Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Sridevi once said she often dreamed about snakes. In Nagina, released in 1986, she played Rajni, a woman revealed to be a shape-shifting serpent—and the film became a major hit. The apparent contradiction is striking, but the evidence supports a narrower claim than “Sridevi was afraid of snakes”: a 1985 interview records her describing unsettling dreams, while a contemporary profile says she handled snakes on set without fear.
Did Sridevi really dream about snakes?
In a 1985 Cine Blitz interview, Sridevi reportedly said: “I dream a lot, every night in fact. Most of the time I dream of horrible things like ghosts, phantoms and snakes. People tell me that dreaming of snakes means that you have a lot of enemies.” The quotation is reproduced in Scroll’s excerpt from Satyarth Nayak’s book Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess; the original magazine issue was not separately reviewed here. Read Scroll’s excerpt.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nagina | $11.46 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Nigahen (Nagina - Part Ii) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51e99A4+XCL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Nigahen (Nagina - Part Ii) [DVD] | $38.56 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Airport Terminal Pack [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51u7TvlKDzL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Airport Terminal Pack [DVD] | $8.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Today You Die [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51t-2kWa1wL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Today You Die [DVD] | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Jillian Janson: Girls Next Door #272 with Anastasia Knight 2026 + DVD | $25.99 | Buy on Amazon |
That statement describes recurring dreams, not a clinical phobia, and it does not establish that she feared live snakes. A 1987 India Today profile reported that Sridevi handled snakes on set without fear; the same account said Rishi Kapoor left when snakes were brought in. That is a contemporary magazine report, not an independently documented production record. India Today’s 1987 profile.
How did Sridevi get cast in Nagina?
Nagina was a Hindi fantasy romance directed and produced by Harmesh Malhotra. Moviebuff lists its wide Indian theatrical release as 28 November 1986. Sridevi played Rajni, Rishi Kapoor played Rajiv, and Amrish Puri played the snake-charmer Bhairon Nath. Moviebuff’s film listing.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
Accounts differ on the first casting approach. Scroll’s excerpt says Malhotra first narrated the story to Jaya Prada, who rejected it, before calling Sridevi, then ill with a high fever. Sridevi read the script and chose to do it. India Today instead says Jaya Prada delayed accepting the offer. Neither version should be treated as undisputed.
The part offered Sridevi an opportunity to lead a heroine-oriented Hindi film. In the recollection reproduced by Scroll, her mother and manager, Rajeshwari, called it Sridevi’s first real heroine-oriented Hindi film and said she shifted her schedule to focus on it.
Rank #2
What made Rajni—and Sridevi’s performance—stand out?
Moviebuff’s synopsis describes Rajni as an orphan who marries Rajiv, then is revealed as a venomous shape-shifting snake seeking revenge. Bhairon Nath, the snake-charmer, has his own agenda. The film’s mix of romance, revenge and supernatural transformation gave Sridevi a role built around both character drama and physical performance.
Scroll’s excerpt singles out the climactic “Main Teri Dushman” sequence, in which Rajni is trapped and must communicate without dialogue. Sridevi later told Filmfare in 1992: “I had to convey the feeling that I was helpless, that I was imprisoned by the strains of the music. To do this without speaking a single line of dialogue was a challenge. So, I just went along with the music and let my body do the talking.” Scroll reproduces the interview in its excerpt.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
- Factory sealed DVD
The same excerpt quotes choreographer Saroj Khan explaining that she used knee movements to evoke a snake rising from the ground. It also says Sridevi experimented with contact lenses for the role, which could make her eyes red. Khan recalled that lens problems affected parts of the performance, yet praised Sridevi’s expressions. These production details are reported through the excerpt rather than independently verified records.
Was Nagina a box-office hit?
Yes: contemporary and later accounts describe it as a major commercial success and a turning point in Sridevi’s Hindi-film career. India Today’s 1987 profile called it a major blockbuster and said the performance sent Sridevi to the top. Scroll’s excerpt goes further, calling it the biggest blockbuster of 1986 and saying its profit ratio overtook Subhash Ghai’s Karma.
Rank #4
Those descriptions support the broad conclusion that Nagina was a major hit, but they do not establish a dependable exact gross or a verified all-India ranking. Conflicting numerical claims should not be mistaken for a settled box-office record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was Nagina’s legacy?
According to Scroll’s excerpt, the film’s reception led Malhotra to announce Nigahen (1989), with Sridevi returning in a sequel. The excerpt describes it as a rare actress-led franchise for its period and places Sheshnaag (1990) and Nache Nagin Gali Gali (1989) among the serpent-themed films that followed. These are the excerpt’s characterizations of the film’s influence, not a measured industry-wide count.
Best Value
- Jillian Janson: Girls Next Door #272 with Anastasia Knight 2026 + DVD
- 2026 Adult magazine
For viewers comparing serpent-themed Hindi films, useful distinctions are whether the serpent is the central protagonist, how the story balances fantasy with romance and revenge, and how much it relies on the lead performer’s screen presence and dance. The available accounts support qualitative comparisons, not a numerical box-office ranking.
Can you watch Nagina now?
Availability depends on territory and can change. JustWatch’s India listing reported on 8 October 2026 that the film was unavailable to stream there, with its previous Prime Video India run ending in August 2025. That is an India-specific snapshot, not a statement about worldwide availability. Check JustWatch India’s listing.
An Amazon Prime Video title page identifies Nagina (1986) and displays DVD as an alternate format. A product page does not guarantee local stock or compatibility: check the seller, region coding and language before ordering. Amazon’s DVD listing.
Apple Music lists a five-song, 32-minute Nagina soundtrack dated 20 July 1986. That digital catalog entry does not establish that a cassette, record or CD is currently available. Apple Music’s soundtrack listing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
