Jaya Prada on 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa': Saree craze emptied shops across India in 1984
Synopsis
Four decades after its release, 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' is still moving merchandise — or at least it did in 1984, when Jaya Prada says shops across India ran out of the sarees she wore in the song. Her candid revelation on India's Best Dancer Season 5 is a rare first-person account of how a single Bollywood number reshaped fashion demand overnight.
Key Takeaways
Jaya Prada revealed on India's Best Dancer Season 5 that the sarees she wore in 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' were so popular that shops across India ran out of stock.
The song is from the 1984 film Tohfa , which starred Jeetendra , Jaya Prada , and Sridevi and was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1984 .
The soundtrack featured music by Bappi Lahiri , lyrics by Indeevar , and vocals by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle .
Jaya Prada called 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' one of the best songs of her career, more than three decades after its release.
Meenakshi Seshadri credited director K.
Raghavendra Rao and South Indian filmmakers for shaping the visual style of Hindi song picturisations of that era.
Veteran actress Jaya Prada has recalled how the iconic song 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' from the 1984 blockbuster Tohfa triggered an extraordinary saree craze across India — one so intense that shops reportedly ran out of stock as audiences rushed to replicate her on-screen look. The actress made the revelation while appearing as a special guest on the dance reality show India's Best Dancer Season 5, alongside fellow veteran Meenakshi Seshadri.
The Saree Phenomenon
The appearance came after contestant Ruturaj and choreographer Vaishnavi delivered a high-energy performance on the evergreen track, visibly moving Jaya Prada to reflect on the song's cultural afterlife. Speaking on the show, she said: 'Jaya Prada Saree, almost I think more than three decades yeh gaana hit hote hote itne popular ho gaya. Aur theaters mein bhi yeh gaana jab chal raha tha, toh saare theaters ko saadiyon ka itna demand ho gaya ki dukaano mein saadiyaan nahi mil pa rahi thi.'
In essence, she described how, over more than three decades, the song's growing popularity translated into an overwhelming demand for the sarees she wore — so much so that shops were unable to keep up with the rush. 'It was so popular aur yeh gaana mein jahaan bhi jaati hoon — Tohfa Tohfa Tohfa — itna tohfa kahan se leke jaun?' she added, recalling how fans would greet her with the song's title wherever she went.
One of Her Career's Best Songs
Jaya Prada placed 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' among the finest songs of her career. 'I feel mere career mein mere gaano ka yeh jo kitty hain, this is one of the best songs I can say. And I feel really proud of it,' she said. The candid admission underlines how deeply the song is woven into her professional identity, even four decades after its release.
Meenakshi Seshadri on South Indian Filmmakers' Influence
Fellow guest Meenakshi Seshadri used the occasion to credit South Indian filmmakers — particularly director K. Raghavendra Rao — for bringing a distinctive visual sensibility to Hindi cinema's song picturisations. She praised the elegant sarees featured in the song as a reflection of the aesthetic creativity that South Indian directors introduced to Bollywood, a contribution she argued has not always received its due recognition.
About Tohfa and the Song's Legacy
Tohfa, starring Jeetendra, Jaya Prada, and Sridevi, emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 1984. Its soundtrack, composed by Bappi Lahiri with lyrics by Indeevar and vocals by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, produced multiple chartbusters including 'Ek Aankh Maroon To' and 'Gori Tere Ang Ang Mein'. 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' stood out for its melody, colourful picturisation, and Jaya Prada's saree looks — a combination that, as her own account confirms, moved beyond the screen and into everyday fashion. The song's continued presence on dance reality shows four decades on is a measure of just how durable that cultural footprint has proved.
Point of View
Yet it is routinely underestimated in retrospective assessments of Hindi cinema's commercial power. Meenakshi Seshadri's point about South Indian filmmakers' visual contribution to Hindi song picturisations is equally worth noting: directors like K. Raghavendra Rao shaped the aesthetic grammar of an entire era, yet mainstream film history rarely gives them the credit that Bollywood's own stars clearly feel they deserve.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jaya Prada say about the 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' saree craze?
Jaya Prada said the sarees she wore in 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' became so popular that shops across India ran out of stock as audiences rushed to buy them. She made the revelation on India's Best Dancer Season 5, calling the song one of the best of her career.
What is the song 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' and which film is it from?
'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' is a song from the 1984 Hindi film Tohfa, starring Jeetendra and Jaya Prada. It featured music by Bappi Lahiri, lyrics by Indeevar, and vocals by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, and became one of the decade's biggest musical hits.
Was Tohfa a successful film?
Yes, Tohfa — starring Jeetendra, Jaya Prada, and Sridevi — was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1984. Its soundtrack produced multiple chartbusters beyond 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa', including 'Ek Aankh Maroon To' and 'Gori Tere Ang Ang Mein'.
What did Meenakshi Seshadri say on India's Best Dancer Season 5?
Meenakshi Seshadri credited South Indian filmmakers, especially director K. Raghavendra Rao, for introducing a distinctive visual style to Hindi cinema's song picturisations. She praised the elegant sarees in 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' as a reflection of that aesthetic sensibility.
Where did Jaya Prada make these revelations?
Jaya Prada appeared as a special guest on the dance reality show India's Best Dancer Season 5, alongside Meenakshi Seshadri, where she shared her memories of the song after watching a performance of 'Pyaar Ka Tohfa' by contestant Ruturaj and choreographer Vaishnavi.
