Sadhana Shivdasani Born on September 2, 1941, in a Sindhi family in Karachi, little did anyone know that this girl would become one of Bollywood’s most beloved actresses. Sadhana was named after her father’s favorite actress and dancer, Sadhana Bose. Her father was the brother of actor Hari Shivdasani, making her the cousin of actress Babita – who later became a mother to Karisma and Kareena Kapoor.
After the partition in 1950, Sadhana’s family migrated from Karachi to Mumbai. Those were tough times filled with struggle. The family faced financial difficulties, and Sadhana couldn’t attend school for several years. Her mother, who worked as a teacher in a Montessori school, decided to educate Sadhana at home.
When they finally settled in Mumbai, her mother got her admission into the fifth standard at Auxilium Convent in Wadala. The school authorities were so impressed with Sadhana’s intelligence and knowledge that they congratulated her mother for providing such an excellent elementary education. Even as a child, Sadhana was exceptionally bright and talented.
The Accidental Entry into Films
Sadhana’s journey into films was purely accidental. During 1957-58, while she was studying at Jai Hind College and actively participating in cultural activities, producer T.N. Bihari came to her college to conduct auditions for a Sindhi film. Sadhana decided to try her luck and gave the audition. The selection committee had already seen her perform in a Sindhi play earlier, so they cast her as the younger sister of the famous Sindhi film actress Sheela Ramani.
The film was called “Abana,” which means “our home” in Sindhi. It was based on partition, and the audience loved Sadhana’s performance. The film became a commercial super hit. On the release day, Screen magazine featured Sadhana’s photograph on the front page. This is where famous Hindi cinema producer Sashadhara Mukherjee first noticed her. Little did she know that this Sindhi film would open the doors to Hindi cinema for her.
The Birth of the Iconic ‘Sadhana Cut’
Sashadhara Mukherjee contacted Sadhana after seeing her photograph and signed her for his film “Love in Shimla.” During the making of this film, something happened that would make Sadhana immortal in the history of Indian fashion. Sadhana had a broad forehead, and when it came to covering it, director R.K. Nayyar refused to use any patch or wig.
Instead, he took Sadhana to a salon at Kemp’s Corner and asked the hairstylist to give her a fringe cut similar to Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn. The hairstylist created the same fringe style for Sadhana. Neither Sadhana nor R.K. Nayyar could have imagined this hairstyle becoming a nationwide sensation.
When people asked Sadhana about her hairstyle, she couldn’t remember Audrey Hepburn’s name, so she said, “This is the Sadhana cut.” And that’s how the famous ‘Sadhana cut’ became a household name across India. Thousands of young girls visited salons asking for the ‘Sadhana cut.’ She had unknowingly created a fashion revolution that would last for decades.
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Love, Heartbreak, and New Beginnings
While making “Love in Shimla,” director R.K. Nayyar fell in love with Sadhana, and the feeling was mutual. However, Sadhana was very young, had family responsibilities, and needed to focus on building her career. Despite their feelings for each other, they decided to part ways and concentrate on their careers.
Around this time, Sadhana met director Mahesh Kaul, who was shooting a film in Mahabaleshwar with Rajendra Kumar and Kamini Kaushal. During this meeting, she first encountered Rajendra Kumar, who was then known as Jubilee Kumar. Sadhana was just 16 years old and had recently completed her schooling.
Rajendra Kumar played a crucial role in building Sadhana’s confidence. She was naturally shy and preferred staying alone in her room rather than socializing with the unit. One day, Rajendra Kumar came to her room, held her hand, and brought her out to sit with everyone. He encouraged her to mingle with people and helped her overcome her hesitation and shyness. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that would last for years.
The Mystery Queen of Bollywood
Sadhana’s career took a significant turn with the 1964 film “Woh Kaun Thi,” directed by Raj Khosla. She signed this film without even knowing the complete script, trusting only the director’s vision. Her performance in this mystery thriller was so brilliant that she received her first Filmfare nomination for Best Actress alongside Manoj Kumar.
This film proved to be a turning point in her career. Following its success, she was offered another mystery film, “Mera Saaya,” again directed by Raj Khosla. The film was a super hit, and Sadhana was labeled as the “Mystery Woman” of Bollywood. She had found her niche in the mystery genre, and audiences loved watching her in these suspenseful roles.
However, this period of professional success coincided with a sense of emptiness in her personal life. The memories of her first love, R.K. Nayyar, were still fresh in her mind. After several years, R.K. Nayyar contacted her and proposed marriage. Initially, her parents were against this relationship, but they eventually consented. The couple engaged at R.K. Nayyar’s Pali Hill residence, and Sadhana looked beautiful in a Banarasi saree.
The Sunset Years and Untold Struggles
In 1966, Sadhana married R.K. Nayyar, her first love and the man who had given her the iconic hairstyle. At the peak of her career, she decided to step back from films to focus on her personal life. She appeared in only a few more films, including “Ek Phool Do Mali,” “Intaqam,” and “Sachaai.” Her last film as an actress was “Geeta Mera Naam” in 1971, which she also directed.
However, life had other plans for Sadhana. R.K. Nayyar ventured into film production, but his films “Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai,” “Pati Parmeshwar,” and “Qatl” all flopped at the box office. The financial pressure mounted, and during this stressful period, R.K. Nayyar passed away, leaving Sadhana alone to face the world.
The continuous stress and financial troubles took a toll on Sadhana’s health. She developed thyroid problems and eye-related issues. For treatment, she had to travel to Boston, America. With no children and no immediate family support, she had to face this difficult phase of her life alone. Today, Sadhana lives in Mumbai in a rented house owned by Asha Bhosle. She prefers to avoid the public eye and rarely gives interviews or appears on television.
Despite working in over 30 films and delivering numerous hits, Sadhana never received a significant award, though she was nominated for “Woh Kaun Thi” and “Wakt.” In 2002, the International Indian Film Academy honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award, finally recognizing her contribution to Indian cinema.
Sadhana’s story is one of talent, beauty, success, love, loss, and resilience. She remains an inspiration for her iconic style and her ability to create a lasting impact on Indian fashion and cinema, even decades after stepping away from the limelight.
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