Mithun and Sridevi: May 1984 Cine Blitz: When the Rumours First Started!!

As early as May 1984, film magazines were publishing rumours about the infamous Sridevi -- Mithun scandal. 

In fact, Cine Blitz published a news bite on the two regularly -- as did most Bollywood tabloids. 

Cine Blitz, May 1985

Cine Blitz, 1987

Celebrating Sridevi and Mithun's last film--and Bollywood Blockbuster--together: Guru (1989)

Released on February 24, 1989, Guru was a massive hit for Sridevi and Mithun, ending their four-film association with a bang. 

Yet another double role for Sridevi, kicking off 1989 with a blockbuster with co-star Mithun should have been great news, but Guru is however by no means a favourite of anyone I know. In fact, Sridevi said in several interviews that working in this Umesh Mehra directed film was the single "worst experience" of her professional life. Heck, Sridevi even took the team to court!  

But in Bollywood; a hit, is a hit, is a hit! And Guru opened huge and went on to celebrate a silver jubilee. 1989 was unquestionably Sridevi's year, a few personal hiccups aside, Sridevi bookended the year with back-to-back hits and critical acclaim with a double Best Actress nomination for both Chandni and Chaalbaaz. 

The songs of Guru were a smash hit; the Alisha Chinai sung numbers topped the charts. The only other plus point I can think of today, is that we got to see two of the great icons of Indian cinema together; multiple award-winning and legendary actress Nutan worked with young Sridevi in this film. Nutan worked with Sridevi in four films and sadly passed away in 1991.

Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty: the Stardust staple!

In the mid 1980s, there was no bigger scandal than the alleged affair between the Number One leading lady in Indian cinema, Sridevi, versus the Bengali Babu Mithun Chakraborty. 

Their scandalous on-set rumoured relationship was the talk of the town and reams of magazines printed features and images on the two in hushed tones and bold headlines. Like this Stardust cover story from 1987! Though neither of them officially ever spoke of it or on the topic, quotes were stitched together to create salacious narratives. Four films later, as Sridevi's career escalated, Mithun's dramatically declined. They never worked together despite giving three back-to-back blockbusters, between 1984-1989, as the family couldn't cope with the tabloid frenzy.  

Both stars were Stardust staples; whispers and quotes from "insiders" and unnamed friends were cobbled together for cover stories. The tabloids couldn't get either star to pose together for a still photograph (unless on a film set), so they had to stitch together different pics eg above, Sridevi's regal still from Sultanat with a separate shot of Mithun Chakraborty. 

Till date we are asked, did they or didn't they marry, let alone have a fling in the 1980s. Well, as we weren't there on set and there's scant evidence of their "marriage", we're going to let this one slide without comment. 

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. 

Mithun with Sridevi vs Sridevi with Boney Kapoor: The Tabloid Daze and Knights

Mithun with Sridevi vs Sridevi with Boney Kapoor: The Tabloid Daze and Knights! Of scandal, rumour and headlines. 

Is Mithun Divorcing Yogeeta to Marry Sridevi? In a word, NO!

Oh Indian tabloids were wild! Bollywood stars had no recourse either - filing a case against writers and publishers were an expensive and insanely long drawn-out process that served little. Stars had to opt to look the other way.

Now with Instagram and direct access to fans and a wide number of people stars can release an immediate statement. Sometimes carefully crafted, otherwise, leading to haphazard results on Twitter!  
 

Sridevi in 1980s denims

 

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. 

How it started, how it ended: Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty

How it started, how it ended: Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty. From Jaag Utha Insan to Guru 

Mithun and Sridevi

The hottest topic of tabloid fever dreams; Mithun and Sridevi. 1980s were all about these two superstars. 
 

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. 

Mithun and Sridevi in the Hindi film Waqt Ki Awaz (1988)

Mithun and Sridevi in the Hindi film Waqt Ki Awaz (1988)

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, Moushumi Chatterjee, Sunil Dutt and Mithun Chakraborty in Watan Ke Rakhwale (1987)

Watan Ke Rakhwale (1987) had such an incredible cast, with legends like Ashok Kumar, Dharmendra,  Sunil Dutt, Prem Chopra, Moushumi Chatterjee, Kader Khan with the top stars of the 1980s like Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty. 

Was a huge hit despite lukewarm reviews. 

Mithun with Sridevi

 

Mithun with Sridevi

In their first film together - Jaag Utha Insan - its easily one of their better films. 

Pity this wonderful film wasn't a blockbuster - when the following three films they appeared in was. 

TBT: Oh! What a lovely War! Feuding Mithun and Sridevi

Oh! What a lovely War! Feuding Mithun and Sridevi 
 

One thing you have to credit Lady No:1 is professionalism. Despite all those stories about Mithun Chakraborty and all her denials and the subsequent cooling-off., Sridevi is doing two films (A.F.Nadiadwala's yet untitled film and Guru)--even though they give the impression of not being on talking terms. 

But as an inebriated lyricist put it at the Guru mahurat bash: "See, Mithun is still desperate to marry Sridevi. But her mother's threated to disown her. So she doesn't look at him any more and he's just hoping for a change of heart. After all, Hema Malini also kept Dharmendra waiting for years, didn't she?" And you wish lyricists wouldn't babble too much after whiskey. If Mithun and Sridevi loo too romantic in these pics taken on the sets of Nadiadwala's film, it's because they are both good performers! 

Sridevi, Mithun, Rakesh Roshan in K Vishwanath's classic Jaag Utha Insan

Easily one of Sridevi's most underrated films, performances and dances in Jaag Utha Insan was released on 6 July 1984, ie 39 years ago today. 

If you haven't seen it yet - pls do. And be amazed at young Sri, all of 21, stuns in the movie - a true blue screen Goddess. 

Mithun and Sridevi camp it up: 35 years of Bollywood hit Waqt ki Awaz

Mithun and Sridevi camp it up in Waqt ki Awaz (1988) 

The fifth biggest hit of 1988 (Tezaab took top slot that year), there was no denying the on-screen magic of Mithun and Sridevi films. The most requested by mostly Russian fans. We don't get it... but hey, it takes all kinds. 

Personally not a fan of three of the four films they did together, but there's no denying the box office appeal of their cine magic.