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. 

Sridevi

 Guns ablaze...  

 Sridevi in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja. 

 Just after the yet-another-rain-song-and-dance routine. But it was one of the more pleasant numbers in the movie, Jaanewale zara ruk ja. 

Trending meme of Sridevi

Sridevi as Princess in Roop ki Rani Choron Ka Raja: Not all cultural appropriation is created equal.

Sridevi... really looks like a porcelain doll here. An incredible comic performance, lost in the haze of the film's disastrous box-office. There are several parts in the film that stand out for its comedic verve, action (the train scene), musical numbers... 

And this bit of cultural appropriation. And I'm going to straight up pilfer from my favourite YouTuber and deep diver, writer, Lindsay Ellis, who wrote, and I quote, "And yeah, this, this is a form of cultural appropriation... The fact that cultural appropriation is in theory a neutral term leads to a lot of false equivalencies, i.e. why is this form of cultural appropriation okay, but Gwen Stefani dressing as a sexy warrior is not okay. Well, it's a complex issue and there is a lot of intersection over race and class and gender, but here is a general rule of thumb: if it is a culture that was historically exploited by colonialism appropriating a historically colonizing culture, no harm, no foul. No one gets mad at Mexico for appropriating elements of German culture.... If it is a historically colonialist culture appropriating a culture that was exploited by colonialism, then people start to get a little cranky. Obviously there are intersections and complexities, but for simplicity's sake I'll leave it there for now. But I think most people would agree that unlike something like Pocahontas or even Slumdog Millionaire, a movie which pretty much every Indian I've ever talked to is not a fan of, this kind of cultural appropriation is basically harmless. This is what I mean by cultural appropriation being a neutral term. Not all cultural appropriation is created equal."

The character (one of several in Roop ki Rani Choron Ka Raja), Sridevi plays in the scene to steal the priceless artefact, while competing with fellow thief essayed by Anil Kapoor, is not in any way or measure making fun of or deriding anyone, any country, culture or its people. As royalty, in the most exquisite, painstakingly created makeup look created by the magician that is Mickey Contractor, Sridevi got the style, exquisite and expensive wardrobe (Neeta Lulla styled), mannerisms, tone and that cheeky giggle right, done to perfection for the sake of a genuinely funny scene. Comparing it to Mickey Rooney's Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's is a stretch, inaccurate and wildly out of place as intention is key here. No one had an agenda to punch down to the people of "Cheenchpokli," an entirely fictional state and, in the fictional Bollywooden realm of musical fantasy. No harm, no foul. 

All comedy is subjective and we've got to look back at the early 90s for what it was, pre-woke, pre self reflection and pre snowflake trigger response of getting offended at the drop of a hat. When the film was orignally released, no one was crying foul over the depiction of anyone in the movie - mostly because the film tanked and barely ran at the box-office. People couldn't be offended by things they didn't see! However, having found new lease in life on OTT platform, upon rewatch, some snowflakes have found just about everything in the film offensive. A trigger response with little thought or genuine empathy to a makeshift cause. We can't all weaponise our feelings and vomit it out on Twitter when the engagement online is low.... 

Take several seats. To quote Wendy Williams. 

 
 

TBT: Sridevi's Centrefold from 1988!

Let's allll be glad 80s fashion, hair and makeup ended when it did! 

This Sridevi centrefold from Cine Blitz, May 1988! 

Digitally remastering a Masterpiece: Tamil classic Moondram Pirai on Prime Video

Sridevi

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The OG #MoondramPirai Digitally Remastered premieres on

@PrimeVideoIN

from May 1, 2026. That ending... gets me every time. #TGThyagarajan #BaluMahendra

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@ikamalhaasan

#Sridevi #SilkSmitha #YGMahendran

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7 of Sridevi’s Least Favourite Things (According to the Legend Herself): A Buzzfeed-y listicle

7. Doing TV serials 

Sridevi straight-up said her TV stint wasn’t enjoyable at all. With little Khushi (just 2) and Janhvi (4) at home, waking up at 7am for long shoots at Film City left her exhausted. “Not my cup of tea,” she admitted. 

6. Disco dancing & those wild on-screen outfits 

She hated “wriggling” in outlandish clothes for dance numbers and only did it because it was her job. Fun fact: she had never been to a real disco in her life and was pretty sure she’d hate it anyway. Blame the crowds (and her conservative mom who wasn’t a fan either).

5. Her own short temper & violent outbursts 

Sridevi openly confessed she could get so angry she’d break things and smash glasses. What triggered it most? Lack of discipline and people being late — especially if her breakfast wasn’t on time. (She kept it quiet around her dad though.

4. Negative fan reactions to her films 

After Chandra Mukhi, she got major flak from fans who felt she was “wasted” in the project. Ouch.

3. Her debut Hindi film Solva Saawan 

A total bad memory. She was bored repeating the same role from Tamil/Telugu versions, didn’t know Hindi, hated Bombay, missed Madras, and messed up the very first take (which she took as a superstitious bad omen). Secretly, she was relieved when it flopped because she thought she could go back home and quit!

2. School (and crowds in general) 

As a child artiste, she loved the costumes and wigs but hated school. She was painfully shy and terrified of sitting in a classroom with strangers. That fear of crowds stuck with her even as an adult superstar.

1. Not having (or wanting) industry friends 

Sridevi was famously reserved and shy — she had zero friends in the film industry (but also zero enemies!). She felt completely fulfilled with her family, called her sister her best friend, and had no interest in “chamchas” or fake people. She preferred staying in Madras after marriage over Bollywood socializing.

Classic Sridevi being her honest, introverted, no-nonsense self. The ultimate “I’m just here to work and go home to my family” icon. 

Which one surprised you the most?

Comment below! 

PS: Every bit of the above list, filtered from all her interviews that we've carefully curated and archives here at the largest Sridevi site in the world wide web!