Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on set

Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on the set of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa. 

Today is the producer, writer, lyricist, director's birth anniversary. Saawan Kumar Tak wrote some incredible songs and films in his career, tragically, none for Sridevi. 

Sridevi with Saawan Kumar Tak: Rare pic

On the sets of the ill-fated Chaand Kaa Tukdaa, Sridevi with famed lyricist, film producer and director Saawan Kumar Tak. 

Born on 9 August 1936, today we honour his birth anniversary. 

Rare photo: Director Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa

Rare photo: Director Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa 
 

Sridevi with writer producer, director Saawan Kumar Tak: Rare pic

Sridevi with writer producer, director Saawan Kumar Tak: Rare pic
 

Producer/Director Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on set

 Producer/Director Saawan Kumar Tak with Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa. 

Remembering producer, director Saawan Kumar Tak on his birth anniversary

Remembering producer, director Saawan Kumar Tak on his birth anniversary today. 

He's made memorable films in the past, pity it wasn't the one he did with Sri. But we remember legends for their best work, not their mediocre. Legend has it, he was a charming man (and a great lyricist and poet) who let his leading ladies shine in his films. 

Born 9 August 1936, its his 87th birth anniversary today. 

Producer/director Saawan Kumar Tak's love for Sridevi: TBT to Jan 1993

So what's the outlook for Bollywood actors for the year 1993? Well, according to famed lyricist, film producer and director Saawan Kumar Tak, it's Sridevi all the way. An excerpt from Filmfare, Jan 1993.

Saawan Kumar Tak, "Sridevi will remain No 1, Madhuri Dixit No 2, while Juhi Chawla will be at the No 3 position.

Juhi has a lot of potential and can go far. Sridevi will rule in 1993, Gumraah, Chaand ka Tukdaa, Chandra Mukhi will see to that. Madhuri has been lucky to make it so good, performance wise she's no patch on Sridevi.

Sunny Deol will remain on the scene as he's only doing selected films. Salman Khan will be back in the running when his new films are released this year. Anil Kapoor is a dependable actor but his problem has been that his heroines have always walked away with the laurels. It's not his fault. 

Sridevi always chooses films in which she has the better role, she's very calculating. She's signed films with Akshay Kumar because the roles give her ample scope to prove herself

Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan will be in full form from March/April after their new releases. Shahrukh Khan is a fluke - he hasn't had a solo hero hit,  Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman hasn't done well except in Bombay. He has yet to match Salman Khan's Maine Pyar Kiya or Sanjay Dutt's Sadak, and he can't be banked on to carry a film on his own shoulders. Ajay Devgan is an action hero, we have to see how long he can carry it off. Everyone wants to get into Amitabh Bachchan's shoes but they forget Amitabh is an all-rounder. Jigar is a hit but Ajay is good only in its action sequences, he's dull and flat when he's not indulging in fisticuffs. His full potential can only be gouged when he plays an emotional role, minus the action. Aamir Khan's talent is restricted to young romantic roles."0

Saawan Kumar Tak,
Film Producer & Director
Filmfare Magazine, January 1993

Sawan Kumar Tak has signed Sridevi opposite Salman Khan in his ambitious film Chand Ka Tukda. 

"She's the only Chand ka Tukda i could think of... after seeing thousands of photographs and meeting hundreds of girls in the past few months."

In case anybody thought that Salman might look too young, Sawan Kumar has the answer: "Have you seen Sridevi recently? She looks 16. And just beautiful-perhaps she's the most beautiful woman in the world today. It's up to me to present my star pair the way I want them to... Sridevi and Salman are just right for my film"

-- Filmfare, August 1991

RIP Saawan Kumar Tak: Writer, director and Producer passes away at age 86

We woke up to hear the sad news that Saawan Kumar Tak passed away yesterday (August 25, 2022).  Writer, director and producer Tak was 86. He worked with Sridevi in only one film - Chaand Kaa Tukdaa. These images from the sets of the film in the early 1990s in Mumbai. 

The Star & Style tell-all interview; Saawan Kumar Spills The Beans!

Saawan Kumar Tak, "No personal connection with Sridevi." "Good understanding with Juhi Chawla..."

TBT: The way Salman Khan looks at Sridevi... and Sri at Salman.

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It really was a mutual admiration society between Sridevi and Salman Khan. Why else would she do the half-baked films Chandramukhi and Chand Ka Tukda?! 

TBT: Salman Khan, Sawan Kumar Tak and Sridevi: Salman Khan mesmerised by gorgeous Sridevi on set

Actor Salman Khan, lyricist, producer and director Saawan Kumar Tak and Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa.

Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa: Sri's gorgeous golden ensemble

Sridevi during the dances of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa - with the film's director Saawan Kumar Tak and choreographer Saroj Khan. One of Sridevi's best dances on film, Aaj Radha ko Shaam... 

Left: Rare, rare pic of Sridevi leaving her vanity van, decked to the hilt for her dance performance, looking exquisite. 

Salman Khan can't take his eyes off Sridevi: Rare pic on Set with Saawan Kumar Tak

On the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa, here's actor Salman Khan with the film's writer/producer/director Saawan Kumar Tak and leading lady Sridevi.

Salman Khan with Sridevi: Superstars together over the years

The duo seem fascinated with the other. Too cute. Salman Khan and Sridevi on the sets of Chand Ka Tukda (L) and at the premiere of No Entry (R) in 1994 and 2005 respectively. 

Below, when Salman Khan cajoled Sridevi out of her self-imposed retirement and made her appear on his TV show after a ten-year break (This was when English Vinglish was still far, far away!) back in 2010. The most nonchalant of stars, even Salman Khan was in awe of Sri's celebrity and asked her to pose with him for a selfie! 'Twas too cute.

Salman Khan, Sridevi, ?? and Prabhu Deva

When even a superstar wants a selfie with superstarni! Sridevi with Salman Khan on the sets of his TV show

Golden Gal: Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa: Bollywood dance costume

Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa, during the making of the amazing song, Aaj Raadha ko Shaam Yaad Aa Gaya.

A truly awful film with a few moments worth watching simply to see Sri look gorgeous, esp in the songs!

Writer/director Saawan Kumar Tak, Sridevi and choreographer Saroj Khan

Sridevi on the sets of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994): Sri with director Saawan Kumar Tak, Shatrughan Sinha

Sridevi on the sets of the title song of Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994). 

Below pic, Sridevi, producer/director Sawan Kumar Tak, actor Shatrughan Singha and Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (Chief Minister of Rajasthan at the time).

More rare pics of Sridevi on the sets of the film - with a frequently absent Salman Khan. The empty chair says a lot...