Then and now: Sadhana's rare public appearance

Bollywood's former style diva turned recluse, Sadhana, met Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil for unbiased mediation in her property dispute. A local court had summoned the actress earlier this month to record her statement in connection with a private complaint filed by builder Yusuf Lakdawala charging her for making defamatory statements against him.
Back in the 1960s, the stunning beauty had ruled the silver screen. With bumper hits like Mere Mehboob in her impressive resume, she was the 'mystery girl' of Hindi cinema. Embroiled in controversy, this is Sadhana's latest appearance.

Click on for a nostalgic journey...

Sadhana was born in 1941 as Sadhana Shivdasani, named after her father's favourite actress, Sadhana Bose.

Sadhana was home-schooled till she was 8 years old. Her family fled from Karachi in Pakistan during riots after the Partition.

She was discovered by some producers at the age of 15 who had seen her performance during a college play.

Sadhana was cast in India's first Sindhi film Abana in 1960, where she played the heroine's younger sister and she was paid a mere one rupee for it.

One of India's well known producer Subodh Mukherjee saw Sadhana's image in a magazine and offered her the lead role in her first Bollywood film Love in Simla (1959) opposite his newbie, son Joy Mukherjee.

The film was directed by newcomer, RK Nayyar.

RK Nayyar gave Sadhana her signature look, which is famous till date as the Sadhana cut.

It was modeled on Audrey Hepburn's hairstyle, ostensibly to cover up Sadhana's broad forehead.

The film was a huge success and it turned Sadhana into an overnight star.

At 16 Sadhana fell in love with RK Nayyar (five years her senior) but he backed off when her parents threatened legal action.

Sadhana's film Mere Mehboob in 1963 opposite Rajendra Kumar was a blockbuster.

Then came Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi? in 1964, another super-duper hit.

Post Who Kaun Thi, she was known as the "mystery girl."

Woh Kaun Thi? earned Sadhana a Filmfare Award nomination in the Best Actress category in 1965.

Sadhana's show-stopping performance made her synonymous with the mystery genre and Khosla later directed her in two more suspense thrillers, Mera Saaya (1965) and Anita (1968).

Then came blockbuster Waqt (1965) opposite Sunil Dutt. Sadhana won her second Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.

Her close-fit churidar kurtas from the movie became a rage among young girls at the time.

In the late 1960s, Sadhana had to leave briefly to get treatment for a thyroid problem.

But she made a successful comeback and delivered hits like Inteqaam (1969), Ek Phool Do Mali (1969).

Next came hit film Geeta Mera Naam (1974), which was also directed by Sadhana.

She then decided to retire from acting, saying that she wanted her fans to remember her as a young, beautiful leading lady.

Sadhana married director RK Nayyar in 1965. She and her husband formed a production company also. After Nayyar's death in the 90s, Sadhana lives a quiet life, rarely seen in public.

She continues to live in Mumbai, as a tenant of Asha Bhosle, for over 50 years, in the same house that has drawn her out in the open again, in a bitter confrontation.

The reclusive Sadhana rarely gives interviews and avoids cameras, remaining the "mystery girl" in real life too.