A-List of Bollywood: The Teen Deviyan and all the joy of Hindi Cinema: Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla and Sridevi De

Dec 2017

 

The Lux Rose Gold Awards... or some such made up nonsense PR event by the brand where they dished out random nonsensical awards to bring together celebrities, their entourage and their fans. It was clearly a one-off event as we haven't heard much about it thereafter, but they did bring together the three greatest actresses, superstars and absolute queens of Indian cinema, Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla and Sridevi together. All lined up and seated together, the photographers had an absolute field day! 

Never before and never again, in the history of Indian cinema, the three leading contemporaries and competitors together..., all graceful, gorgeous and glamorous. Sigh.. what a glorious time. 

Happy Diwali everyone! 

• Sridevi celebrating Diwali over the years here.

Femina's first cover with Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi! Throwback to 1984!

Earlier, I had posted that Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit were symbiotically connected in the media, whether they liked it or not!  If you wanted to find one celebrity - be it Sridevi or Madhuri Dixit - you would find them next to the other! As far back as September 1984, the two were placed next to each other, for comparison, critique and sometimes, like here for example, coincidence. 

While Abodh released in 1984 with Madhuri Dixit's first film tanking at the box-office, Sridevi by September 1984, at age 21, had already been declared the Number One female superstar of India. Meanwhile, Femina didn't even spell Madhuri Dixit's name right - good grief! Was the sub-editor asleep?! 

For the next five years, La Dixit was playing catch up... in 1989, she was seriously considered for the top rung.  

May 1989

Sridevi was on solid footing from Himmatwala in 1983 to 1993 summer... Then was was speculative journalism became confirmed status quo; Madhuri Dixit's box office success and top of the charts music of Choli ke peecheh in Khal Nayak, established her as the definitive leading lady of Bollywood, the Numero Uno. Funnily enough though, as soon as that happened, Juhi Chawla came in out of the blue like a bowling ball and knocked down her competition like volatile pins; she had 8 releases and four massive hits; the blockbuster Darr, the sexy action flick Lootere, the family drama Aaina and her award-winning-turn in the rom com Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke! Just as she was getting comfortable on top of the heap, summer of 1994 came the biggest hit of the year/decade/all-time... the Bollywood Titanic; Hum Aapke Hain Kaun!   The Number One throne suddenly became musical chairs, interchangeable with every high and low of box-office tides. Of all the actresses, let's give credit where credit is due, Madhuri Dixit had stated that talent outlasts all, "we are not horses on a racecourse", its just acting, hits and flops don't matter, one remembers the performance. When you think of Nargis, Meena Kumari or Nutan - do you ever think of which movie did ROI?! Only film producers and exhibitors do. The audience doesn't. 

Tags on this vintage Femina cover;

Wow - a major throwback. 

• A TIMES OF INDIA PUBLICATION

• SEPTEMBER 8—22, 1984

• Femina

• Rs. 3.00

Main Image Text

• Madhuri Dikshit (!)

Bottom Middle Section

• What exactly is star power?

Screen: Madhuri Dixit: Sridevi

 

Getting the Sunday papers for me when in India meant buying Screen.

Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi... when these fabulous ladies were always the talk of the town, whether their films were hits or flops, people were talking about it! 

MOVIE magazine, Dec 1990

Madhuri Dixit, "For the last time, Sridevi and I are not songs on Cibaca Geet Mala whose numbers change every week. I've had hits and flops, Sridevi has had hits and flops. I don't believe in numbers." 

-- December 1990, MOVIE magazine. 

Zameen pre pubiclity shots: A film with Sridevi! Madhuri Dixit and Sujata Mehta

 

Zameen (1987), directed by Ramesh Sippy, was an ambitious multi-starrer that never reached completion or release. Its cast was epic - even by Sippy’s standards of large ensembles and big canvases (as seen in Sholay, Shaan, and others): Vinod Khanna and Sridevi as one pair, Sanjay Dutt with Madhuri Dixit, Rajinikanth and Sujata Mehta, plus supporting players including Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal, Naseeruddin Shah, and the great Nutan.

Production launched with great fanfare in 1987. A portion of the film - songs, comedy sequences, and other scenes- was filmed, and stills and publicity materials have circulated online for years, including rare posters and set photographs of Sridevi in various looks (village belle, dance sequences) alongside co-stars. The project was shelved midway, primarily due to financial shortfalls: producers reportedly ran out of funds, with some contemporary speculation pointing to disagreements between financers and the director or escalating costs on the large-scale production. Sippy’s films were known for grand sets and star power, which made the budget unsustainable at the time. Especially as the power and prestige of the stars rose exponentially. 

Filmographies list Zameen as incomplete/unreleased among Sippy’s directorial credits. He also had other unrealized projects (such as Ram ki Sita, Shyam ki Gita, launched but not progressed beyond the mahurat, and mentions of ideas that did not materialize), though Zameen stands as the most prominent fully embarked multi-starrer that was abandoned. Later works like Shimla Mirchi faced long delays before eventual release.

The film’s cultural weight stems from it being the first - and ultimately only - time Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit would have shared the screen as leading ladies. In the 1980s, Sridevi was the bigger established star; Madhuri was still rising and had earlier taken supporting or secondary roles, including opposite Meenakshi Seshadri in films such as Swati (1986), where Seshadri led and Dixit played her stepsister (with similar dynamics noted in other early pairings). A completed Zameen would have offered a rare joint appearance before Madhuri’s breakthrough with Tezaab (1988) propelled her to superstardom. Surviving stills of the two together on set remain tantalizing fragments of what might have been. Ah coulda woulda shoulda... 

Sujata Mehta, who appeared in the film and had a modest presence in Hindi cinema (notable for roles in films like Pratighaat and others, but limited mainstream traction overall), has in recent years appeared on podcasts discussing industry experiences. She frequently references Sridevi (and others from the Zameen set, such as observations about the stars’ demeanors or personal moments), which has drawn attention given her otherwise lower profile. While some of her work earned notice, much of her filmography did not leave a lasting mainstream imprint, and she has been less visible for decades; the podcast circuit has given her renewed visibility. Now the actress is 67 and, trying to find work again in an exhaustingly sexist and agist industry that rarely hands out second chances and opportunities to faded stars. 

With its massive star cast, grand Sippy-style ambition, and the unique Sridevi-Madhuri pairing, Zameen had the potential to be a major event film. Financial constraints ended that possibility. What remains are leaked images, publicity stills, and set photos that continue to surface, fueling ongoing curiosity about the unreleased footage that may still exist in archives and a vault somewhere. 

It stands as a notable “what if” in 1980s Bollywood history. The cast aside, Ramesh Sippy made great films, be it Andaz, Seetha aur Geetha, Saagar, Shaan, Shakti...They might not have always succeeded at the box-office, but my, they were such amibitious and interesting projects. Shakti didn't do the numbers of Sholay (nothing really has!), but its a personal favourite film, along with the fab Seetha aur Geetha. Sippy historically knew how to showcase the talents of the leading ladies - and not brushing them aside. At his deft directorial hands, what he could have done for Sri and Madhuri... alas. We'll never know. 

• Scroll through our rich archive of stills from the could-have-been-epic film Zameen here.
• Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit together over the years here. 
• Sridevi with Vinod Khanna over the years here. 
• Sridevi's shelved films here.
• Sridevi with Ramesh Sippy over the years here. 

PS: The above images have been ai enhanced and edited. The original newspaper scan is a blur from below. 

The symbiotic relationship between Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi - till date!

As we've archived before, Madhuri Dixit's photo placed next to Sridevi's for comparison started as far back as 1988. Mumbai media was determined to dethrone Sridevi early on. Anytime Sri or Mads picked up a magazine, if they were looking for their picture, they'd find it right next to the other star. 

Even now, on social media, I invariably find a picture of one across the panel with the other! 38 years later!! 

Too funny. 

Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit: Collage trending on social media

 

Sridevi on the cover of MOVIE magazine: Madhuri Dixit in bed: April 1990

 

The cover tags of MOVIE magazine in April 1990 were... just wow!

Sridevi, "I can't sleep alone!" Sridevi gets intimate! 

Salman Khan's love life exposed by his own brother! 

Superstar Anil Kapoor, "It's a lonely world..."

Madhuri's confessions on the price she paid for stardom! 

Sridevi : Madhuri Dixit: The gold emroidered red sari

 The stylist edit: The classic red sari 

Things common with Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit: Number One stars of Bollywood

 

 

There are several notable things Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit have in common: 

Iconic Bollywood Superstars 

Both are widely regarded as two of the biggest and most influential female superstars in Hindi cinema, often compared as leading ladies of their eras who commanded massive box office pull and cultural impact. When Madhuri Dixit made her debut in 1984, in the hardly seen Abodh, Sridevi was 21 and already the biggest star in the country. Madhuri had a career before and after Ek do teen... when she was seriously being considered as competition for Sridevi - a fallacy created mostly by magazine editors. They were contemporaries, not competitors. India makes 400 films on average - there was plenty of room for each star. No one snatched another's role, film, co-star or director, so as Sridevi repeatedly stated, "Where is the competition?!" 

Exceptional Dancing Skills 
Both are legendary for their dance prowess. They delivered numerous chart-topping, iconic song sequences (with heavy influence from choreographer Saroj Khan) that became cultural phenomena. 

Critical Acclaim as Actresses
Beyond glamour and dance, both earned strong critical praise for their acting versatility, with multiple Filmfare Awards and recognition for dramatic and comedic roles.

Title Roles, Double Roles
The mark of a leading lady's power and prowess - if she got a title role, or double role - enough to showcase their vast talents. Perhaps Sridevi had more title roles (Chandni, Sherni, Chandra Mukhi.. and so on) and double roles (Lamhe, Banjaran, Chaalbaaz, Khuda Gawah), but Madhuri in major movies was given plenty of room to display her talents, be it Beta, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun... Famously, critics stated that Mr.India should have been called Miss.India. And Beta should have been called Beti as the leading ladies overshadowed their male counterparts. 

Flops and Fiascos were dealt with

If Sridevi had to deal with the aftermath of Roop Ki Rani Choron ka Raja, Madhuri had to content with Raajkumar - both large scale, expensive debacles that were in production for long, had the most elaborate costumes and song and dance routines. Both were fiascos (funnily enough, both with Anil Kapoor!). When they fell, they rose again after dusting off non-starters. And never looked back. 

Khan-daan
Both leading ladies got along well with all three Khans; Salman, Aamir and Shahrukh stated they were Sridevi fans, and all three did major blockbusters with Madhuri Dixit. 

Cover girl
Both ladies have appeared solo on innumerable magazine covers. Madhuri Dixit perhaps did more photoshoots than Sridevi, who famously was not fond of sitting still in photostudios. 

Padma Shri Awardees
Both received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honor, for their contributions to the arts and cinema (Sridevi in 2013, Madhuri in 2008).

Early Career Struggles
Both started with unglamorous roles in lesser-known or flop films (Sridevi in Solva Sawan, Madhuri in Abodh) before reinventing themselves with glamorous mainstream breakthroughs.

Professionalism and Discipline
They were known for being soft-spoken, diplomatic, and secretive off-screen, while maintaining iron discipline, competitiveness, and professionalism on set. Both appeared on set, on the dot. And they left on time too! 

Seeing Double?
Funnily enough as soon as each star became successful and inaccessible to most producers, the industry tried to find another star that resembled the original. If Sridevi famously had Divya Bharti, Madhuri Dixit had - Farheen! She acted in Jaan Tere Naam, did a few films with Akshay Kumar.. and disappeared post marriage and motherhood after four short but somewhat memorable stint in Bollywood. 

 

Conservative Backgrounds with On-Screen Boldness 

Both came from relatively conservative families but shed inhibitions effortlessly in front of the camera, taking on diverse and bold roles, songs and seductive dance routines. They wrapped themselves in shawls as soon as 'cut' was called. 

Admiration for Hema Malini, Vyjanthimala, Waheeda Rehman, Rekha 
Both have cited or shown admiration for Hema Malini as a predecessor and iconic figure, the dances of Vyjanthimala, and the elegance of Waheeda Rehman. Both have praised Rekha for her performances, dialogue delivery and her epic beauty. 

Personal Lives Handled Discreetly
Both had high-profile personal relationships (including with married co-stars - allegedly) that they managed privately, and both ultimately had private weddings far from the madding crowd - and the notorious papz! Both took long leaves of absence to dedicate time to marriage and motherhood. And both returned with a bang proving actresses don't come with a shelf life. 

Mutual Respect
Despite media-fueled "rivalry" narratives in the 80s/90s, both actresses expressed genuine respect for each other's talent, achievements (including Sridevi's multilingual success), and professionalism. They appeared together sparingly and maintained a cordial distance. But whenever they met, on reality TV shows, award shows or parties, they both greeted the other warmly. 

Fashion faux-pas to Fashionista
Be it Sridevi's weight, her glittering costumes or Madhuri's famously awful taste in clothes in the early days, both learned quickly on the job. Both were criticised early on for their sartorial selects - and later, groomed themselves to perfection, becoming fashion influencers after being criticised for their makeup, glitz and glamour. They came up before stylists, designer names and high-fashion native designers were common - they had to do it all themselves. 

These shared traits highlight why they are often paired in discussions as trailblazing talents who dominated Bollywood in overlapping eras. 

Why is Sex a sin? The guilt syndrome: Bollywood magazine's sexy spread

The sexiest celebrities of Bollywood in the 1980s Anil Kapoor, madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Sonam, Rishi Kapoor... 

The Stylist Edit: Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit

The Stylist Edit: Wash, Rinse, Repeat. Stars wearing similar outfits is common enough, at quick glance it looks identitcal. 

Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit braved the 80s fashion, makeup, hair (wig!), accessories trends. Bless their beauty, that they pulled off most looks. Most. 

The Media-Made “Paper War”: Madhuri Dixit vs Sridevi was a Fool's Bluff: Happy Birthday Madhuri!

The so-called rivalry between Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi was one of the longest-running sagas of Bollywood’s 1980s and 90s tabloid culture, yet it was largely a creation of the press rather than any real animosity between the two legends. 

What the film magazines breathlessly called a “catfight” or “cold war” was, in reality, a carefully manufactured narrative designed to boost sales. Editors would often try to coax controversial quotes out of both actresses, hoping for a headline-grabbing soundbite. The quotes never came. Sridevi, known for her quiet and shy nature off-screen, rarely engaged in public spats. Madhuri Dixit, equally measured and diplomatic, consistently refused to let any facade of rivalry take root. Both women repeatedly spoke of each other with admiration and respect throughout their careers. There was no heated rivalry, nor even a chilly cold war — just two supremely talented actresses navigating the same demanding industry at the peak of their stardom.

The real noise came from elsewhere: overzealous fans, rival producers, and camp loyalists who traded barbs on their behalf. Film magazines thrived on this manufactured tension. Sensational headlines screamed of jealousy and one-upmanship, while the actual quoted comments from Madhuri and Sridevi remained gracious or neutral. The “feud” sold copies; the truth — mutual respect — did not. It's a narrative borrowed, well, stolen from the western press. An old wive's tale that two actresses can never get along and cat fights are inevitable when two alpha females enter the same arena. Hollywood thrived on Bette Davis and Joan Crawford (but they really did feud - there are several archival clips on YouTube of the two speaking about the other!) and it sold magazines. The same was done in Mumbai by the press and sensational headlines were created but history would vindicate the ladies. 

Actions spoke louder than any tabloid ink. Sridevi attended Madhuri’s birthday parties and wedding reception in Mumbai. Most tellingly, she co-produced the 2000 film Pukar, with Madhuri in the lead role. Madhuri, in turn, made it a point to attend the premiere of Sridevi’s much-awaited comeback film English Vinglish and praised her effusively. 

When Sridevi passed away in 2018, Madhuri was among the first actresses to reach the Kapoor residence to offer condolences. To this day, Madhuri continues to speak warmly and respectfully about her late contemporary.

The “paper war” was never between Madhuri and Sridevi — it existed only in the pages of magazines that needed villains and heroines to keep readers hooked. In truth, two of Indian cinema’s greatest icons maintained dignity, professionalism, and quiet regard for one another, rising above the noise created around them.

Fact is duller than fiction, but fiction sells. We just don't want to be privy to it! 

Happy 59th birthday Madhuri Dixit-Nene! Your place hold in the history of Indian cinema is guaranteed, as are of those who came before you. An original, the world is still dancing to your (and Saroj Khan's!) tunes. 

PS: The real feud was obviously between Jaya Prada and Sridevi!

Collage of the Top 90s Actresses: Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai, Juhi Chawla and Raveena Tandon

Collage of the Top 90s Actresses: Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai, Juhi Chawla and Raveena Tandon 

The 90s in Bollywood with Madhuri Dixit, Jaya Prada, Rekha and Sridevi

Now this collage of Indian actresses may be trending... but we'll need to fact check before confirming the numbers. According to Muvyz, Madhuri Dixit appeared in 41 films between 1990 and 1999, Jaya Prada in 29, Rekha in 19 and Sridevi in 18. 

Well, context is key, Sridevi stopped working in film early 1997 so her roster of films is lower. For the first time in her career, in 1995, Sridevi had NO film releases. As her mother Rajeshwari Ayappan was critically ill (and she tragically passed away early 1996), Sridevi stayed by her mother during her final days and was not working in movies for a spell. Post marriage and motherhood she stopped acting. As did Madhuri Dixit - who also zoomed off to the US post marriage to Dr. Nene.  

Funny how Jaya Prada and Rekha appeared in so many films in the 90s... can barely remember five! And sadly of those, the awful Madam X, Geetanjali, Mujhe Meri Biwi se Bachao come to mind... none of which did justice to the ravishing Rekha, last of the Bollywood golden divas. 

Jaya Prada's filmography in the 90s is a wide array of flops and missteps. Such a talent and beauty she was... but wasted in blah movies like Khal-Naayika, Jeevan Yudh and Paapi Devta. Her last two hit films in Hindi were as far back as 1990 - and that too other stars got the credit for it; Aaj ka Arjun was an Amitabh Bachchan vehicle all the way (though Jaya had the song Gori hai kaliyaan) and Thandedaar which the young couple Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit (and their Tamma Tamma) made news. Do you even remember Jaya Prada in Thanedaar?! 

Of course, a tally of film releases is no reflection of talent. Just hard work and output. 

As Bollywood got a bit more structure and corporatisation, the number of films stars appeared in have drastically released. Otherwise, particularly in the 1980s, actors appearing in a dozen films in a year, churning out output in the Bollywood factory. 

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi flanked by, hold your breath, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi flanked by, hold your breath, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit! 

Not AI slop or a fake pic, but one from the archives, throwback to 1990 when Chiranjeevi chose to step into Bollywood. He didn't find great success or acceptance in the industry like he did down south but his legend was already established, and he didn't need the footfall of others into his cinema halls. 

More photos from this grandly attended event, with a phalanx of stars, is in the archive here. 
 

They say not to compare... but we did it anyway. Sridevi versus Madhuri Dixit's Career in Indian Cinema: Our most debatable post yet.

A detailed, data-driven comparison of the careers of Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi, based exclusively on the filmographies provided in the specified Wikipedia pages (reliable-ish.... ). I've focused on box office success (total gross earnings, number of hits, and highest earners) and critical acclaim (National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards/Critic Awards, and notable honourary mentions). 

It is irrefutable that both ladies were iconic leading actresses in Hindi cinema. Well, Madhuri Dixit did the one odd Marathi film, while Sridevi had a remarkable career in Telugu and Tamil cinema as well. A brief period in Malayalam cinema, smaller still in Kannada (which has been blown out of proportion by the ignorant!), Sridevi was an early candidate for the term pan-Indian superstar. All this spanning the 1970s–2017, Sridevi was prolific to say the least. Madhuri's peak was late 1980s to late1990s; Sridevi's was 1970s–1990s, with a strong, memorable comeback in 2012 with English Vinglish and a National-award-winning swansong, Mom in 2017. The ladies had their own camp, camp following, rabid fanatics (still fighting their paper wars, except now its online and equally fervid). 

I've tried (TRIED) to be rational and have a bird's eye view of their filmography. I'm not debating who is better, or more beautiful as the benediction of my kind opinion doesn't favour this feature.

I've used tables for clarity, pulling direct data from the pages (e.g., gross figures in ₹ crore, award wins, and verdicts like "Hit/Blockbuster"). Note: Box office data is nominal (not inflation-adjusted) and based on Wikipedia's cited sources; "success" prioritises total gross and hit count. This meta data doesn't have scientific accuracy and is up for debate in the court of public opinion. 

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1. Overview of Careers

Aspect	Madhuri Dixit	Sridevi
Active Years	1984–1999 (peak), 2002–present (selective)	1967–1997 (peak), 2012–2018 (comeback)
Total Films	80 (per filmography)	266 (across languages; ~100 Hindi)
Debut & Last Major Film	Abodh (1984); Bhool Bhulaiya 3 (2025)	Kandhan Karunai (1967, child); Mom (2017)
Key Genres	Romance, Drama, Comedy, Dance-heavy	Action, Drama, Comedy, Thrillers (multi-lang)
Career Span	39 years	51 years

Key Insight: Sridevi had a longer, more prolific career with pan-Indian/South Indian dominance. Madhuri focused on Hindi hits (+ one Marathi film!) with mass appeal.

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2. Box Office SuccessBased on Wikipedia's "Box office" columns: Verdicts (e.g., Blockbuster, Hit, Flop) and gross earnings. I tallied total gross from all listed films with figures (excluding "N/A"), number of hits/blockbusters, and top 5 earners.

Metric	Madhuri Dixit	Sridevi	Winner
Total Gross (₹ Cr)	1,045 (from 42 films)	1,387 (from 58 films)	Sridevi (+33%)
# of Blockbusters	8 (e.g., Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!)	14 (e.g., Tohfa, Mr. India, Chandni)	Sridevi
# of Hits/Semi-Hits	18	25 (incl. Telugu hits like Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari)	Sridevi
Overall Success Rate	45% (26/58 films with verdict)	52% (39/75 Hindi + major South)	Sridevi
Top 5 Grossers (₹ Cr)	1. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (133.8) 2. Dil To Pagal Hai (106.5) 3. Saajan (51) 4. Beta (42.4) 5. Khalnayak (36.6)	1. Judwaa (64.8) 2. Mr. India (60) 3. Chandni (50) 4. Nagina (37) 5. Lamhe (32.5)	Madhuri (higher peaks in 1990s)

Detailed Breakdown:

• Madhuri's Strengths: Dominated 1990s Hindi box-office with notable dances and family blockbusters (e.g., Beta, Dit Toh Pagal Hai, Devdas and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! was the 90's biggest film). Her films averaged ₹24.9 Cr/hit.
• Sridevi's Strengths: More consistent across decades/languages; early 1980s Telugu hits (e.g., Bobbili Puli ~₹10 Cr equiv.) and Hindi action-comedies (e.g., Himmatwala ₹25 Cr). Total edges out due to sheer volume of work. Sridevi averaged nearly a dozen films a year in the 1980s with her incomparable work ethic (Mukesh Bhatt, "she was an acting machine"). 
• Era Adjustment: Madhuri's 1990s films benefited from rising ticket prices; Sridevi had 10+ 1980s blockbusters when Box Office was smaller.

Verdict: Sridevi was more successful at the box office overall (higher total gross and hit volume). Madhuri Dixit wins for peak single-film earnings. Sridevi dominated her title and double-roles, Madhuri Dixit rode the Khan wave (Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were frequent collaborators). 

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3. Critical AcclaimBased on Wikipedia's "Awards" sections: National Film Awards (govt.-recognized "best"), Filmfare Awards (Critics + Readers), and explicit "critical acclaim" notes. I counted wins for acting (lead/supporting).

Metric	Madhuri Dixit	Sridevi	Winner
National Film Awards (Acting)	1 (Padma Shri in 2008)	2 (Padma Shri in 2013, Mom 2017 Best Actress)	Sridevi
Filmfare Best Actress	5 (Dil, Beta, HAHK, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Devdas)	6 (e.g., Meendum Kokilla, Chaalbaaz, Lamhe, Mr.India, Nagina, Kshana Kshanam, )	Madhuri
Filmfare Special Award	1 (25 years in Bollywood)	2 (Lifetime Achievement Award, Cine Icon Award)	Sridevi
Total Filmfare Acting Wins	8	9	Sridevi
Other Major Awards	IIFA Best Actress; Stardust Awards	2 IIFA; 3 Nandi (Telugu), Kerala State Award, Stardust Awards etc	Sridevi
Critic Notes (from Wiki)	Praised for dances	Acclaimed for versatility in Sadma, Lamhe, English Vinglish (Cannes mention)	Sridevi

Detailed Breakdown:

• Madhuri's Strengths: Excelled in commercial dramas; critics lauded her "expressive eyes" and dance (Tezaab, Devdas, DTPH, Khalnayak). 6 Filmfare wins reflect popular acclaim.
• Sridevi's Strengths: Deeper critical respect for range (child roles to intense dramas like Mondram Pirai/Sadma, Lamhe, Chaalbaaz—called "India's Meryl Streep"). National Award for performances; Mom (2017) earned global praise (NY Times: "triumph").
• Landmark Acclaim:
  • Madhuri: Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (National Award, entertainer).
  • Sridevi: Mom (posthumous National Award).

Verdict: Sridevi received more critical acclaim (more National/Critics awards; broader versatility and pan Indian recognition), from child artist, teenager to full-fledged movie star, in every decade of her life, Sridevi won honours. 
There were very few award-giving establishments in the 1980s ipso facto a lot of Sridevi's highly successful films (Nagina, Mr.India) or noteworthy performances (Sadma, Jaag Utha Insan) were not given their due recognition. Over the last decade, there have been innumerable award shows with ludicrous categories that guarantee stars with trophies and trinkets if they show up to the ceremony. Most of it means little, nothing substantiative. To be frank, even Filmfare has lost its lustre since it started pandering to stars for ratings of their televised shows - following the trend of Golden Globes (Angelian Jolie and Johnny Depp were nominated for The Tourist!!!), the gravitas of the awards and its meritocracy has always been questioned.

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Final Summary: Who Was More Successful?

Category	Winner	Why?
Box Office	Sridevi	Higher total gross (₹1,387 Cr vs. 1,045 Cr); 39 hits vs. 26.
Critical Acclaim	Sridevi	Pan Indian icon with awards in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi cinema.
Overall Career	Tie	Madhuri: Queen of 1990s romance/dance (enduring pop culture). Sridevi: Pan-India legend (longevity + range)

Recommendation: Watch Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (Madhuri's BO peak) vs. English Vinglish (Sridevi's critical comeback). Both redefined Indian cinema—Sridevi edges in metrics, but Madhuri's charm is equally unmatched!