Energetic '80s

Think ’80s, think pop. Everything that generation X ever came to adore was born in the ’80s. It was an eclectic period in Indian cinema when commercial potboilers, art cinema and swinging disco music were all definite parts of culture. If it was creative it was accepted. Perhaps this was the most experimental phase of Indian movies. It was a time to take risks and every risk would pay off. By the end of the decade, art cinema did lose its lustre. But  the ’80s made sure many modern movie legends got rocking careers. In these few years there was no place for the old... only unlimited opportunities for the new, unique and bizarre.

 
The rise and rise of Smita Patil
The meteoric rise of Smita Patil’s popularity was one of the highlights of the ’80s. She may have done memorable movies like Nishant, Manthan and Bhumika in the ’70s, but it was her efforts to balance between art and mart that won her the big raves. On one hand she was winning hosannas in movies like Aakrosh, Arth, Bazaar and Ardh Satya and at the same time she was being lauded for her performances in Namak Halal and Shakti. Her roles were intense and carried gravity, in an age where women actors were largely overshadowed by men. In a period of just eight years, she carved her name on the billboards even as she waded through her tumultuous relationship with Raj Babbar. Even her rivalry with Shabana Azmi and her staunch feminist stance found a place in the limelight. Her end was as hasty as her ascent. She passed away due to complications in child birth in 1986. And the world could just not believe that their favourite actress was gone.

Gulzar versus Rekha
It wasn’t just alleged romances that made for spicy news, star fights and tiffs were a regular on the Filmfare roster of gossip. A particular cold war between Gulzar and Rekha garnered much attention. It was the clash of egos that spoilt the cordial relationship between Gulzar and Rekha. It all happened on the set of Namkeen (1982). Gulzar was of the opinion that, being director his was the final authority on the set. But Rekha thought being a star she was privileged to do anything. Finally, Rekha opted out of the film and Gulzar cast Sharmila Tagore in the role.

Amitabh Bachchan’s near death experience
On July 26, 1982, while filming Coolie in Bangalore, Amitabh Bachchan suffered a near fatal intestinal injury, while filming a fight scene with co-actor Puneet Issar. Bachchan was required to fall onto a table. As he jumped towards the table, the corner struck his abdomen. He required an emergency splenectomy. He remained critically ill in hospital, at times close to death. The national hysteria included prayers in temples, offers to sacrifice limbs to save him. And there were long queues of well-wishing fans outside the Breach Candy hospital where he was recuperating.

Bachchan’s political gaffe
In 1984, Amitabh Bachchan took a break from acting and briefly entered politics in support of longtime family friend, Rajiv Gandhi. He contested the Allahabad seat of 8th Lok Sabha against HN Bahuguna, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and won by one of the highest victory margins in election history 68.2% of the votes. His political career, however, was shortlived: he resigned after three years, reportedly calling politics ‘a cesspool’. The resignation followed the implication of Bachchan and his brother Ajitabh in the Bofors scandal by a Swedish newspaper, which he took to court. Bachchan was eventually found not guilty by the concerned judicial authorities.

Rise and fall of Sanjay Dutt
Controversies were just a sundry part of Sanjay Dutt's life. His romantic overtures and his so called anti-social tendencies added to his lifestyle. Soon after he debuted with Rocky in 1981, there were rumours he’d booze and run around with a loaded gun, he’d stock drugs, he was apparently unsteady because Tina Minum had ditched him. It was a wild phase.   

Dharam-Hema turn Parents
The Dharmendra and Hema Malini romance finally culminated into marriage after a dramatic series of events in the early ’80s. Allegedly, Dharam and Hema had to convert to Islam and read their vows. The dust settled soon and when their first child Esha Deol was born.

Parallel cinema captures the market
Even though the parallel film movement started in the ’50s and picked up steam in the ’70s, it was in the ’80s that the movement found its peak. Directors like Gulzar, Shyam Benegal, Mani Kaul and later on Mahesh Bhatt, Sudhir Mishra and Govind Nihalani spearheaded the movement. A whole new breed of young actors, including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Amol Palekar, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah came to the fore.

Casting coup of the century
Yash Chopra’s casting coup for Silsila was the hottest bit of news. Filmfare, naturally, had all the insider scoop. About the coming together of Amitabh, wife Jaya and Rekha in Silsila. This after Smita Patil and Parveen Babi were replaced last minute. The movie was easily the dramatic story of the decade. One story doing the rounds was that Jaya had reportedly warned Amitabh that she’d leave him if the film flopped. But if the film were to succeed Amitabh would have to leave his alleged ladylove Rekha. The biggest loss in the scenario was for Yash Chopra, who couldn’t cater to his normal policy of a film succeeding and him making another with the same cast.

Rajesh-Dimple: A marriage gone wrong
It was the perfect example of the dark side of the movie world. Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna’s household was brewing with domestic unrest. Reportedly, Dimple would be scared to meet her ‘fading superstar’ husband in the evenings. Rajesh Khanna would let his presence overawe the kids – Twinkle and Rinkie. Dimple and Rajesh were forced to separate in 1984 because their tumultuous relationship had started affecting the children. The couple did not divorce, they even reconciled to a mutual understanding following which Khanna had a much-publicised relationship with Tina Munim.

Passing away of Raj Kapoor
About to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award from the President of India for his contribution to cinema, Raj Kapoor collapsed with an asthmatic attack on his chair itself. In fact, the then President, R Venkataraman walked down the dais to honour the showman. Subsequently, Kapoor was hospitalised for a long spell as he battled asthma. The highlight of his career in the ’80s were his productions Prem Rog and Ram Teri Ganga Maili. His third ambitious production, Henna though remained incomplete as the showman passed away on June 2 in 1988 at the age of 63.

Sanjay Khan’s alleged public assault on Zeenat Aman
No less sensational was Zeenat Aman’s bitter love tale with Sanjay Khan. Zeenat fell in love with the handsome actor, in spite of him being married to Zarine. Their extramarital affair raised many eyebrows. But the real shocker came when Sanjay and Zarine allegedly assaulted Zeenat at a party at the Taj, Mumbai leaving her face marred. Few years later, she married the much-married Mazhar Khan in 1985. That relationship also reportedly soured due to domestic violence and abuse.

Kishore Kumar passes away at the top of the game
Having reached the peak of his career in the ’70s, Kishore Kumar was living it up through the ’80s. The Kishore Kumar-Leena Chandavarkar romance too was a hot topic.
Appreantly, he’d visit Leena Chandavarkar’s house in disguise. They married soon enough and had a son, Sumit. His professional life wasn’t less rocking. His collaborations with RD Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Rajesh Roshan and even Bappi Lahiri allowed him to experiment with more than just romantic ditties. Even his boycott of singing songs for Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty made headlines. Ironically, in October 13, 1987, elder brother Ashok Kumar’s birthday, Kishore passed away of a heart attack.

Paranoia kills the  Parveen Babi-Mahesh Bhatt saga
Parveen Babi and Mahesh Bhatt’s bohemian relationship was the talk of the town back in the early ’80s. The relationship ended when Babi lost herself to schizophrenia and flew off to New York in 1983. Even though she returned to India in 1989, Parveen allegedly continued to live with irrational fears; one being the fear that Amitabh Bachchan wanted to harm her.

Madhuri Dixit makes a big splash
Madhuri Dixit’s journey into the world of cinema was a gradual one. Govind Moonis, a family friend, suggested her name to Rajkumar Barjatya and director Hiren Nag for Abodh. That opened a new chapter in the life of this next door girl. She learnt Kathak, under the tutelage of Shambhu Maharaj. At home her mother coached her in singing. Her debut was a disaster and most people wrote her off. Until, Subhash Ghai spotted her on the set of Sohanlal Kanwar’s Awara Baap. He was mesmerised by her charm and called her a ‘volcano of talent’. This was all the industry needed to relook at Madhuri Dixit. Producers began lining up at her house. Tezaab hit the theatres and she became a sensation overnight. With Ek do teen her countdown to fame had begun.

Sridevi’s dominance at the marquee
Twenty six years ago, she had challenged the hegemony of stardom. The once sex-charged symbol of thunder thighs and gyrating dance moves had tamed the showbiz beast. She was called the next Rekha. Then came the Sridevi versus Jaya Prada saga. She was the only female star to ever refuse films with Amitabh Bachchan. Sri focussed on blockbusters like Mr India. Her pairing with Jeetendra saw hits Tohfa, Himmatwala and Justice Chaudhary.

Age of disco
Thanks to the efforts of Bappi Lahiri, pop artiste and film composer Biddu and Mithun Chakraborty, the age of disco took India by storm in the ’80s. Qurbani ran to packed houses in India, largely on the weight of Aap jaisa koi and Laila o Laila from the Feroz Khan starrer, composed by Biddu. Bappida followed up with a dozen hits like Pyara Dushman with the song Hari Om Hari, Armaan with the song Ramba ho Samba ho and many more.

Anil Kapoor’s dream run
After doing bit roles in movies like Ek Baar Kaho, Shatranj and Humare Tumhare, Anil Kapoor finally caught the eyes of big league producers in the early ’80s. He consolidated his place with supporting roles like in Shakti and Karma. In 1987, Mr India turned out to be a mammoth money-spinner and it relaunched Anil’s career. Right at the fag-end of the ‘80s, successful films like Ram Lakhan catapulted him to the very top.

The arrival of Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan was already married before his debut Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT) released in 1988, but no one had any inkling about it. Aamir came out in the open during the release of QSQT. Reportedly, Aamir who had won over thousands of girls with his Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak charm, left them heartbroken when he announced that he was married to his neighbour Reena. The media speculated that Aamir even wrote love letters in blood to Reena during their courtship.

Salman Khan’s big debut
Maine Pyaar Kiya was dubbed as a ‘teenage musical romance’ and it had a young Sooraj Barjatya wielding the megaphone. The highlight of the movie was that Salim Khan’s son Salman Khan was making his debut as a full-time hero, unlike his cameo in Biwi Ho To Aisi. But Salman was in the news for much more. In particular, for his racing around town with then girlfriend Sangeeta Bijlani.

Sunny Deol-Dimple Kapadia link up
Dimple Kapadia’s and Sunny Deol’s alleged romance has been a mainstay of the film industry’s grapevine for the longest time, right from their film Manzil Manzil. But both denied any romantic involvement. They always chose to go by the ‘we are good friends’ explanation. But the public and the media continued with the conjecture that Sunny was Dimple’s pillar of support and the main reason she got over her tragic times with Rajesh Khanna.