Sridevi: The Last Empress
Sridevi: The Last Empress
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All the latest news about Sridevi and her films

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Why Sridevi & Sanjay Dutt didn't work together?

12/5/2015

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​of course we all know that Sridevi worked with Sanjay Dutt in one film that is Gumrah, but have you wondered before why they never worked in the 1980s? Sanjay Dutt was paired with many actresses from the 1980s be it Padmini Kolhapure, Anita Raj, Amrita Singh, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Madhuri Dixit, Mandakini, Jaya Prada, Farha, Sonam, Rati Agnihotri, Tina Munim & others but never with the No.1 actress of the 80s decade Sridevi?
Well, the answer is there and probably some of you know it. Maybe there are others who don't know about it hence we will explain as the story was told by Sanjay Dutt himself in one of his interviews to Filmfare magazine. Sridevi's side of story is unknown because she never talks about what happens behind the cameras.
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​The incident goes back to 1983 when Sridevi was shooting for Himmatwala. Those days as Sanjay said were not his best days and he was not proud of them. He was hooked on alcohol and drugs most of the time. A friend told him about this chand ka tukda girl (Sridevi) working with Jeetendra. Sanjay went to the sets to see this girl while he was very high! The shooting was outdoors and Sridevi was in her trailer. He knocked the door and Sridevi opened the door.  Sanjay says he cannot remember exactly what he said and how he behaved but it was not a good moment and Sridevi was horrified and  immediately shut the door. That was the first impression Sridevi got from him. A not good one. We don't know if there were movies they were offered together but what we know that if Sridevi was signed as the heroine of a film Sanjay Dutt would not be the hero!
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​In the  end of 1980s when Sridevi was signed for Zameen, she was the first actor who signed the film before all the male actors of the film, Vinod Khanna, Sanjay Dutt & Rajnikanth. The film makers assured her that she will not be having scenes with Sanjay Dutt & that he is paired with Madhuri Dixit. So there was no problem. But that film got shelved due to problems and never saw the light!
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Sridevi with Sanjay Dutt & Shilpa Shirodkar in a scene from Khuda Gawah
After that there was the chance of working together in Khuda Gawah, a movie which Sridevi & Amitabh Bachchan signed in 1988. So many changes happened in the cast and crew of that film. Sanjay Dutt and Farha were casted but they walked out eventually and were replaced by Nagarjuna and Shilpa Shirodkar. Sridevi by that time did not mind working with Sanjay as this film was very important to her. Sanjay Dutt shot many scenes for the film but was very uncomfortable on the sets because of the Jumma Chumma (Hum) & Tamma Tamma (Thanedaar) controversy. Amitabh Bachchan was not happy that Bappi Lahiri copied his film tune and also claimed that he was the first that composed it. Even choreographer Saroj Khan was kicked out of the film due to her attitude problem and she was betting that Tamma Tamma was to be the bigger hit which did not happen. Amitabh and the film makers decided it would be best if she is out of the whole project. Later Saroj was brought back to choreograph one song after Sridevi insisted on having her back.
In this video you can see Amitabh Bachchan talking about the whole issue.
​Many don't know that Jumma Chumma is originally an African song that Laxmikant Pyarelal composed specifically for Amitabh Bachchan & Sridevi's starrer Ram Ki Seeta Shyam Ki Geeta. Ramesh Sippy asked the music director to compose a grand and catchy song that suits the No.1 actor and the No.1 actress to be presented in the mahurat of the film. It is said that Amitabh & Sridevi even shot a portion of the song, but unfortunately the film got shelved. Luckily we have seen both the superstars dancing together to the song in their London concert.
​Then the last chance was Mahesh Bhatt's Gumrah. Mahesh in one of his interviews denied that Sridevi ever asked him to change the hero of the film. He even said that he personally spoke to Sridevi and she clearly told him that she did not mind working with Sanjay Dutt.  Gumrah was a wonderful film and all critics praised the on screen chemistry between Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt. Sajnay Dutt in another interview said that with Sridevi there was only Hi and Hello on the sets and no more communication. He said that even in the last chasing scene where he and Sridevi were holding hands and running when the director said stop Sri moved her hand away from him very fast. He said that she was probably thinking that he is still on drugs and that he does not blame her.
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​Sanjay Dutt is very fond of Sridevi. In one of his interviews again with Filmfare he put her together with his mom Nargis as the best actresses of India. He also chose her as the most beautiful woman in the world. She was the only Indian lady he chose when he was asked this. One of Sanjay Dutt's all time favorite Bollywood films is Sridevi's Chaalbaaz! So all this shows how much he is in awe of her. 
Sridevi on her side was among the first who expressed her distress when Sanjay Dutt was arrested in the early 1990s she even joined with other actors to show her support for Sanajy Dutt. The below picture shows Sridevi standing beside Raveena Tandon and many others in support of her colleague.
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Sridevi & Sanjay Dutt might never act together again, but their film together Gumrah is one beautiful film that has a repeated watching value for all the fans. Both gave  their best and the film is still remembered after so many years.
Below you can watch another video explaining about the Jumma Chumma & Tamma Tamma controversy
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Why is Sridevi the Best Bollywood Dancer?

29/4/2015

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Sridevi's versatility does not stop in her acting and portraying the different characters. It extends to go on to her dances on screen too. We truly believe that Sridevi is the ultimate versatile dancer in Bollywood. Yes, of course there are other good dancers there. But the difference between them and Sridevi is in the versatility and dancing as per the character. That is what makes Sri's dance outshines others. The Queen has different moods for different songs. She is a true actress. Someone who lives her characters and goes into their skins and that include the songs that involves the character too.

There are many many examples. Last can be mentioned is Navrai Majhi from English Vinglish. Sri have a small part dancing in the song but it is not her who is dancing. It is Shashi Godbole. She was totally in character.

Today is the international dance day and we have made the below picture which depicts Sridevi in different moods. She has many dances but we have chosen these 9 dances:

1- Bubbly: Mere Haathon Mein Nau Nau Chudiyan (Chandni): Sridevi in a bubbly mood doing all the dance. Saroj Khan did not want any other girl to dance with her. She said that both she and Yash Chopra wanted the full attention to be on Sridevi. The song is one of the most used in weddings and Sridevi's dance is iconic.

2- Elegant: Tandav (Chandni): Are we exaggerating if we say that there is no more beautiful tandav in the whole history of Indian Cinema than this one? Sridevi in white is so elegant and gorgeous that it really makes this like an unearthly or a dream sequence.  It is too good that words are not there to explain. This has to be the most elegantly danced and looked tandav.

3- Venomous: Main Teri Dushman (Ngaina): The Song that shot Saroj Khan's name into fame. Even though Saroj was working since the 1960s but it was because of Sridevi that she got a name. Director Harmesh Malhotra said that this song was a normal song and a normal situation but it was because of Sridevi's performance that it became so famous even today. Here you see Rajni confronts her enemy with her sharp facial expressions. 

4- Glamorous: Naino Mein Sapna (Himmatwala): Her glittery costumes, her movements, her beauty all what made this song a big hit. The song is shot very beautifully. Yes there are pans and pots but what stands out here besides the music is Sridevi's dance steps with Jeetendra. 

5- Funny: Hawa Hawai (Mr. India): Saying she is just funny is underestimation. Sridevi or precisely Seema here is just too fun in the song. The lyrics is funny but what brings it to life is her facial expressions specially in that gold costume. That particular facial expression where she closes one eye and winks is completely priceless. 

6- Rage: Dushman Dil Ka Jo Hai Mere (Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja): You want to see rage? then watch this song. Yes grand sets and props but what is more grand is the rage in Sridevi's eyes. The big teary eyes will capture your heart. For us the best moments of this song are when the camera fully focuses on Sridevi's face. The end sequence of the song is magnificent by all means.

7- Sensuous: Har Kisi Ko Nahin Milta (Janbaaz): Sensuous and also Surreal. The song has a catchy beat, an awesome lyrics. but the contribution Sridevi gave to this song is immense. This was to be shot in western clothes but Sri insisted on the sari. She told Feroz Khan that if he did not like it she is ready to reshoot in Western. The cat walk sequence was the first shot. Everyone was so impressed by Sri. Feroz Khan told his cinematographer "She is angel. I want her to fly in the sky" From there the cinematographer added the background skies to the song. Boney Kapoor challenged Shekhar Kapur to represent Sri as sensuous in Mr. India which he did in Kaate Nahin Katte. But we still think that Janbaaz song has more sensuality to it.

8- Folkloric: Morni Baga Ma Bole (Lamhe) Pallavi dancing to the voice of Lata Mangeshkar in Rasjthan's desert. The Yellow blue outfit was such a beauty to look at but it was the saucer eyed Sridevi that you would stare at all the time. The song is such a treat to listen to and watch. It is one of the highlights of the film.

9- Comedian: Na Jane Kahan Se Aayee Hai (Chaalbaaz): Have you ever felt Sridevi resembled those beautiful anime characters? If you never felt so then probably you have not seen this song. Her look, the way she dressed, her big eyes. She is so cute and funny just like those cute anime characters. The portion where she holds her white umbrella and the last part of the song where it says zu zu zu zu zu make you feel that an anime film just became real and that beautiful character came to live!

Sridevi has many more memorable dances but we thought to present the distinctive ones that truly prove that she is the best Bollywood dancer.

Happy International Dance Day guys!
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Sridevi & Jeetendra - A Super Hit Team

13/4/2015

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Few days ago we have celebrated the jumping jack Jeetendra's birthday (7th of April) so this post will be about Jeetndra's super hit pairing with Sridevi. Jeetendra was a huge Sridevi fan right before she made her debut in Hindi films. He was very keen to work with her and he suggested her name to the director K. Raghvendra Rao to be his heroine in Himmatwala. Himmatwala was a remake of Jaya Prada's Telugu film Ooriki Monagadu (1981). Jaya was upset with Jeetendra for not taking her instead of Sridevi. She did not speak with him for three months because of that.

Jeetendra went on to make a very successful team with Sridevi. They acted in 16 films together of which 13 were hits. Sridevi was the last heroine that Jeetendra made a very successful team with. After her there was no heroine that he could have made a successful pair with, even though he acted with Meenkashi Sheshadri, Madhuri Dixit, Bhanupriya, Kimi Katkar & others in more than one movie but none of them made a successful pairing with him. The south remakes specially those with Sridevi have extended Jeentendra's film career by more than a decade. ​
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​The most successful heroines pairings with Jeetendra besides Sridevi are Jaya Prada, Hema Malini, Rekha and Reena Roy. He gave several hits with each one of them. But what makes his pairing with Sridevi stands out the most than the rest are several things. In one of his interviews when he was asked about his heroines Jeetendra said that audience and his fans have always complimented him and liked his pairing with Sridevi more. He said that he has been told many times that they look really good together on screen.

Another thing to note is that Jeetendra worked in less films with Sridevi than the rest yet the success ratio of his films with Sridevi were higher than other heroines. Jaya Prada comes as a second, Hema Malini comes in third place while Rekha and Reena Roy come in the fourth and fifth places. The below picture shows the number of films Jeetendra worked with each of his hit pairing heroines and the success ratio of the pairing depending on the number of hits given.

We hope Jeetendra had a very happy birthday and we thank him for his contribution to the Indian cinema. 
Happy Birthday Jeetuji!
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