Mr India, Bollywood's first sci-fi film: 30 years on, 30 things you didn't know
It’s been three decades since Mr India released in 1987. As an ardent admirer, I was unaware that over the years I have unconsciously absorbed a ton of trivia about the film from magazine features, video interviews and cinema books.
Here are 30 facts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this incredible superhero saga that continues to endure and endear.
1) Mr India is the last film where the names Salim-Javed appear on screen. The legendary pair of screenwriters parted ways around this time due to creative differences.
2) The idea of an invisible man had struck Salim-Javed when they had found out that the "mahurat" of an Amitabh Bachchan film had been performed using only the star’s recorded voice. Talk about brainwaves!
3) With 10 child actors becoming integral to Mr India, the maverick Shekhar Kapur was roped in as director since he had helmed Masoom in 1983.
4) Satish Kaushik, who plays Calendar in the film, was also the chief assistant director.
5) As the numero uno actress of those days, Sridevi, was charging a whopping Rs 10 lakh per movie. Boney Kapoor went a step ahead and paid her Rs 11 lakh for Mr India.
6) Anil Kapoor’s iconic jacket and hat were sourced from a local Mumbai market.
7) Every morning, the kids would line-up on the sets and give Sridevi a peck on the cheek.
8) In between shots, Sanjay Kapoor and the kids would gang up to play a round of cricket. Howzat!
9) Kids in the cast who grew up to be notable faces include actors Aftab Shivdasani and Karan Nath, and ace choreographer Ahmad Khan.
10) Ahmad was clearly the best dancer among the kids and even Sridevi used to rehearse her "Hawa Hawai" steps with him.
11) Kavita Krishnamurthy made a blunder during the "Hawa Hawai" rendition when she crooned "jeenu" instead of "jaanu" in the first antara. But so fantastic was that whole take that Laxmikant Pyarelal refused to record the song again.
12) All special-effects in the film were shot live on camera. Nothing was created post-production.
13) One of the phrases scribbled on the classroom blackboard behind Ashok Kumar reads "Boney’s Law"!
14) To ensure that the cockroach stayed absolutely still in one of the film’s most hilarious sequences, Shekhar Kapur created a puddle of whiskey around it. Soon the creature was too tipsy to move and gave a one-take scene!
15) The shot of Mr India walking away after placing a table of food before the street-dwellers was actually performed by Sanjay Kapoor wearing the signature jacket and hat.
16) Mogambo is utterly indispensable to Mr India, but the character had not been fleshed out until 60 per cent of the film had been shot.
17) Mogambo’s hair was styled after the then Pakistani president Zia-ul-Haq while his salute was a tribute to the Nazi greeting, Heil Hitler.
18) Shekhar Kapur had inexplicably edited out the phrase "Mogambo Khush Hua" from the film. Mercifully, Javed Akhtar insisted on putting them all back as he was confident that it would become a legendary catchphrase.
19) Kapur conceptualised the rain song "Kaate Nahin Katte" after Boney Kapoor provoked him that no director could make Sridevi look as sensuous as Feroz Khan had done in the Jaanbaaz number Har Kisiko Nahin Milta. Kapur rose to the occasion and how!
20) Costume designer Xerxes had created a monochromatic blue saree and an Oriental style outfit for "Kaate Nahin Katte". Sridevi picked up the former and the rest is history.
21) Sridevi was suffering from high fever during "Kaate Nahin Katte", but the schedule was getting delayed and the shoot had to be completed. A thorough professional. Sridevi braved the wind and rain to create an iconic number.
22) "Kaate Nahin Katte" is the first time that the sensational Alisha Chinai gave playback for Sridevi.
23) The newspaper, Anu Kapoor runs is called Crimes of India. An obvious nod to The Times of India.
24) Anil Kapoor promoted the film at the Sharjah Cricket Cup where he tossed the coin dressed as Mr India.
25) Sridevi promoted the film at the "Hope 86 concert" at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, where she performed on "Hawa Hawai".
26) Posters of Mr India described the film as "a cinemascope wonder to be watched only on the big screen" to combat the rising video piracy.
27) After Mr India was released, most reviewers jibed that the film should have been called Miss India.
28) Mr India was considered a frontrunner at the Filmfare Awards that year. Unfortunately, no ceremony was held as Bollywood went on collective strike over piracy and taxation issues.
29) At the 2013 Filmfare Awards, Sridevi was honoured with a special award for her performances in both Mr India and Nagina.
30) Plans are afoot now to create a sequel to Mr India.
Also read: Why films we see today aren't what they used to be