Latest news with #SadhanaShivdasani
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
She was a Bollywood hit machine and national trendsetter, but fought allegations and lawsuits in final years
Bollywood has always been a world of glitz, glamour, and adoration — but behind the shimmering façade lies a history of forgotten stars. One such name is Sadhana Shivdasani, remembered not just for her cinematic success but also for the tragic solitude of her later years. Once among the most sought-after actresses of her time, Sadhana's life unfolded like a film script — filled with ambition, love, success, heartbreak, and eventual isolation. Early Life and Ambitions Born on September 2, 1941, in Karachi, Sadhana and her family moved to India during the Partition. Her childhood was spent across Delhi, Benaras, and Calcutta before finally settling in Mumbai in 1950. She joined the Auxilium Convent School in Wadala and had already decided to become an actress while still in school. Her journey into films began with a brief appearance in Shree 420 (1955) and a lead role in the Sindhi film Abaana (1958), for which she was reportedly paid just Rs 1. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Sadhana later trained at the Filmalaya School of Acting, where she met filmmaker RK Nayyar. Their professional bond during Love in Simla (1960), her breakout film, eventually led to marriage. The movie's success catapulted her into stardom and gave rise to the iconic "Sadhana fringe" that became a national trend. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo A Decade of Dominance Throughout the 1960s, Sadhana ruled the silver screen. She delivered hit after hit, starring in acclaimed films like Parakh (1960), Hum Dono (1961), Ek Musafir Ek Haseena (1962), and Mere Mehboob (1963). She worked with leading actors including Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar, and Shammi Kapoor. Out of the 19 films she headlined during the decade, 11 turned out to be major box-office successes. Despite her stardom, she remained grounded. She once spoke about her camaraderie with male co-stars, preferring their company at social gatherings over female colleagues. Her bond with Rajendra Kumar was particularly close — a friendship her mother had once hoped would blossom into something more. But Sadhana was already committed to RK Nayyar, whom she married at just 17. Health Struggles and Career Slowdown Sadhana's flourishing career was derailed in the late 1960s when she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, affecting both her health and vision. This forced her to take a break and seek treatment in Boston. The illness came at a cost — she lost out on key roles and felt deeply hurt when filmmakers replaced her without informing her. One such instance involved being dropped from Sunghursh (1968) despite initial assurances. Though she returned with successful films like Intaqam (1969) and Ek Phool Do Mali (1969), the momentum had shifted. She later tried directing with Geetaa Mera Naam (1974) but gradually faded from the limelight. Personal Loss and Isolation The passing of her husband in 1995 marked a devastating chapter in her life. The couple had no children, and she once shared that losing her unborn baby remained one of her deepest regrets. With RK Nayyar gone, Sadhana found herself increasingly isolated. In later years, she relied on a close circle of contemporaries — including Waheeda Rehman, Asha Parekh, Helen, and Nanda — for emotional support. They would meet monthly for lunch, offering her a rare sense of belonging during a difficult period. Legal Disputes and Final Years The last years of Sadhana's life were plagued by legal troubles. She was involved in multiple cases with the landlord of her Santacruz residence, which included allegations of harassment and a defamation lawsuit. Financial constraints and declining health added to her woes. Despite her once-iconic status, she received little to no help from the industry she had once illuminated. Sadhana passed away on December 25, 2015, at the age of 74, following a brief illness. As per accounts, only a handful from the film fraternity attended her funeral, marking a somber end to a life that once sparkled on screen. Though her final years were marred by loneliness and neglect, Sadhana's legacy in Indian cinema remains untarnished. From defining fashion trends to delivering memorable performances, she carved a niche that continues to be celebrated.
India.com
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actress used to hate Raj Kapoor, gave tough competition to Madhubala, Vyjayanthimala, was cursed by her sister for..., died due to...
Fashion in the Bollywood industry often changes with time. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s, a common trend was big buns, churidar suits, and dark kajal. From Madhubala, Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore to Meena Kumari, Nanda, and more, all these actresses are not only known for their power-packed performances but also their looks. Similarly, there was an actress in Bollywood who was known for her Sadhana cut. After this actress, a trend started in the industry with every actress going for the same haircut. The actress who started it had shared screen space with many big actors such as Sanjay Dutt and more. If you have heard about the Sadhana cut, then you must know that the name has been given after the actress Sadhana Shivdasani. The actress had a unique sense of fashion and she eventually became the trendsetter for the Sadhana cut. Sadhana Shivdasani's breakthrough came with the Sindhi film Abana (1958), where she played a supporting role. The actress was noticed by the film's star, Sheila Ramani. Later, in 1960, when Sadhana featured in Love in Simla, the actress became a household name. It was the same time when she was introduced with her signature hairstyle. Did you know that Sadhana did a cameo in Showman Raj Kapoor's film Shri 420 in 1955? Over the years, she featured in movies like Asli Naqli, Mere Mehboob, Waqt, Mera Saaya, and Ek Phool Do Mali. As her popularity grew, so did her fees, and with that, she became the highest-paid actress of her time. Sadhana Shivdasani Hated Raj Kapoor Due to… Sadhana and Raj worked on a movie called Dulha Dulhanat, which was released in the year 1966. During the shoot of the film, Sadhana and Raj had a verbal spat and as per media reports, Raj, out of rage, told Sadhana that 'An actress should give emotions in front of the camera, and not set her hair by looking in the mirror all the time.' This became a reason for the duo to have hatred between each other. Sadhana Shivdasani Was Cursed By… It comes as a shock to many that Sadhana Shivdasani, who was the sister of Babita Kapoor, wife of Randhir Kapoor, was cursed by her own sister. Yes, you read that right! Babita had feelings for Randhir. However, since Babita was already in the industry as an actress, this did not go well with Randhir's father, Raj Kapoor. As per the tradition of the Kapoor family then, no female member from the family was allowed to work in movies. Hence, Raj asked Sadhana to make her sister understand and pick one – either Randhir or the career. According to media reports, Sadhana considered Babita as her child and out of love, she went to Babita for a discussion. However, in the heat of the moment, Babita cursed Sadhana that she will yearn for a kid in her life. Unfortunately, this turned out to be true. Sadhana married Ramkrishna Nayyar, the director of her film Love in Simla. However, the couple never had kids. Later in 2015, Sadhana Shivdasani passed away at the age of 74 due to cancer.
