Mumbai: Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai looked back on his action drama Karma as the film completed 40 years on August 8, sharing rare behind-the-scenes photographs from the sets.

In a collaborative post with his production house’s social media account, Ghai published a series of archival images featuring legends including Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, Sridevi and Nutan. The pictures show him directing scenes, discussing shots with Dilip Kumar and Anil Kapoor, interacting with Naseeruddin Shah and Jackie Shroff, and posing with the ensemble cast in a relaxed mood.

The caption read: “Somewhere in our archives is a Karma call sheet from 1986 with Dilip Kumar, Nutan, Naseeruddin Shah, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Poonam Dhillon and Anupam Kher all on it. Forty years later, here's what the set actually looked like!”

Released on August 8, 1986, Karma was written, directed and produced by Subhash Ghai under the Mukta Arts banner. Besides Dilip Kumar, the film featured an ensemble cast that included Nutan, Sridevi, Poonam Dhillon, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Dara Singh, Tom Alter, Beena Banerjee, Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor in pivotal roles.

The film is also remembered for its soundtrack, composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Songs such as “Aye Watan Tere Liye,” “Dil Diya Hai Jaan Bhi Denge,” “Na Jaiyo Pardes,” “Maine Rab Se Tujhe” and “De Daru” continue to be popular with audiences.

By opening the archives on the film’s 40th anniversary, Ghai offered a glimpse of the collaborative atmosphere behind one of the major multi-starrer action dramas of the mid-1980s and underlined the lasting recognition of both its cast and its music.