Reshma Aur Shera

{{Infobox film

| name = Reshma Aur Shera

| image = Reshma Aur Shera.jpg

| caption = Original poster

| director = Sunil Dutt

| producer = Sunil Dutt

| writer = S. Ali Raza

| screenplay =

| story =

| based_on =

| starring = Waheeda Rehman
Sunil Dutt
Amitabh Bachchan
Raakhee
Vinod Khanna

| narrator =

| music = Jaidev

| cinematography = Ramachandra

| editing = Pran Mehra

| studio = Ajanta Arts

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|df=y|1971|7|23}}

| runtime = 158 minutes

| country = India

| language = Hindi

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Reshma Aur Shera ({{lit}} Reshma and Shera) is a 1971 Hindi crime drama film produced and directed by Sunil Dutt and starring Waheeda Rehman as Reshma and Sunil Dutt as Shera. It also stars Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee, Ranjeet, K.N. Singh, Jayant and Amrish Puri in supporting roles.{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/entertainment/bollywood/when-sunil-dutt-decided-to-reshoot-film-reshma-aur-shera-and-landed-in-rs-60-lakh-debt/2043569|title=फिल्म को दोबारा शूट करने का फैसला पड़ा था भारी, सुनील दत्त को बेचनी पड़ी थीं 7 गाड़ियां, घर भी था गिरवी|trans-title=The decision to re-shoot the film was costly, Sunil Dutt had to sell 7 cars, the house was also mortgaged.|website=Zee News|language=hi|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=5 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105011540/https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/entertainment/bollywood/when-sunil-dutt-decided-to-reshoot-film-reshma-aur-shera-and-landed-in-rs-60-lakh-debt/2043569|url-status=live}} Sunil Dutt's son Sanjay Dutt, who was 12 years at the time, appears briefly as a Qawwali singer in his first film appearance.

Reshma Aur Shera received high critical acclaim from domestic and international critics and Sunil Dutt was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sunil-dutt-walked-off-set-yash-johar-arranged-99-camels-instead-of-100-9041961/|title=Sunil Dutt walked off set in anger as Yash Johar could arrange only 99 camels instead of 100: ‘He said pack-up and…’|date=25 November 2023|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=3 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203002027/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sunil-dutt-walked-off-set-yash-johar-arranged-99-camels-instead-of-100-9041961/|url-status=live}} It was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 44th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.{{cite web |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/when-sunil-dutt-decided-to-reshoot-this-film-and-landed-in-rs-60-lakh-debt-8012395.html|title=When Sunil Dutt Decided To Reshoot This Film And Landed In Rs 60 Lakh Debt|website=News18|date=6 June 2023|access-date=11 May 2025}}

Reshma Aur Shera won 3 awards at the 19th National Film Awards. Waheeda Rehman won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her highly-acclaimed performance in the film. The film also won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Jaidev and the National Film Award for Best Cinematography for Ramachandra.

Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of Rajasthan, Reshma (Rehman) and Shera (Dutt) love each other in the midst of a violent feud between their clans. When their families find out about their relationship, Chotu (Bachchan), Shera's mute sharpshooting brother carries out his father Sagat Singh's (Jayant) orders to kill Reshma's father (K. N. Singh) and her recently married brother Gopal (Ranjeet). Unable to bear the grief of Gopal's widowed bride (Raakhee), Shera kills his own father believing he actually pulled the trigger. After this tragedy, Reshma and Shera's family's feud will end in more tragedy as misunderstandings lead to more bloodshed between the clans.

Shera swears to kill Chotu and protect Reshma's family. Shera searches for Chotu, who hides in Reshma's house and seeks protection from her. The movie's climax is when Shera waits outside Reshma's house to kill Chotu. At the moment, Chotu and Reshma emerge from the house as a married couple. Shera notices sindoor on Reshma's forehead and realizes that he cannot kill Chotu since he is now her husband, thus ending the bloodshed. In his grief, Shera ends his own life using his rifle, just as Reshma to collapses after begging the skies to take her life away, with her corpse falling on that of Shera’s. As the two lovers lay dead in the desert, a windstorm takes place, and buries their bodies within the sand.

Cast

Waheeda Rehman as Reshma{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/when-waheeda-rehman-fainted-during-reshma-aur-shera-bali-scene-amitabh-bachchan-said-felt-privileged-took-care-of-her-101654936227401.html|title=When Waheeda Rehman fainted during Reshma Aur Shera bali scene, Amitabh Bachchan 'felt privileged, took care of her'|date=11 June 2022|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208101246/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/when-waheeda-rehman-fainted-during-reshma-aur-shera-bali-scene-amitabh-bachchan-said-felt-privileged-took-care-of-her-101654936227401.html|url-status=live}}
Sunil Dutt as Shera
Amitabh Bachchan as Chhotu{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-shares-throwback-from-reshma-aur-shera-sets-8427216/|title=Amitabh Bachchan shares pic from Reshma aur Shera sets, says people called him a camel: ‘Now the epithet has been usurped by others’|date=6 February 2023|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320151620/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-shares-throwback-from-reshma-aur-shera-sets-8427216/|url-status=live}}
Vinod Khanna as Vijay
Raakhee as Reshma's Sister-in-law
Ranjeet as Gopal
Jayant as Sagat Singh
K. N. Singh as Chaudhary
Amrish Puri as Rehmat Khan
Sanjay Dutt as Qawwali Singer
Naval Kumar as Jagat Singh

Music

class="wikitable"

! Song !! Singer

"Tu Chanda"

| Lata Mangeshkar

"Main Aaj Pawan Mein"

| Lata Mangeshkar

"Tauba Tauba Meri Tauba"

| Asha Bhosle

"Jab Se Lagan Lagaayi Re"

| Asha Bhosle

"Zaalim Meri Sharaab"

| Manna Dey

"Nafrat Ki Ek Hi Thokar"

| Manna Dey

"Ek Meethi Si Chubhan"

|Lata Mangeshkar

Awards

;Won

;Nomination

Golden Bear - Sunil Dutt (as director)

Reception

The film was a big commercial failure at the box office which lead to a financial loss for Sunil Dutt. He had to sell seven of his cars started travelling by bus. However, it was critically praised for its exquisite story of love in war time and considered as a lesser gems in Indian Cinema.{{cite news|url=https://www.movietalkies.com/movies-reviews/an-exquisite-story-of-love-in-times-of-war|title=Reshma aur Shera, an underrated classic}}