Exploring the Legacy of Jeet: A Look Back at the Film's Impact

As the film Jeet marks its 28th anniversary, we take a nostalgic look back at its impact on Bollywood and the careers of its stars, including Karisma Kapoor and Sunny Deol. The film, while entertaining, drew inspiration from earlier classics and showcased a unique narrative. Join us as we explore the film's legacy and the stories behind its production.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 23, 2025, 10:23 IST

A Nostalgic Reflection on Jeet

During the release of director Raj Kanwar's film Jeet, I reminded Karisma Kapoor that her mother, Babita, had starred in an earlier film with the same title alongside her father, Randhir Kapoor.

Karisma's response was quite unexpected. She stated, “This Jeet is entirely different from my mother’s version, although I haven’t seen my parents’ Jeet. That was ages ago. Our Jeet offers a fresh perspective on Devdas.”

However, the film produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Raj Kanwar did not aim for such lofty ambitions. In reality, Jeet drew significant inspiration from Prakash Mehra’s Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, featuring Sunny Deol as the relentless lover Karan, a role famously portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan.

Karisma took on the character of Kajal, the pure object of Deol’s affection (originally played by Rakhee Gulzar in the Bachchan version), while Tabu, despite her lack of dancing skills, portrayed the tawaif Tulsi, who is devoted to Karan, who in turn is infatuated with Kajal.

When I inquired about casting his close friend Tabu in a dancer's role, producer Sajid Nadiadwala remarked, “Meena Kumari played a tawaif in Pakeezah and she couldn’t dance to save her life.”

This is true, but it’s important to note that Meena Kumari was not trying to save her own life in Pakeezah. She persevered through her illness to complete the film. In contrast, Tabu seemed to drift through this predictable narrative, which also featured Salman Khan, who joined the cast simply because he wanted to be part of a hit. Salman entered the film late in the plot, marking the beginning of his numerous collaborations with producer Nadiadwala during a challenging period in his career. Jeet turned out to be a successful and entertaining film, yet it did not significantly benefit any of the actors involved. Raj Kanwar, who directed several hits before his untimely passing, did not receive due recognition for his work; producer Suneel Darshan took the credit for Andaaz, while Sajid Nadiadwala was credited for Jeet.