Bollywood hit machine... Sridevi and Jeetendra in Tohfa - released on February 3, 1984, the biggest hit of the year. 

Sridevi and Jeetendra had a phenomenal start together in 1983, churning out one hit after another, by 1984, as Tohfa quickly turned into a blockbuster, it was almost a guarantee their movies did great business. 

All the tricks of the trade you hear of now, marketing strategies, having song highlights (which later morphed into 'item numbers'), corporate bookings (except it was called something else back then), toying with the media... Jeetendra created the blueprint for Bollywood and box-office success. 

'84 was also the years serious movies like Saransh, Ketan Mehta's Holi, the films that got all the good press... but the moneymakers were Jeetendra's movies with his regular roller desk of interchangeable heroines like Jaya Prada, Rekha, Reena Roy, Bhanu Priya etc. 

Left: Filmfare, January 1984 edition!

1983 has been an eventful year for star watches: Shabana Azami, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, Sridevi 

 

Sridevi with Jeetendra

Though he had nothing to do with the film Naaka Bandi, Sridevi's frequent co-star, Jeetendra, appeared to support his leading lady at the launch of the film. 

More in the archive here.