By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On The Eve Of Her Birth Anniversary
पास आइये कि हम नहीं आएंगे बार-बार
बाहें गले में डाल के हम रो लें ज़ार-ज़ार
आँखों से फिर ये प्यार कि बरसात हो न हो
शायद फिर इस जनम में मुलाक़ात हो न हो
लग जा गले कि फिर ये हस्सीं रात हो न हो
शायद फिर इस जनम में मुलाक़ात हो न हो
Sadhana Shivdasani, known for her lively nature and her remarkable hair style called ‘Sadhana cut’, was born in 1941 at Karachi. Married to producer, director R .K. Nayyar who directed her in producer Sashadhar Mukherjee’s “Love in Shimla”, her debut film as heroine, opposite Joy Mukherjee. Mukherjee repeated her in Raj Khosla directed “Ek Musafir Ek Haseena” (1962) opposite Joy Mkherjee. It proved a box office bonanza with many hits like ‘Aap Yun Hi Agar Humse Milte Rahe’ ( Rafi-Asha), ‘Humko Tumhare Ishq Ne’ ( Rafi) & ‘Bahut Shukriya , Badi Meharbaani’ to mention few.
Interestingly, Raj Khosla later directed her in his three hits “Woh Kaun Thi” opposite Manoj, “Mera Saaya” opposite Sunil Dutt & ” Anita”. ‘Naino Waali Ne Haye Mera Dil’ ( lata) ‘Jhumka Gira Re Bareilly ke Bazaar Mein’ ( Asha) were two hit numbers from “Mera Saaya”. ‘Lag Ja Gale Ke Phir Ye Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho’ was another soulful & too popular song from “Woh Kaun Thi”.
Playfulness and coquettishness were hallmarks of her acting though she looked too shy and serene in the beginning. She later turned glamorously enchanting, pert, & dazzling as an actress. After Ramanand Sagar,s “Aarzoo” “Chalke Teri Aankhon Se Sharaab Aur Zyaada” ( 1965)) & Devendra Goel’s “Ek Phool Do Maali” ( 1969) & “Mera Saaya”( 1966), the actress danced straightway into the hearts of millions of her fans who adored her like a princess or a heart-throb so to say. She was at her exotic best in “Dev Anand’s ” Hum Dono” (1961) & H. S. Rawail’s ” Mere Mehboob”. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Asli Naqli” was another masterpiece with hits like ‘Tera Mera Pyaar Amar’ & ‘Tujhe Jeewan Ki Dor Se Baandh Liya Hai'( Rafi-Lata) were simply remarkable.
Sadhna directed “Geeta Mera Naam” in 1974. She was cast opposite Sunil Dutt & Firoz Khan. It was Saroj Khan’s debut film as choreographer. Her other notable films include “Waqt”, ” Dulha Dulhan”, “Rajkumar”,” Intaqam” & “Aap Aaye Bahaar Aayee”.
It would be injustice if we did not mention some more hits like -‘Mere Mehboob Mein Kya Nahin’ (Mere Mehboob), ‘Tumne Kisiki Jaan Ko’ , ‘Aayi Bahaar’, ‘Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye’ ( Rajkumar), ‘Tera Mera Pyaar Amar’ (Asli Naqli), ‘Abhi Na Jao Chodkar Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahin’, (Hum Dono) ‘Chehre Pe Kushi Chhaa Jaati Hai’ & ‘Hum Jab Simatke aapki bahon mein Aa Gaye’ (Waqt).
Sadhana was nominated for Filmfare Best Actress Award for two consecutive years in 1964 & 1965 for “Woh Kaun Thi” & “Waqt”. Sadhana who ruled the roost in 1960s was the highest paid actress of her time. Interestingly, she was paid one rupee for one of her earlier films. Died on 25 December 2015.
आओ बैठो हमारे पहलू में पनाह ले लो
मेरी जलती हुई आँखों पे ये आँखे रख दो
ऐ मेरे प्यार के ख्वाबो की हसी शहज़ादी
होठ क्यों काँप रहे है कुछ तो बोलो
तुमने पुकारा और हम चले आए
जान हथेली पर ले आए रे
