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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.
Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Bollywood's ‘mystery girl' died poor and alone, entangled in legal battles and failing health
Far beneath the glossy surface, beyond all the glitz and glam, lies a layer in Bollywood stained by the blood, sweat and tears of countless people who are now long forgotten. While the 'hard work' of those at the top is often spotlighted and hailed, the gruelling struggles of many others rarely reach the public eye, simply because they didn't succeed. They are unfairly judged as 'failures' and subsequently ignored. But history does not belong to the victors alone; it belongs to those who couldn't finish the race as well. And one such star, who once soared higher than any of her peers but eventually died a forgotten figure, was veteran actor Sadhana Shivdasani (known mononymously as Sadhana), whose life was nothing short of a tragic tale. 'Death proved to be a salvation for her,' late actor and talk show host Tabassum emotionally told SCREEN when Sadhana passed away at the age of 74 in 2015. Tabassum wasn't wrong. Not only had Sadhana's health significantly deteriorated by then, but she was also struggling financially, with no one to support her. Both the industry and her so-called 'fans' turned a blind eye to her, and Bollywood's 'Mystery Girl' took her last breath in desolation. Tabassum revealed that only a few from the industry, friends and relatives came to bid her farewell. Don't Miss | Legendary Bollywood music composer lived as paying guest in final years, banned family from attending funeral Born on September 2, 1941, in Karachi to a Sindhi family, Sadhana's family moved to India after the Partition in 1947, when she was just six years old. 'We moved from Delhi to Benaras to Calcutta before settling down in Mumbai in 1950,' author-columnist Dinesh Raheja quoted her in a 2012 article for 'Main apne mohalle ki dada hua karti thi (I was a bully in my neighbourhood). I was a tomboy. I made the best maanja, and I would fly kites while an aide of mine would hold the firki.' After settling in Mumbai, she was enrolled at the Auxilium Convent School in Wadala. 'Even while in school, I had made up my mind that as soon as I finished my schooling, I would become an actress,' she once told Star and Style magazine. With that firm dream, she eventually joined the Filmalaya School of Acting, where she met director RK Nayyar — whom she later married — while he was preparing to direct Love in Simla (1960). It was Sashadhar Mukherjee, the owner of Filmalaya Studio, who spotted her in an advertisement and got her enrolled in the acting school. Interestingly, Love in Simla, which Mukherjee himself produced, marked the debut of both his son Joy Mukherjee and Sadhana as leading stars. Although she had previously made an appearance in a song in Raj Kapoor's Shree 420 (1955) as a child artiste, and in the Sindhi film Abana, it was Love in Simla that gave her her first major break. The film was a massive success, and her Audrey Hepburn-inspired 'Sadhana fringe' became a trendsetter, establishing her as a fashion icon. From Bimal Roy's Parakh (1960) and Amarjeet's Hum Dono (1961), where she starred opposite Dev Anand, to Krishnan–Panju's Man-Mauji (1962) with Kishore Kumar and Raj Khosla's Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962), which marked her reunion with Joy Mukherjee, everything she touched turned to gold. Of the 19 releases she had in the 1960s, a whopping 11 were reportedly hits. Thus, she quickly became a formidable force in Bollywood. In her early days, she was bound by a three-year contract with Filmalaya. 'I was paid Rs 750 a month for the first year, Rs 1,500 a month for the second year, and Rs 3,000 a month for the third year,' she recalled, highlighting her rapid ascent to stardom. Even at the peak of her fame, she maintained warm relationships with her co-stars, particularly Rajendra Kumar, with whom she worked in HS Rawail's Mere Mehboob (1963). She once shared that he often called her 'Bhapa' (elder brother in Punjabi). Her mother even expressed a desire to see her married to 'someone like Rajendra Kumar.' But by then, Sadhana had fallen deeply in love with RK Nayyar. In fact, Rajendra Kumar shared a close bond with both of them. She once named Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shammi Kapoor as her favourite heroes to work with. She also described Dev Anand, her Asli Naqli and Hum Dono co-star, as 'like a charged battery — a mini dynamo.' 'I really cannot talk much about my female co-stars because I cannot make friends very easily. And even when I made friends, I preferred the males to the females. Sitting and talking about household chores was not interesting to me then. I hardly knew anything about it. So at parties and premieres, I was always with the male crowd,' she told Star and Style magazine. Amid all this, her love for RK Nayyar endured. They eventually tied the knot in 1966. 'I was friendly with Nayyar right from my first film, and though we lost touch with each other for a couple of years in between, it was always only Nayyar for me. I remember how my parents put their foot down and said no initially. After all, I was just 17 when I married him.' But her happiness was short-lived. In the late 1960s, she began battling hyperthyroidism. Not only did it affect her health, but it also forced her to step away from acting to begin treatment, costing her several roles that would have helped her soar more. Although a sport, she was hurt when director HS Rawail replaced her in Sunghursh (1968) without informing her. 'After I signed Sunghursh, my thyroid problem cropped up. So I called Mr Rawail and told him to sign another heroine. He dismissed it with 'If I could wait so long for you for Mere Mehboob, I can wait for Sunghursh too.' However, five days later, I read a huge ad in the SCREEN newspaper declaring Vyjayanthimala as the heroine of the film. It hurt. I didn't talk to Mr HS Rawail thereafter.' Sunghursh featured legendary actor Dilip Kumar as the male lead. Also Read | Inside Vivek Oberoi's Dubai home: The 'money-man' with net worth of Rs 1200 crore who grows 'kadhi patta' and collects 'desi' art During this period, she also lost the chance to work in Raj Kapoor's Around the World (1967). Though she returned with hits like Intaqam (1969) and Ek Phool Do Mali (1969) after the treatment, offers gradually began to dry up in the 1970s. Before slowly stepping away from acting, she tried her hand at direction as well with Geetaa Mera Naam (1974), featuring herself, Sunil Dutt, Feroz Khan and Helen. Soon, Sadhana quietly exited the limelight. Her final film, Ulfat Ki Nayi Manzilein, was released much later in 1994. Tragedy struck her again in 1995 when RK Nayyar passed away due to asthma, leaving her completely alone, as the couple had no children. Sadly, this wasn't by choice. 'I have very few regrets — losing my baby was one of them,' she told Raheja, revealing yet another painful chapter of her life. Though she once preferred male company, in her final years she grew close to contemporaries like Waheeda Rehman, Nanda, Asha Parekh and Helen, who became her emotional support system. The group met for lunch every month, offering her some solace. In her last years, however, she also became entangled in legal battles. There were three cases involving Sadhana. While one was filed against her by the landlord of her Santacruz building, Yusuf Lakdawala, another was filed by her against the same landlord, alleging harassment. The third was a defamation case that emerged from the dispute, filed by Lakdawala against her. By then, Sadhana was struggling both financially and physically, unable to keep up with her health expenses and legal costs. Though she pleaded for help, no one came to her aid. Sadhana breathed her last at a Mumbai hospital on December 25, 2015, after a brief illness.
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.
