Sridevi as a bride in Mr India (1987): White gown and glory

Sridevi in Mr India (1987). Her white bridal look from the song and dream sequence! 

Sridevi dancing on the streets of Mumbai for Nazrana (1987)

Sridevi dancing on the streets of Mumbai for Nazrana (1987). 

 

Sridevi in Nazrana

Throwback to 1987, Sridevi on the sets of Nazrana

Sridevi

 

The white pullover, the bangles... Sridevi's 1987 photoshoot with Filmfare. 

The soft lighting and lens... looks like work of the late great Gautam Rajadhyaksha. 

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TBT: Sridevi in 1987 in Kashmir: Beautiful in all white salwar

 

On the sets of Ram Avtar.

Image from India Today - you can buy the pic here, among 100s of archival photos of Sridevi. 

Sridevi on the sets of Nazrana

Sridevi on the sets of Nazrana (1987). The colourful dance costume and accessories. 

Sridevi's inspired out as Ms Hawa Hawaii in Mr India: Publicity shots with Anil Kapoor

Sridevi and Anil Kapoor's pre release publicity shoot for Mr India, back in 1986. 

Don't reel back in horror at Sridevi's elaborate, multi-frill, multi-layered outfit with the real fruit studded straw hat! 

It's from her Hawa Hawaii costume - inspired by Carmen Miranda no less. Fun fact, she requested the fruits be real so mid conversation, she could pluck grapes and eat them while she spoke to "Mr Bheja...".  

Sridevi

 

Sridevi from the song Jeevan Jyot Jale from the film Aulad (1987) 

Long before daily soap operas monopolised Indian television, 1980s Hindi cinema supplied all the high-voltage family melodrama an audience could ask for. Released in 1987, director Vijay Sadanah’s Aulad stood as a fine example in the genre, weaving a classic tale of swapped infants, tragic train crashes, and the agonising conflict of rival motherhood.

Anchored by Jeetendra, Sridevi, and Jaya Prada, Aulad emerged as a certified box-office hit. Central to its theatrical success was a hit soundtrack composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal, with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Songs like the spirited Kishore Kumar and Kavita Krishnamurthy duet "To Phir Ho Jaaye" and the poignant "Ek Maa Ka Dil" provided the emotional beating heart of the narrative, lingering on radio charts long after the film's theatrical run.

At the center of the storm was the iconic rivalry and synergy between Sridevi and Jaya Prada. Having shared the frame across roughly 15 films in Hindi and Telugu - including smash hits like Tohfa and Mawaali - their pairing was pure marquee gold. Contrary to popular memory, Aulad was not their final bow together; they reunited that same year in Majaal [produced by Jaya Prada's family no loess!]. Yet Aulad offered one of their most compelling dual setups, pitting two formidable screen personas against each other in the moral atonement of sacrifice.

While the film leaned heavily into the era's dramatic formulas, Sridevi’s performance as Devki drew unanimous praise. Transitioning effortlessly from a breezy, street-smart entertainer to a grief-stricken mother navigating unimaginable loss, she delivered a performance of remarkable vulnerability. Her expressive eyes carried the full weight of the second half, elevating standard tear-jerker tropes into genuine emotional drama. A dubious decade defined by grand theatricality, Aulad proved that Sridevi’s absolute mastery of dramatic gravitas was unmatched.

Mr India's Vintage Poster: Released by T Series

T Series got the scoop out of titan HMV back in 1987, the music rights to the super successful Mr.India. 

This vintage newspaper advert --ai colour edited this year--shouting the film's success. 

 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Aulad

Jeetendra and Sridevi on the sets of the film Aulad (1987).  

Dancing diva: Sridevi rocked Bollywood to the core in the 1980s

Released 39 years ago today, Nazrana was the last film directed by Raveena Tandon's father, producer/director Ravi Tandon. 

Sridevi is lovely in the film - her dances are stunning. 

Credits were not clearcut - we don't know who did which song and dance in the film but according to the  screengrab from the film, the movie's dances were choreographed by P.L.Raj, Suresh Bhatt and Saroj - we are assuming this is Saroj Khan, Sridevi's favourite in the 1980s. 

Sridevi in 1987: The Golden Gal of Bollywood

On the cover of the now-defunct Star & Style, Sridevi heads the annual edition of 1987. A look from her film Guru, the all-gold ensemble, the 80s perm, the heavy gloss... signature 80s. 

Sridevi, "I will never give people a chance to get bored of me!"

Sridevi, "I can’t be number one for life. As a girl, the time is even shorter. I am not going to be a performer, going on year after year. I will never give people a chance to get bored of me. The moment somebody younger is going to take my place, I will quit films. I hate to hang on,"
--India Today, 1987.

Left: Sridevi in costume on the sets of Joshilaay. 

Sridevi and Mithun in Watan Ke Rakhwale

Sridevi looked so pretty in the song Patthar Ke Sanam Kuchh Bol Zara, Jab Pyar Kiya from the hit film Watan Ke Rakhwale. Sung by Anuradha Paudwal and Mohammed Aziz, the voices suited the stars of the 80s. 

Released on 14 August 1987, it was the 7th highest-grossing film of 1987! 38 years ago! wow time flies... 

TBT: Sridevi in 1987

Sridevi poses of Sushma magazine. 

Circa 1987

TBT: Sridevi in 1987

 

Throwback to 1987!

Sridevi's red look from Himmat Aur Mehanat (1987)

Oh that's a lot of red...  Sridevi's look from the song Chhuee Muee Chhuee Muee Ho Gayi from the film Himmat Aur Mehanat (1987)

Not a favourite film, look or song... but Sridevi was rocking the glamour of the time - the very questionable 1980s in Bollywood! 

Sridevi's most iconic outfit of all item: That blue chiffon sari!

Sridevi's most iconic outfit of all item: That blue chiffon sari!

Released on 25 May 1987, its easily one of Sridevi's most beloved films, the entertainer, thriller, comedy, superhero flick, Mr. India. 

Speaking of iconic, well, the entire look of Anil Kapoor, from the hat to muddy shoe, Anil Kapoor wore just one look in the entire film! 

Seductive Sridevi was a phase in the early 1980s; she put a stop to that the second she had the agency to.