"Tumse jo dekhte hi pyaar hua,
Zindegi mein pehli baar hua..."
Recently during a road trip, when the FM channel played this particular song from the movie "Patthar Ke Phool", I couldn't help but get nostalgic. I was at once transported back to my middle school days. I clearly remember watching it on Chitrahaar on a Friday evening and that was when I saw
Raveena Tandon for the first time. Her face looked every bit like a flawless painting and I was bowled over by her irresistible charm. A little over two decades have passed since then but that unmistakable blend of innocence and mischief in her eyes remains firmly etched in my memory. When you think of Raveena Tandon, the picture that comes to one's mind is that of a very pretty, bubbly and vivacious girl with a rapturous smile. I am sure, other '90s kids too will agree on this. Co-incidentally Raveena rings in her 44th birthday on 26th October and the ageless beauty still looks as ravishing as she did in her heyday!
HER FILM CAREER:
Innately charming, an energy-filled power packed dancer, effortlessly expressive and blessed with impeccable comic timing, Raveena Tandon was all this and so much more. With her boundless enthusiasm coupled with infectious energy, this immensely talented actress ruled over a million hearts in the 90s with superhits like Dilwale, Mohra, Laadla, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Ziddi and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan among others. She made her debut in 1991 in "Patthar Ke Phool" opposite Salman Khan and though the movie had only limited commercial success Raveena did get recognition for her sincere portrayal which won her the Filmfare New Face of the Year award.
However, it was Rajiv Rai's Mohra in 1994 opposite Akshay Kumar that catapulted Raveena into stardom. Not only did the movie go on to become the highest-grossing film of that year but also Raveena's electrifying dance moves in the song "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast" became such a rage that it earned her the sobriquet of 'the Mast-Mast girl'. Although the cult song has been recreated recently the new version couldn't match up to the magic of the original number.
And who can forget the other iconic song from Mohra - "Tip tip barsa paani..."? Draped in a yellow saree, Raveena simply mesmerized her fans with her seductive rain dance. Even to this day, her sensuous dance evokes a collective gasp from the viewers. I doubt if anybody else could have pulled off "Tip Tip Barsa Pani" with such aplomb as Raveena did.
The same year, two of her other releases - Laadla and Andaz Apna Apna - too fetched her widespread acclaim. Her role in "Laadla" won her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for the Best Supporting Actress while the multi-starrer comedy "Andaz Apna Apna" went on to achieve cult status over the years. Her subsequent releases Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi in 1996 and Ziddi in 1997, which were huge commercial successes, firmly established her position as one of the most popular actresses in the Hindi film industry.
After a brief lull, another turning point in her career came with David Dhawan's “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” in which her adorable chemistry with Govinda was immensely liked by the audience. I believe she was the only actress who could match up to Govinda's fluidity and chanceless facial expressions with consummate ease.
Apart from her acting prowess, Raveena will also always be remembered for her enthusiastic dance numbers such as "Sheher Ki Ladki", "Kissi Disco Mein Jayein", "Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare" and "Ore Ore" among others.
Around the late 90s, Raveena decided that it was time to prove her acting mettle and to show that there was much more to her than glamour and ebullience. Thus glamour took a back seat and she left everyone in awe with powerful performances in films such as E.Niwas's "Shool", Kalpana Lajmi's "Daman" and Madhur Bhandarkar's political drama "Satta". She was widely appreciated and won critical acclaim for her power-packed acting.
In a
career spanning over twenty-five years, she has worked in more than seventy movies in the Hindi film industry and she continues to wow the viewers with impactful performances, the latest being her portrayal of a doting mother who avenges the rape and murder of her daughter in "Maatr". To relieve these Raveena Tandon moments, click
here.
RAVEENA TANDON AS A PERSON:
I have always admired her both as an entertainer as well as for being a good human being. To me, she comes across as an innately kind and loving person. In 1995, even before she was married, Raveena adopted two beautiful daughters Chhaya and Pooja when she herself was just 21 years old and raised them as a single mother. Giving two children the chance of a better life and future -- that speaks volumes about her grit and character and how convinced she was about her decision.
Later on, in 2004, she married Anil Thadani and has two children with him, Rasha and Ranbir but her love for her four children has been the same. She has admirably proved that one doesn't have to give birth to be a mother, rather motherhood is more about love and commitment. It also shows the strength of her compassion and how courageous and amazing a person she is.
Speaking of courage, Raveena Tandon truly has loads of it. At a time when most of her peers in the film industry choose to be politically correct, Raveena, on the other hand, is never afraid to speak her heart and mind. She candidly voices her opinions and views on social media.
So here's wishing the gorgeous diva a very happy birthday - just as bright and cheerful as her! May you have a great year ahead!
