Khoon Bhari Maang (1988)

While i'm not a huge lover of soap opera's, there's something about over the top, camp '80's dramas like Dallas, Dynasty that i find very interesting. Khoon Bhari Maang (Blood on the head) a remake of the popular '80's Australian series Return to Eden, like the Tv series of the time this movie is high on glamour, fabulous over the top fashion, a sexy villain and over the top drama


Aarti Saxena (Rekha) is a wealthy widow with a scar on her face who lives on a ranch in Sitapur with her two kids kavita and Bobby

When her father's (Saeed Jeffrey) employee Hiralal (Kader Khan) murders him out of greed, Aarti moves down to Bombay to handle the family Business



Then Hiralal, his cousin Sanjay (Kabir Bedi) along with Aarti's best friend Nandini (Sonu Walia) then plot to get their hands on Aarti's millions


Sanjay is introduced to Aarti and slowly he wins over the affection of her kids Kavita and Bobby, this impresses Aarti and she's impressed with the new father figure in her kids life, When Sanjay proposes Aarti accepts

After the marriage they leave for Sitapur alongside Aarti's best friend Nandini, while on a boat ride in Sitapur Sanjay pushes Aarti into a crocodile lake with the intention of killing her and then inheriting her wealth


Sanjay soon starts mistreating the kids and when he tries claiming the property he's told that since Aarti's dead body wasn't found, she can't be confirmed dead, and he would only be able to claim the property if Aarti doesn't show up for 7 years

Aarti surprisingly survives the crocodile attack and is washed up a muddy shore where she is found by a local man who treats her wounds

When Aarti recovers to see her scarred face she's disgusted and promises revenge, Aarti then sells her expensive jewelleries, and then flies out of India

Outside india she consults a plastic Surgeon (Tom Alter) who assures her surgery will eliminate her scars and give her a new look

Thus commends a makeover to put all the reality Tv shows to shame

Aarti is pleased when she discovers her new look, she then returns to Bombay with a vengeance, she goes secretly to her old house and finds her best friend Nandini romancing Sanjay


Aarti realises revenge is best served with a hot dash of glamour, so she applies her blusher, puts on contact lens, paints her nails and wears some fabulous '80's fashion

I love the way she crosses Nandin's face with her lipstick, very '80's soap operaish

She heads to the top Modelling agency and changes her name to Jyoti, she impresses the head of the modelling agency J.D (Shatrugan Sinha) who promises to make her the next big thing thereby succeeding Nandini her best friend


Watch as Aarti now Jyoti topples her best friend from the top of the modelling world (they even have a dance off to see who is the fiercest model)

Watch how she plots her way into Sanjay's heart as Jyoti, will she be able to reclaim her property and her family, watch Khoon Bhari Maang to find out.


I applaud Rakesh Roshan for his direction in this soap opera masala, he did a great job condensing a show that ran for three years into a 2hr 30 mins plus movie,other hollywood Tv movies very similar in theme 'A face to kill for' & 'A face to die for' exists but its the campness & over the top drama of Khoon Bhari Maang i adore the most.

Rekha was fantastic as the femme fatale, she handles her transformation from the 'scarred widow' to the beautiful woman seeking vengeance really well

the moment where she sees her new face for the first time and cries is well acted and very moving (see below) she was awarded the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her role

Sonu Walia who had recently won the Miss India pageant at the time was gorgeous and played her role just right, she got the filmfare best supporting actress award

the Beautiful Sonu Walia

Kabir Bedi who plays Sanjay has to be one of the sexiest villains ever, so arrogant, so vile yet so sexy, forget John Abraham in his yellow trunks in Dostana, this hot piece of a man wore a speedo way back then


The fashion of the movie is 'over the top' fabulous and Rekha pulls them off with attitude, while some were over the top, i was impressed to find some of the outfits looked so much like what the fashion icons of our times are wearing (see below)

Supermodel Kate Moss (May 2009) in the gold Head wrap similar to the same one Rekha wears in the movie
Lady Gaga (April 2009) in a shoulder padded blouse similar to one Rekha wears in the movie as well

Pop Star Rihanna (June 2009) in Sunglasses and a giant clutch very similar to Rekha's in the movie

There was some highly hilarious costumes and hairdo's too



The music by Rajesh Roshan suited perfectly, the joyful 'Hanste Hanste', the groovy 'Jeene ke Bahaane Lakhon Mein' & the romantic 'Main Teri Hoon Janam' (my all time favourite bollywood rip off ) which rips off of the 'Chariots of Fire' theme



Total Score: 7/10 ( A highly enjoyable camp drama)
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