In Bollywood, no actress is complete without being part of the quintessential Rajshri production. Palatial houses, big families, high value production numbers with every cast member joining in for song and dance, festivals, weddings, a little conflict and a satisfying resolution.
The romance in Rajshri films is sweet. There's a lot of coyness, shyness and whispering involved. Love is in its purest form. The protagonists have generally never fallen for anyone before they fall for each other.
Keeping in mind these traditional values that the Barjatya family likes to hold on to, even the main Rajshri girl has to uphold the virtue of the chaste bahurani. She needs to be pretty, demure, charming. A woman who can be the best daughter-in-law understanding the value of family and honour. And of course, be good at the song and dance routine that comes with it.
What we know as the Rajshri heroine is representative of their films post 1989, after the production house got a rather massive makeover. As Sooraj Barjatya's upcoming film 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' starring Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor nears completion, we take a look at Rajshri heroines - past, present and future.
Bhagyashree
This one-hit-wonder heroine played Suman opposite Salman's charismatic first-time Prem. Suman was everything Prem wasn't, and she was unlike any of the people he had known before. It was because of the strength of the love Suman and Prem shared, that he was able to come out of his father's shadow and make a life for himself. Additionally, the film explored themes of first love, friendship and rich vs. poor. It was one of the biggest hits of its time thanks to its soulful music and the chemistry between the two leads. Sadly, Bhagyashree was never able to repeat the magic of Maine Pyar Kiya. But she was the epitome of the demure Rajshri heroine.
Madhuri Dixit
Madhuri is perhaps the best remembered Rajshri heroine. She was part of Hum Aapke Hain Koun, which is one of the highest grossing Indian films of all time, and a remake of Rajshri's own Nadiya Ke Paar. While her character of Nisha was traditional in her values and morals, she was still modern in her own way. Nisha was fiesty and unapologetic in the way she spoke, and danced. She was unafraid to express her love to Prem, but was still ready to sacrifice it for the sake of family. All ended well though, and the film upheld Madhuri's standing as a huge star.
Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Karisma Kapoor
The family that eats together, lives together, stays together etc etc. This is the Rajshri film with perhaps the biggest starcast. The three ladies of Hum Saath Saath Hain played mates to Mohnish Behl, Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan. While Tabu played the perfect mate to handicapped Vivek, and the perfect Sita to his Ram and the quintessetial 'bhabhi' , Sonali was the coy doctor who stuck by Prem even during turmoil. Karisma was the witty, outspoken and modern contrast from the other two. Three very different heroines joining hands to keep their family together.
Kareena Kapoor
Chitchor got a makeover, and the village belle Zareena Wahab got replaced by 'papa ki pari' Kareena in 'Main Prem Ki Deewani hoon'. Sanjana is in her college band, she writes poetry, she has a group of modern friends, she goes out on dates with her betrothed. She has a mind of her own. Basically, she's everything a Rajshri heroine is not. On the outside. Inside, Sanjana was ready to marry who her parents chose, and even though she loved Hrithik's Prem, she was ready to marry Abhishek's Prem for the sake of her family. At the end, she managed to get what she wanted because she was willing to sacrifice her happiness for the sake of honour.
Amrita Rao
It's back to the basics with Amrita Rao's Poonam in Vivah. Poonam is about to get married to Prem. This film explores the journey of two people who embark on an arranged marriage. And although, we hardly heard a word spoken by the leading lady, Poonam was the small town soft-spoken girl, who almost sacrificed her life to save her sister.
Sonam Kapoor
We have seen Sonam portray some strong-willed female characters on screen before. Additionally, Sonam is an extremely strong-will girl in real life too. It is therefore hard to imagine Sonam as the shy and demure, Rajshri girl. Well, lets wait and watch though. This Rajshri heroine might come with a new energy and a never-seen-before spark. What say?
Who is your favorite of the lot?