Many beautiful actresses of Bollywood attempted film direction, but tragically none of the popular actresses of Bollywood succeeded as directors!
The Unwritten Script: Actresses’ Directorial Dreams
Sadhana Shivdasani, better known as Sadhana, the stunningly beautiful actress of the 60s, was a top-notch Actresses. She gave multiple hits like Hum Dono, Woh Kaun Thi, Waqt, Arzoo, Mera SSaaya, Anita, and Ek, Aa Phool Do Mali. Her popular fringe haircut is still famous as the ‘Sadhana cut.’ After marriage, she developed thyroid, and this affected her eyes. Nevertheless, she did make a comeback with films like Aap Aye Bahaar Ayee (1971) and Dil Daulat Duniya (1972) but failed to appeal to her fans. Disappointed, she took to the direction and made Geeta Mera Naam (1974).
She played a dual role opposite two top stars of the 770s, Feroz Khan and Sunil Dutt. Despite the huge star cast, the film was a flop. Later she tried to cover the losses by producing a film, Pati Parmeshwar (1989), with Dimple Kapadia in the lead, but the film failed. Finally, she took retirement.
Asha Parekh, regarded as the ‘Hit-Girl’ of Bollywood, ruled the 60s and early 70s. She gave many hit films like Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Do Badan (1966), Chirag (1969), Kati Patang (1970), Caravan (1971), and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). In the 80s, she switched to sister-in-law roles, like in Amitabh Bachchan‘s Kaalia (1981). In 1995 she quit acting and took to directing under her home production, Akruti, and produced and directed television serials like Palash Ke Phool, Baaje Payal, Kora Kagaz, and a comedy, Dal Mein Kaala.
Directing Dilemmas: Bollywood Actresses’ Challenges
Hema Malini, the ‘Dream Girl,’ made waves in the ’70s with her spectacular beauty with hit films like Seeta Aur Geeta, Dost (1974), Prem Nagar (1974), Sholay (1975), Khushboo (1975), Kinara (1977), and Razia Sultan (1984), etc. Later, in the early 90s, she took to the direction under her banner Hema Malini Films and made Dil Aashna Hai, starring Shahrukh Khan in the leading roles. She made her second feature film, Mohini (1995), starring her niece Madhoo, but both films were flops. A decade later she produced and directed her third feature film, Tell Me O KKhuda, with daughter Esha Deol and husband Dharmendra. Yet again the film failed, and she took to politics.
Pooja Bhatt, the eldest daughter of Mahesh Bhatt, started her career at the young age of 17 with Daddy (1989) and won instant fame. Later, with hit films Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Sadak (1991), and Chaahat (1996), she ruled the 90s. Towards the late 90s, she started her production house, Pooja Bhatt Production, and made some hard-hitting quality cinema. Films like Tamanna (1997), Dushman (1998), Zakhm (1998), and Jism (2003). She made her directorial debut with Paap in 2004, starring John Abraham and Udita Goswami.
The film was written by Mahesh Bhatt and won rave reviews for Poojaa Bhatt‘s excellent direction. The highlight of the film was it introduced Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, whose song Mann Ki Lagan became a huge hit and made him popular in India. Her other films as director are Holiday (2006), Dhokha (2007), Kajraare (2010), and Jism 2 (2012). Sadly, all her directorial films were flops!!!
There are many more female directors who did succeed, but they only concentrated on directing, not on two things.
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