As Madhuri Dixit makes her comeback to Hindi films after a gap of five years, we look back at how the comeback of other reigning actresses of their time was received by Bollywood fans.
Mumtaz: She started her career as a junior artist before graduating to the big league. Following her marriage to businessman, Mayur Madhwani, she quit films and went on to settle in the UK. Her last release then was Aaina (1977) which was remade recently as Laaga Chunari Mein Daag with Rani playing the same character that Mumtaz did in this tear jerker. She made a comeback 13 years later with a David Dhawan film, Aandhiyaan (1990) but could not revive the same magic this time, playing a mother's role. Taking a cue, she never did any more films.
Zeenat Aman: She had the 70s swinging to her Dum Maro Dum beat, followed by a string of successes doing glamorous roles right till the mid 80s. She married actor Mazhar Khan and quit films. Her last film as a lead was Gawahi (1989) opposite actor turned director Shekhar Kapoor. Her comeback was in the English film, Boom (2003) playing secretary to her yesteryear co-star Amitabh Bachchan. This universally panned film diminished her hopes of signing more projects. She presently has one obscure B-grader on her hand titled Sirf Romance.
Dimple Kapadia: After making a sensational debut with Raj Kapoor's teenage love story Bobby at the age of 16, Dimple left everything to get married to then reigning superstar Rajesh Khanna. She came back to films after a gap of 11 years to support her family following a separation with Khanna. Her comeback film, Zakhmi Sher, a typical south remake masala potboiler was a total washout. Her actual comeback film proved to be two years later - Saagar with her Bobby co-star Rishi Kapoor. Following this there was no looking back for her for over a decade.
Sridevi: She was the undisputed ruler from the mid 80s for over a decade, despite heavy competition from Madhuri Dixit. After getting married to producer Boney Kapoor, she completely stopped working for films for seven years after her last release, Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhoota (1997). She attempted a comeback through television series, Mrs. Malini Iyer in 2004 but it flopped badly and so did her hopes of making it back to the big screen. Reports have been floating that she is expected to make a comeback yet again with her Mr. India (1987) sequel.
Kajol: She was perhaps the only Bollywood actress to make a hugely successful comeback. She had married Ajay Devgan in 1999 and reduced her acting assignments post that. But post best pal Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001) opposite her most successfully paired hero Shah Rukh Khan, she took a sabbatical for five years. While everyone was expecting her to make comeback with SRK in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), she surprised all by returning in Fanaa (2006) opposite Aamir Khan. She is now acting in hubby Ajay's directorial debut, U, Me Aur Hum and has also reportedly signed, KJo's next My Name Is Khan opposite SRK.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Kumkum Bhagya
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