'Sridevi Fainted On Set, Lost A Tooth': Why Her Film With Akshay Kumar Was Shelved
Sridevi's delayed film with Akshay Kumar finally released in 2004, but director Pankaj Parashar says it went off track due to Ram Gopal Varma. Here's what happened.
There's a lesser-known film buried in Bollywood history that featured two of its biggest stars: Sridevi and Akshay Kumar. It was titled Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahi, and while it was shot in the early 90s, it didn't see the light of day until 2004. By then, the buzz had fizzled, and the release barely made a ripple. Now, more than two decades later, director Pankaj Parashar is finally opening up about what actually went wrong – and why he still blames Ram Gopal Varma for derailing the project.
In a candid new interview with Friday Talkies, Pankaj Parashar revisited the string of unfortunate events that brought the film to a halt. And it all started with a bit of unsolicited advice. 'Ek film aur aayi thi sir meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin woh kaafi lambe samay tak hold hui. Maine kya bola, har picture ki janampatri hoti hai. It was going well that my friend Ram Gopal Varma, I blame him totally for that because he kept telling Sridevi, 'lose weight, lose weight, lose weight,'" Parashar said.
Trying to follow the pressure, Sridevi reportedly went on a crash diet that spiraled into a serious health scare. 'She went on a crash course, oh, and when she does that, and she stopped salt, BP drops and she faints. Toh she fainted and hits the table and she was unconscious for 20 minutes and she lost a tooth," he revealed. 'Toh hamara poora schedule gaya. Otherwise, the movie was going anyway because of that and she hit her face and all that and because of that it went off the rails. Financier went away, producer died. All those things happen, hmm. Toh maine chhod di picture, kya karein?"
It was an unexpected twist in a project that should've been a hit. With Akshay Kumar and Sridevi on board, and a story that could've appealed to fans of both stars, the film had strong potential. But with repeated delays, lost funding and even the death of the producer, Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahi ended up being shelved for years.
Parashar, known for directing the cult classic Chaalbaaz, had worked with Sridevi before. That film – a remake of Hema Malini's Seeta Aur Geeta – saw her in double roles alongside Rajinikanth and Sunny Deol. It remains one of her most iconic performances.
Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahi eventually released quietly in 2004, with barely any fanfare.
First Published:
July 27, 2025, 08:58 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
He shifted to US and became a techie but once played Amitabh Bachchan in big Bollywood movies
Alankar Joshi: A Star Child Who Switched to Software Ravi Valecha: From Screen to Hospitality Mayur Raj Verma: From Abhimanyu to Restaurateur In the golden era of Hindi cinema, few faces were as recognisable as the young boys who portrayed Amitabh Bachchan 's childhood versions on screen. From Deewar to Coolie, these child actors captured hearts with their performances and often became more in demand than adult leads. But as the years passed, each of these promising talents chose a different path—some moved abroad, others built empires, while a few simply disappeared from the of the most prominent names among Bollywood's child actors in the 1970s was Alankar Joshi, popularly known as Master Alankar. He appeared in over 100 Hindi films and delivered memorable performances in titles like Seeta Aur Geeta, Majboor, and Deewar, where he played the young Vijay, the character portrayed by Amitabh sister, actor Pallavi Joshi, shared in a Friday Talkies interview that it was Amitabh Bachchan himself who suggested casting Alankar in Deewar. She recalled her brother's sharp observational skills on set, including how he noticed a shirt knot Bachchan used in a scene and asked director Yash Chopra if he could replicate his early fame, Alankar found it difficult to continue acting as an adult. He briefly explored direction and production in Marathi cinema but eventually left the industry. He turned to software programming, moved to the U.S., and worked in IT for two years before starting his own company. According to Pallavi, he has been in the U.S. for over three decades and now runs a successful business. Media reports estimate his net worth at around Rs 200 crore. His daughters have pursued acting careers in Hollywood, while his son is a budding professionally as Master Ravi, Ravi Valecha played the younger version of Amitabh Bachchan in hits like Amar Akbar Anthony, Coolie, and Mr. Natwarlal. He was often referred to as 'Chhota Amitabh' and worked with major stars like Dilip Kumar and Rishi Kapoor during the peak of his began acting at the age of four and rose to fame by the late 1970s. However, like many child stars, he did not find similar success as an adult actor. Eventually, he left the film industry, earned a diploma in Hotel Management, and completed an MBA with specialisations in Hospitality and International Business. Today, he is a well-known figure in the hospitality sector and mentors students in personality development and soft skills for industry readiness, as reported by celebrated child actor was Master Mayur, whose real name is Mayur Raj Verma. Known for playing the young Amitabh in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Laawaris, he was the highest-paid child actor of his time. He later gained further recognition as Abhimanyu in BR Chopra's entry into cinema was serendipitous. His mother, a journalist, met director Prakash Mehra during an interview and offered her son's photo when Mehra was casting a child who resembled Amitabh Bachchan. The rest was a successful streak that included films like Sharabi and Love in Goa, Mayur eventually stepped away from acting. He moved to Wales, married celebrity chef Noori, and together they built a thriving restaurant business in Indiana. Today, he is involved in multiple successful ventures and has accumulated wealth reportedly in the billions.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Actor with 14 flops took Ajay Devgn's role in blockbuster, promised 100 films with director, hasn't spoken to him in 20 years
If you look at Akshay Kumar's career trajectory, there has been phases of hits and flops. While his early films, including his debut Saugandh (1991), failed to earn him fame, Khiladi (1992) turned him into an overnight sensation. Between 1996 and 1999, his films Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi and Sangharsh worked in his favour, several of his other films flopped, making directors and producers 'ridicule' and 'reject' him. Around the same time, he teamed up with filmmaker Suneel Darshan for Jaanwar, a film that marked his comeback. The success made the same directors and producers who once dismissed him eager to work with him. However, things eventually soured between Akshay and Suneel, and the two haven't met in the past 20 years. In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Suneel Darshan opened up about the time when Akshay Kumar requested to cast him in his film Jaanwar. 'Akshay had been through a phase of his career when he had stopped getting movies. He had reached a point where he had about 13-14 flops. He didn't know how to go forward. And when someone is unsuccessful, people try their best to push them away and he was going through that phase.' It was around the same time when Suneel Darshan had a misunderstanding with Sunny Deol, for whom Jaanwar was originally scripted. 'I had a script written for Sunny Deol, who let me down for a different agenda. After that, I decided I will not be working with him. After Sunny, I approached Ajay Devgn. He was very keen to do the film. The distance was just like cup and lip from him doing the film when Akshay Kumar called me. He met me. We talked and I thought 'My God! He is such a gorgeous looking man! He was very humble, had the humility of a Punjabi boy.' ALSO READ | Vivek Agnihotri calls Sandeep Reddy Vanga his alter ego, says he is showing truth through his films: 'Does your society respect women?' He added, 'Besides all this, there was this one thing about him–his reputation of being a very disciplined actor. While these were his plus points, the biggest minus point was that he was not saleable. And to make a movie of that size with a hero who was not saleable, was a very big risk to take. It was a huge challenge.' Exposing the reality of the glamour industry, Suneel Darshan shared people are only nice to successful actors. But, as soon as they have a downfall, the same people humiliate them. 'It is very traumatic for the actors.' 'After that, Jaanwar happened. It was very well supported by my entire team, which included Karisma Kapoor who was a top star at that point of time.' The success of Jaanwar led to Suneel and Akshay signing six more films together–Ek Rishtaa, Talaash, Dosti, Mere Jeevan Saathi, and Andaaz. Suneel directed them all except Andaaz. Their collaboration too were a mix of hits and flops. The filmmaker recalled, 'We did seven films together and co-incidentally our seventh and last film was titled Dosti. He was in this office for seven years. He operated from the same office for seven years. He would come everyday when he was not shooting. I wanted his good from day 1. It was just me who stood up for him when everybody else only rejected and ridiculed him. And this is something he told me himself. And I was the happiest when Akshay worked with the same lot of people but on his own terms. That was my biggest win.' However, during their sixth film, Suneel felt a difference in Akshay's energy. 'After Jaanwar's success, he took me in out in his car. We drove to a construction place. We sat there. He said, 'It has come to my notice that you are planning to cast a new hero for your new film. I heard you went to his father's office. I was like, 'Yes, I did. But that is because I share a bond with his father and he wanted to show him to me.' Then he requested, 'Please sir, don't sign anybody else, it will affect my career.' He held my hand and promised to me, 'Suneel Ji, I promise to make 100 films with you.' I just kept looking at him.' He added, 'Anyway, the truth is even making seven films with the same person in the same stretch was a big thing in itself. While doing our sixth film, I could feel a difference in his behaviour. And it got quite evident when we shot for our seventh film. When I sensed it, I thought to myself that it is better if I step back at a situation like this. And I moved on.' Suneel and Akshay, who had become close friends, suddenly grew so distant that they haven't met each other in 20 years. 'The last time I met Akshay Kumar was back in 2005. We have never met after that. Post that, he wished me maybe once or twice for my birthday,' shared the director. He added, 'I didn't want him to have a baggage of his past. I told him, 'I will be happy if you maintain your career.' Even Amitabh Bachchan made several films with Prakash Mehra, but after a point things didn't work between them. It often happens with actors.'
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Meet actor who played young Amitabh Bachchan, moved to the US, and built a Rs 200 crore business empire, his name is...
In the golden age of Hindi cinema, a few young faces became instantly recognisable, the child actors who played Amitabh Bachchan's younger self in some of the biggest blockbusters. From Deewar to Coolie, these kids were sometimes more in demand than grown-up leads. But stardom in childhood didn't mean a lifetime in front of the camera. As the years rolled by, their journeys took unexpected turns, from tech to hospitality to international business. Who is Alankar Joshi Known to audiences as Master Alankar, Alankar Joshi starred in over 100 Hindi films, delivering memorable performances in Seeta Aur Geeta, Majboor, and Deewar. His sister, actor Pallavi Joshi, once revealed that it was Amitabh Bachchan who suggested casting him in Deewar. But adulthood brought a shift. Alankar left acting, dabbled briefly in direction and production in Marathi cinema, and eventually moved to the U.S. A career in software programming followed, then entrepreneurship. Three decades on, he runs a thriving business reportedly worth around Rs 200 crore. His daughters act in Hollywood, while his son is pursuing music. Ravi Valecha: 'Chhota Amitabh' to hotelier Master Ravi Valecha, nicknamed 'Chhota Amitabh', lit up the screen as young Bachchan in Amar Akbar Anthony, Coolie, and Mr. Natwarlal. Starting at age four, he shared the frame with icons like Dilip Kumar and Rishi Kapoor. As an adult, he stepped away from films and studied Hotel Management, later completing an MBA in Hospitality and International Business. Today, he is a respected figure in the hospitality sector and trains students in soft skills and industry readiness. Master Mayur, real name Mayur Raj Verma, was the highest-paid child actor of his era, appearing in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris, and later as Abhimanyu in BR Chopra's Mahabharata. His break came when his journalist mother introduced his photo to director Prakash Mehra, who needed a child resembling Amitabh Bachchan. After hits like Sharabi and Love in Goa, he left the limelight, moved to Wales, and married celebrity chef Noori. Together, they built a successful restaurant empire in Indiana and expanded into multiple ventures, with wealth reportedly in the billions.
