The late Hindi cinema actress Sridevi appeared on screen in a variety of roles—sometimes bubbly, sometimes serious, and at times in characters that left audiences astonished. She began her career in South Indian films before establishing a distinct identity in Hindi cinema. However, an interesting aspect of her career was that she did not consider the success of the film that made her a major Bollywood star entirely fortunate for herself. This has been documented in the book Sridevi: Queen of Hearts. Sridevi was born on August 13, 1963, in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. Her real name was Sri Amma Yanger Ayyapan. She began working in films at a very young age and appeared as a child artist in South Indian cinema when she was around four years old. She worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films and established herself as a child artist. She also received the Kerala State Film Award for her performance in the Malayalam film Poombatta. Even after growing up, Sridevi continued to work extensively in South Indian cinema. In the 1976 Tamil film Moondru Mudichu, she worked alongside actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Films such as 16 Vayathinile, Sigappu Rojakkal and Moondram Pirai went on to establish her as one of the leading actresses in South Indian cinema. Her first leading role in Hindi cinema came with the 1979 film Solva Sawan. However, the film failed to give her the recognition she was looking for. Then came Himmatwala in 1983, which changed everything. Starring opposite Jeetendra, the film performed exceptionally well at the box office. Its songs, Sridevi’s outfits and her dancing became hugely popular. She suddenly became one of the most talked-about actresses in Hindi cinema. However, this success also created a strange fear in her mind. According to her old interviews cited in the book Sridevi: Queen of Hearts, Sridevi considered the success of Himmatwala to be unlucky for her. She feared that after the film’s success, audiences would view her merely as a beautiful and glamorous actress and would not take her acting abilities seriously. Her concern was not entirely unfounded. After Himmatwala, she appeared in several commercial films, but Sridevi wanted to prove that she was more than just a star known for songs and glamour. She had already received critical acclaim for her performance in Sadma, although the film was not successful at the box office. Sridevi believed that a role like the one in Sadma demonstrated her ability to handle serious and challenging performances. In the years that followed, she proved this through her work. The 1980s became the biggest phase of her career. She delivered memorable performances in films such as Tohfa, Nagina, Mr. India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Lamhe. Her comic performance and iconic “Hawa Hawai” act in Mr. India became hugely popular. In ChaalBaaz, she played twin sisters with contrasting personalities, showcasing her versatility. In Lamhe, she portrayed characters with different ages and emotional dimensions. By then, she had become a female star whose presence alone could drive a film’s success. After her marriage, Sridevi gradually stepped away from films. She married filmmaker Boney Kapoor in 1996 and had two daughters, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor. After Judaai in 1997, she stayed away from the big screen for several years. Nearly 15 years later, she made her comeback with English Vinglish in 2012. In the film, she played an ordinary homemaker who learns English and regains her confidence. She later appeared in Mom, which was released in 2017. It was her final full-length film. During her illustrious career, Sridevi received several major honours, including multiple Filmfare Awards. In 2013, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri. She is widely remembered as the first female superstar of Indian cinema. Sridevi passed away in Dubai on February 24, 2018, at the age of just 54. News of her death sent shockwaves across the country and left the Indian film industry deeply saddened.
