Released 36 years ago today, the Rajesh Khanna - Sridevi Hindi film Masterji was a big box office hit (in fact the 12th biggest hit of 1985), but the bad press that Sridevi got for it, changed the course of her career. Sridevi stopped doing roles with revealing outfits, overt sexuality, double entendre dialogues and famously glared at choreographers if they suggested dance steps or movements beyond her comfort zone. She also stopped working with the notoriously moody and mercurial superstar Rajesh Khanna.
Sridevi's naiveite was visible when she expressed genuine shock and surprise at the flak she received by the media - and when the film was released with an "Adult" certificate, Sri, famous for having a large fan base of young people, was stunned. It was one of the few times Sridevi dismissed the film from her long list of box-office hits and never discussed the movie again. She also let her displeasure be known to the producers and makers for the way it was shot, the choreography, the suggestive dances and so on.
Sridevi's no was a firm no, in the past she famously went along to get along. Never creating a scene or obstruction while shooting a film. In a way, it helped Sridevi understand her own power as she set the rules then on, never kowtowing to intimidating producers, directors or co-stars.
Compared to the social mores of today, the film is tame, would barely raise an eye-brow, but back in the mid 1980s, Bollywood was a different minefield; some great films flopped (Jaag Utha Insaan) while unexpected ones - like this and every film she did with Khanna - rocked the box-office.
Archive of Sridevi and Rajesh Khanna features and images from the film Masterji here.
