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. 

TBT: August 1986: The Reunion of Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty: Cine Blitz Scoop!

Excerpt; 

Seth Studios witnessed the launching of Guru, on Saturday, August 16 [1986]. Produced by R.C.Prakash, the film is directed by Umesh Mehra. what really intrigued people was the star pair of Mithun-Sridevi, who had sworn not to act together. Hearsay has it that the producer and director who are friendly with the pair, got them together. The mahurat was followed by a party at SeaRock. The highlight of this occasion, were two torch-bearers who led the leading lady, to a cake. Not a very starry turnout of Shakti Kapoor, Roopesh Kumar and Sridevi’s sister Srilatha, attended. Nevertheless, it was crowded with distributors and producers from Bombay and the South. They’ve probably all waiting for the reconciliation of Mithun-Sridevi, so as to grab he opportunity. 

August 1996, the mahurat/launch of the film Guru, with the most talked about superstars, Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty, reuniting at a party was 'the' event of the year. These images went viral - and the garlands sealed their fate as the images were seen as a tacit signal that the two had secretly married, despite zero evidence or verifiable quotes from either of them! They themselves never spoke of their alleged relationship, but it didn't stop the press from publishing the news that the two most famous Indian actors of the 1980s. The used to the images of them in garlands as proof that they had secretly married--with no paper trail or actual photographs of this alleged wedding as evidence. Just pure speculation and innuendo. Every year, the same news cycle gets repeated with no one to deny or confirm it. 

The endless hug: Mithun with Sridevi in their last film together: Guru

The endless hug: Mithun with Sridevi! Well, not really a hug, more of a hold Sridevi had on Mithun!  

Both knew as they appeared on the set of the last film they did together, any and every moment would be recorded for posterity by the notoriously difficult, scandal-prone and intrusive tabloids of the 1980s. This simple shot for a scene in Guru--circa 1988--was in every Indian tabloid. These two stars fuelled so much tabloid press and gossip. The movie was shot over 1987-88 in multiple schedules. You can see Sridevi in every size, fashion and makeup style! 80s was a logistic mess in Bollywood! 

Guru released on 24 February 1989 and was a runaway hit, but the two stars never worked (met or spoke!) of the other, ever again. Funnily enough, Mithun went on to work with another Guru - Mani Rathnam's fantastic film in 2007, with Ash and Abhishek in the lead, which was a critical and commercial success. 

Guru was a hit film for both, but 1989 was the year of Sridevi - she went on to feature in 9 other films culminating the year with a double whammy of Chaalbaaz and Chandni, ending the decade with a complete reign over Indian cinema. 

Before Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi had her own Ek Do Teen... With Mithun Chakraborty in Waqt ki Awaaz (1988)

Well, did ya know Sridevi had her own Ek Do Teen before Madhuri Dixit did?! Well, Waqt Ki Awaz  featured this hit song and dance routine with Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty! Out of the four films they appeared in this was one of the three blockbusters. There was a time when it looked like these two together couldn't give a flop as every film upon film grew in box-office. Then... it all fizzled out. 

Sridevi and Mithun in Guru

 

Sridevi and Mithun in Guru - a massive hit of the 1980s. 

Dozens of pics from this film in the archive here.

Sridevi and Mithun rock out in the 80s in Bollywood

Sridevi and Mithun rock out in the 80s in Bollywood 
 

Mithun turns 73

Mithun Chakraborty turns 73 today. 

He may have worked with other actresses in far more films, but the success and box office blockbusters, Mithun mostly had in films with Sridevi. 

Till date fans from Russia (and around that region) all have a stockpile of Sridevi and Mithun pics, movies and massive fandom. 

Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi in Jaag Utha Insan (1984)

Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi in Jaag Utha Insan (1984)

Dozens of pics of Mithun with Sridevi in this memorable film here.

 

Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty in Waqt ki Awaz (1988)

Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty on the sets of the film Waqt ki Awaz (1988). A huge hit in the 1980s in Bollywood. 

Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi in the Hindi film Guru

Mithun and Sridevi in their last blockbuster together, the 80s hit Guru. 

A film that didn't age well... 

Happy Birthday Mithun da: Indian actor turns 72

Is it a toothpaste ad? Lol. Perfect smiles of Mithun and Sridevi from a still from their film. 

Today, Mithun Chakraborty turns 72! 

Of the four films they did together, three were superhits. 

And oddly enough, their best film, their first film together Jaag Utha Insan was the only good one! And their only flop.  

Go figure.   

 

Rare Clip: Mithun Chakraborty talks about dancing with Sridevi

Wow! Rare clip. So much has been written about the complicated, unverified history between two superstars of Bollywood of the 1980s, Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi. 

This really is a fan clip of Mithun praising the dancing skills and performance of his co-star Sridevi, who he was working with for the first time in Jaag Utha Insan back in 1984. 

While Sridevi ascended to Number One actress status, superstardom like no other female star in India - ever - Mithun chose an alternative path. Despite being a capable actor and dancer, he spiraled down making B to C grade movies in an odd kamikaze spin that defies logic. He appeared in 16 films in 1989 alone - the only blockbuster he had was Guru (1989), the last film he did with Sri. 

His co-stars went from Sridevi, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla to... newcomers who barely had a scintilla of talent or clothing. When you see Mithun da perform in Guru (not the one he did with Sridevi, but the one with Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai), you think, wow, what could have been an exemplarity career of a thespian, he opted to rake in money in mediocre and less-than mediocre films. His Ooty films became a category and cottage industry of its own. Perhaps he had financial constraints and obligations? Who knows.  

Oh well, Bollywood - all that glitz and glamour, from the surreal to the unreal. They have it all... 

And of course, the ethereal Sridevi.

Sridevi and Mithun in Waqt ki Awaz (1988)

Sridevi and Mithun on the sets of Waqt ki Awaz (1988). 

Dozens of pics in earlier post here.

Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborthy on the sets of Waqt ki Awaz (1988)

Rare images of Mithun Chakraborthy and Sridevi on the sets of the Hindi film Waqt ki Awaaz (1988). One of the three blockbusters the two delivered. 

Sridevi was strongly against kissing on screen so these gentle cheek peck exchanges between Mithun and Sridevi - was about as touchy-feely as Sri got on screen. 

Above: The only handful of times Sridevi kissed on screen - that too, only on the cheek. In the song Ladki Akeli Tu Bhi Akela from the film Waqt Ki Awaaz (1987)

Sridevi's elaborate look for Waqt ki Awaz (1988)

Sridevi snapped on the sets of a song and dance routine back in the 1980s. Rare series of pics from the set of Waqt ki Awaz (1988).

Mithun Chakraborthy was an able dance partner for Sridevi, both were known for their moves back in the '80s.

Mithun Chakraborty looks on as choreographer and the definitive Bollywood dance director Saroj Khan instructs the definitive leading lady, Sridevi - on the sets of the hit film Waqt ki Awaaz - back in 1988. Stills from the film were on several tabloid covers!