Like Mum, Like Daughter? Breaking Down Raveena Tandon’s Patthar Ke Phool vs Rasha Thadani’s Azaad

Rasha Thadani made her debut with Abhishek Kapoor’s Azaad

Another star kid made her debut last Friday. She’s smart, spunky, and a pap favourite. She boasts of 2.2 million followers on Instagram with only one film in her repertoire.

Rasha Thadani’s debut, after Janhvi Kapoor’s, created a loud buzz as they carry the legacy of their iconic mothers.

For Janhvi, destiny had different plans. Sridevi couldn’t see her elder daughter Janhvi’s debut film as the veteran actress died in Dubai in February 2018. Janhvi’s debut film Dhadak hit the screens that July.

Raveena Tandon, meanwhile, has been instrumental in promoting her daughter Rasha on and off Instagram for more than a year now.

Raveena Tandon and Anil Thadani’s daughter Rasha, 19, made her debut with Abhishek Kapoor’s Azaad, opposite Ajay Devgn’s nephew, Aaman Devgan. 19 is also the age that Raveena made her Bollywood debut at.

The film Azaad opened to mixed reviews but Rasha Thadani got noticed by critics and audience alike.

34 years ago, Raveena Tandon made her debut with Anant Balani’s Patthar Ke Phool (1991). Unlike Rasha, who made her debut opposite a newcomer, Raveena was paired opposite Salman Khan. He was a few films old then, with the stellar success of Maine Pyar Kiya to bank on.

How are Raveena’s and Rasha’s debuts similar or different?

We take a close look.

The Songs: Uyi Amma vs Kabhi Tu Chalia Lagta Hai

Before Azaad hit the theatres, Rasha Thadani made her fans dance to her Uyi Amma moves. From her relatives to her close friend Tamannaah, everyone cheered for Rasha in Uyi Amma, which speaks about female sexuality and desires.

A point of difference can be drawn here between Raveena and Rasha’s portrayal in their respective debut film songs.

Raveena, paired with Salman Khan, made her first impression on the audience’s mind as a partner who stood out even while sharing a frame with a Khan.

Talk about songs like Kabhi Tu Chalia Lagta Hai or Tumse Jo Dekhte Hi Pyar Hua, Raveena was never alone on screen.

From the love songs to the ones that spoke of separation, Raveena’s physical charm and facial expressions were in sync with the storyline and the hero she was paired with.

On the contrary, Rasha Thadani has two songs in the first half of Azaad – a Holi song titled Birangay, and Uyi Amma with her hero.

The song Uyi Amma celebrates the debutante’s dance skills, her charm and the intrinsic ada with which a Hindi film heroine is generally associated.

Rasha also features in a melodious love song titled Ajeeb O Gareeb with Aaman Devgan. 

However, Rasha’s solo Uyi Amma made more buzz than her chemistry with Aaman, adding to her sensational debut.

The Props: Raveena Tandon On Skates, Rasha On Horseback

Putting on a pair of skates was in vogue in the 90s. In fact, skates, in a way, played the catalyst in the love story of Suraj (Salman Khan) and Kiran (Raveena) in Patthar Ke Phool.

In an attempt to win his love, Salman Khan stumbles in skates, and then leaves Raveena in surprise with his smooth walk. After all, one has to fall in love.

Rasha and Aaman’s Azaad is a period saga set in pre-Independence India. Keeping with the timeline, Rasha AKA Janaki is seen riding a horse throughout the film. The zamindar’s girl, an expert at tending horses and riding them, calls her hero a “stable boy” when they first meet.

A horse (Azaad is the name of the horse that lends its name to the film) plays a key role in Janaki (Rasha) and Govind’s (Aaman) relationship. The song Ajeeb O Gareeb weaves the tale of a budding love story. While Janaki finds Govind, Azaad the stallion also finds his mare in the course of the song.

The Wardrobes

Raveena Tandon pulls off both Indian and Western outfits with equal ease in her debut film Patthar Ke Phool. In the song Kabhi Tu Chaliya Lagta Hai, Raveena is dressed like iconic screen characters Julie, Noorie and Bobby (as the lyrics of the song famously celebrate them).

In Azaad, Rasha Thadani wears ghagra-choli like her character demands. In a few shots, she also wears gowns and hats, making the British influence on her sartorial choices conspicuous.

The Media And Social Media 

A major point of divergence between Rasha and her mom’s debut is the all-encompassing social media which 90s actors didn’t have to deal with.

While press meets are still around in the age of clicks and touch-phones, Gen Z stars are building their fanbase through their social media.

Rasha Thadani’s Instagram feed can vouch for that. From her graduation ceremony to the press con of Azaad, from her reels to her candid BTS – Instagram is there for all seasons and reasons.

Raveena’s stardom had no social media aid. Here’s a throwback picture of the actress, looking gorgeous as ever in a purple salwar suit, during a press meet for her debut film alongside the dashing Salman Khan.

Times have changed, so have audiences. Even the medium of film release has undergone a revolutionary change.

Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha had a smooth launch but the road ahead might not be a bed of roses. Rasha has her mother Raveena’s shadow to work in, and then out of, after all.