Lajja turns 25: Jackie Shroff marks milestone of Madhuri, Rekha classic
Synopsis
Twenty-five years after its release, Lajja still stands as one of Bollywood's most ambitious feminist ensembles. Jackie Shroff's anniversary tribute is a reminder that a mainstream 2001 film tackled dowry, female infanticide, and mythological double standards with a directness that most contemporary Hindi cinema still sidesteps.
Key Takeaways
Jackie Shroff marked 25 years of Lajja on 31 August 2025 with a video montage on social media set to Lata Mangeshkar's 'Kaun Dagar Kaun Shehar' .
Lajja was written, directed, and produced by Rajkumar Santoshi and first released on 31 August 2001 .
The film featured four female leads — Manisha Koirala , Madhuri Dixit , Rekha , and Mahima Chaudhry — each portraying a different experience of patriarchal violence.
All four protagonists carry names associated with Sita , anchoring the film's critique of the idealised Indian woman in Hindu mythology.
Music was composed by Anu Malik , with Ilaiyaraaja scoring the background music and the track 'Kaun Dagar Kaun Shehar'.
Jackie Shroff on 31 August 2025 marked 25 years of the landmark Bollywood film Lajja, sharing a video montage on social media that celebrated the Rajkumar Santoshi-directed ensemble drama which first released on 31 August 2001. The film, featuring Manisha Koirala, Madhuri Dixit, Rekha, and Mahima Chaudhry in four interlocking lead roles, remains one of Hindi cinema's most pointed explorations of patriarchy and violence against women.
What Jackie Shroff Shared
Shroff posted a montage of stills from the film, showcasing his character Raghu alongside moments featuring the principal cast. The video was set to the late Lata Mangeshkar's haunting track 'Kaun Dagar Kaun Shehar', composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the film. His caption read: #Celebrating25YearsOfLajja.
The Story at the Heart of Lajja
At the centre of the film is Vaidehi, played by Manisha Koirala, who flees an abusive marriage to Raghu — Shroff's character — after discovering the full extent of his intentions, including her pregnancy. On the run across India, Vaidehi crosses paths with three other women, each navigating a different face of a deeply patriarchal society.
Notably, all four protagonists — Vaidehi, Maithili, Janki, and Ramdulaari — carry names historically associated with Sita from Hindu mythology, reinforcing the film's deliberate engagement with the archetype of the idealised Indian woman and the burdens placed upon her.
Four Women, Four Stories
Madhuri Dixit essayed Janki, a spirited theatre actor performing the role of Sita in a Ramleela, who is pregnant out of wedlock. When her partner Manish, played by Samir Soni, questions her character based on mere gossip, the film draws a pointed parallel between mythological double standards and contemporary reality. In one of Lajja's most-remembered sequences, Janki refuses to submit to an Agni Pariksha, instead questioning why only Sita must prove her purity.
Mahima Chaudhry played Maithili, a bride whose wedding becomes a site of conflict when the groom's family escalates dowry demands and humiliates her father. Maithili openly confronts the family, refusing to accept the situation in silence.
Rekha portrayed Ramdulaari, a widowed village midwife who educates women, encourages self-reliance, and stands up to the oppressive local power structure headed by Gajendra Singh, played by Danny Denzongpa. Her storyline also confronts female infanticide directly.
The Ensemble and the Music
Beyond the four leads, Lajja featured Anil Kapoor as Raju, Ajay Devgn as Bulwa, Gulshan Grover, Sharman Joshi, Farida Jalal, and Rohini Hattangadi, among others. Sonali Bendre and Urmila Matondkar appeared in special roles. The film's music was composed primarily by Anu Malik, with Ilaiyaraaja handling the background score and 'Kaun Dagar Kaun Shehar'. Tracks such as 'Badi Mushkil', 'Kaliyug Ki Sita', and 'Saajan Ke Ghar Jana Hai' remain part of its enduring legacy.
Two and a half decades on, Lajja's unflinching look at systemic gender violence continues to resonate — and Jackie Shroff's tribute underscores how rarely mainstream Hindi cinema has assembled such an ambitious, issue-driven ensemble since.
Point of View
Using Sita's names for all four protagonists, was sophisticated storytelling that most critics of the era undervalued. Twenty-five years on, its subjects — dowry violence, female infanticide, sexual double standards — are no less urgent. The anniversary is worth more than nostalgia: it is a benchmark against which the ambition of contemporary Hindi cinema can be measured, and found wanting.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Lajja released and who directed it?
Lajja released on 31 August 2001 and was written, directed, and produced by Rajkumar Santoshi. The film is now marking its 25th anniversary.
Why did Jackie Shroff post about Lajja?
Jackie Shroff shared a video montage on social media on 31 August 2025 to mark 25 years since Lajja's release. The montage featured stills of his character Raghu and the principal cast, set to Lata Mangeshkar's 'Kaun Dagar Kaun Shehar'.
What social issues did Lajja address?
Lajja addressed patriarchy, domestic abuse, dowry demands, female foeticide, sexual double standards, and violence against women through four interlocking female storylines. Each protagonist embodied a distinct but connected experience of gender-based oppression in Indian society.
Who were the four lead actresses in Lajja and what were their roles?
The four leads were Manisha Koirala as Vaidehi (a woman fleeing an abusive husband), Madhuri Dixit as Janki (a theatre actor challenging mythological double standards), Mahima Chaudhry as Maithili (a bride confronting dowry demands), and Rekha as Ramdulaari (a widowed midwife fighting female infanticide and local oppression).
Who composed the music for Lajja?
The film's music was primarily composed by Anu Malik, while Ilaiyaraaja composed the background score and the song 'Kaun Dagar Kaun Shehar', sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Other notable tracks include 'Badi Mushkil', 'Kaliyug Ki Sita', and 'Saajan Ke Ghar Jana Hai'.
