Sridevi's pose!

 

There are few other Sridevi sites I'm a fan of - but horrah for https://mainlagtihoonsridevi.blogspot.com/

MOVIE magazine centrefolds: Juhi Chawla and Sridevi

MOVIE magazine, July 1993 - a double whammy centrefold, one side, the luminous face of Sridevi (photographed by Rakesh Shreshta) and on the other, glamorous and chic Juhi Chawla. Both, fans of the other. And we were a fan of both! 

90s film magazines were such joys - and these pull-out centrefold posters were such fun to collect! I'd tear them out and put it on my wall - much to the chagrin of my father... He'd say, this is a house not a barber shop! lol

Mita Vashisht with Sridevi in Chandni (1989)

Mita Vashisht with Sridevi in Chandni (1989). Mita was four years younger than Sridevi and Chandni was one of her earlier films. Her distinct voice, natural screen presence ensure that though her role was short, she was remembered for her performance - the adage, there are no small roles, only small actors comes to mind. 

33 years later...  Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor worked with Mita Vashisht in Good Luck Jerry (2022). 

Cognac sharaab nahin hoti... Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi in Switzerland: Chandni's iconic dialogues

Two brilliant, natural actors who elevated the most simple scenes to comic and romantic gold... 

Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi in glorious Chandni.

Shot in 1989, Rishi Kapoor in a suit, Sridevi in fur coats. 80s over the top Dynasty inspired glamour! 

Legend has it, the scene was improvised and rehearsed by Rishi Kapoor, Sridevi and Yash Chopra - the scene wasn't written. They made it so natural, funny and memroable. 

Body language: Sridevi on set

Folded arms, a hint of a smile, Sridevi on set. There are many images of Sridevi emracing this pose - and there's a psychological reason for it. 

While popular culture often labels standing with arms folded as strictly "defensive" or "closed off," behavioral experts—such as former FBI agent Joe Navarro in his research on nonverbal communication—note that the gesture frequently serves self-soothing, practical, or focus-enhancing functions rather than acting merely as a social barrier. Beyond conveying tension or resistance during a disagreement, crossing one's arms can act as a comforting "self-hug" in unfamiliar environments, a physical support for standing long periods, or an indicator of deep concentration when processing complex information. To decode its true meaning accurately, observers must evaluate the surrounding context and cluster cues—such as distinguishing a relaxed, attentive posture from rigid shoulders and clenched fists.

From Top Left to Right; Sridevi on the sets of Heer Ranjha, at the launch of Lamhe and on the sets of Pathar ke Insan. 

Sridevi in and as Heer in Heer Ranjha

Sridevi's tragic turn in the oft-told-tale, Heer Ranjha. 

She looked so gorgeous in this tragic melodrama... 

Yash Chopra, "If Chandni hadn't been a superhit, I would never have had the guts to make Lamhe!"

Excerpt, MOVIE magazine, December, 1991, interview with the great Yash Chopra; 
 

Yash Chopra, "For six years Lamhe was my dream project. I was dying to put it on celluloid. But I didn't have the guts to make it after Mashaal, Faasle, Vijay – in my lean period. Because it's a very bold, off-beat kind of film and the stakes were very high. But the resounding success of Chandni gave me the creative freedom to make Lamhe.

KUCH BHI KAR LO VINOD DOESN'T LOOK 20. SO I WAS STRANDED

Having decided to go ahead with Lamhe, the hero became a stumbling block. I had committed to Vinod that he'd do the Lamhe role – whenever I made it. This was much before Chandni but there was never any such bargain that Vinod-do-Chandni-and-I'll-give-you-Lamhe. The problem arose when I started scripting for Lamhe and realised that the role required a 20 year old. Now, kuch bhi kar lo, Vinod just can't look 20 today. So I had no choice but to think of somebody else for the role. Vinod is upset with me but he'll come around. After...

WHEN EVEN JACKIE AND ANIL COULDN'T FIT INTO MY CONCEPT I WAS BEGINNING TO WONDER IF I WILL EVER FIND MY HERO

After Vinod I considered Jackie. He sent me his photographs without his moustache. I liked the look. But after much consideration I decided that he too won't be able to look that young. I considered Deepak Malhotra too, Sridevi was game, but I got cold feet. An established hero would be a better bet since it was a big budget film. Anil meanwhile had been persistent...

... but as luck would have it, at that time itself, Anil broke his leg and had to sit at home for a long stretch of time. So he shaved off the mouche, we liked the look and agreed upon it. We even experimented further and changed the look of his original moustache. Even in those parts of the film where he does have a moustache, we've given Anil a differently cut mouche.