FIRST LOOK: SONAKSHI'S 'HIMMATWALA' ITEM SONG

It was straight out of an '80s film on the Filmistan Studios sets of Sajid Khan's next.

The scene took us three decades back when Jeetendra and Sridevi were part of the original Himmatwala. The setting including the props for a special item song in the film reminded us of the disco era of Bollywood.

Sajid, a self-proclaimed film buff of the '80s says, `The whole set is reminiscent of discos of those times and I have drawn inspiration from discotheques that started back then such as Scorpio, Xanadu, RGs, Cellars and Take Off. I used to frequent those places and that's how I made this entire set. It is my tribute to that era and that's why you will see iconic elements from that time.`

So from Rubik cubes, Pac-Man video games, posters of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson, Mithunda, Rishi Kapoor from Karz, Tom Cruise in Top Gun, everything on the sets was a turn back in time.

The director adds, `The song aptly titled Thank God It's Friday also reminds us of those times when both Saturday and Sunday used to be a holiday.`

And speaking of Sonakshi Sinha, who is shaking her booty to the track, Sajid says, `I was clear that I wanted an A-lister for my opening song. Sonakshi and I have been friends from sometime now and know each other well.` The dance number will present Sona in a retro, non-Indian look.

Rretro look

Sonakshi Sinha modeled exactly like Reena Roy for her retro-themed item song in 'Himmatwala'

A bitchy actress from Juhu called to say that director Sajid Khan wanted to give Sonakshi Sinha the 1980s look of Parveen Babi and Sridevi in the retro item number in his film.

But from the snapshots of her dance doing the rounds, she looks exactly like yesteryear star Reena Roy did in her films including the headband.