Sunil Dutt, Sanjeev Kumar, Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Mehra, Rekha, Prem Nath, Reena Roy (Whew!), Neetu Singh, Bindiya Goswami, Sarika, Yogita Bali Aruna Irani, the list of actors in Rajkumar Kohli’s 1979 version of Jaani Dushman was unending. And thus, the silver jubilee celebration of the blockbuster was a star-studded affair.
Posing for the memorable picture is Nargis who had come to cheer her husband Sunil Dutt. Completing the happy family is Sanjay Dutt standing next to his father. Leading ladies Sarika and Reena Roy come next. Reena is seen sharing a joke with her co-star Nishi Kohli. Behind Nishi is a very young Amrish Puri. Next to Amrish is Prem Nath and the young Bindiya Goswami. Sitting in front with Jaani Dushman Silver Jubilee trophies are Rupesh Kumar and director Rajkumar Kohli.
Unlike Kohli’s 2002 multi-starrer project with the same name, this one dealt not with icchadharari naagin but men who would turn into devils whenever they saw red. However, it did reflect Kohli’s obsession with the unknown. As a director, Kohli seemed to be more inclined towards subjects that were surreal, like the tale of the woman who turned into a snake in Nagin.
Though his subjects weren’t too real, the success Kohli tasted was. And thus many of his projects went on to become blockbusters. Jaani Dushman being one of them.
Free Thoughts by Ranjit Singh 