Sridevi

Thursday, 11 June 2026

Sridevi in red: The original photos: The AI Edit

Sridevi in red.

A look from a shoot she did for Dabur Amla Hair Oil in the late 80s.

Sridevi in the bellbottoms: On screen: On Photoshoots

Sridevi as a teenage star in the 1970s wearing the fashion of her time. Anyone recognse the film still? Pls let me know below.

Sridevi in a modernised bellbottom - styled by Manish Malhotra no less - in the early 90s for a Telugu film. The images were published in Stardust in 1993.

TBT: Sridevi in Hong Kong: Portraits for South China Morning Post

Sridevi and baby Janhvi Kapoor on the cover of Stardust, October 1997

For the longest time, I didn't put up these images of Sridevi with her baby as, these were private family pictures that someone leaked to the press.

Indian film media - particularly vulgar, desperate television news shows and channels - didn't respect Sridevi's privacy when she gave birth, nor did they when she died. The person who leaked photos of Sridevi's body in hospital and ambulance - they deserved to be fired and arrested for the criminal negligence, massive invasion of privacy and the pure lack of humanity. But I digress....

There are rising stars who dream of landing their first magazine cover, to be even mention in Stardust, Filmfare, Cine Blitz... and some make the cover just by being born... to the biggest female superstar of her time. Baby Janhvi Kapoor - just an adorable cherub she was.

Wednesday, 10 June 2026

Sridevi's 70s film director passes at age 84! Bharathiraja and Sridevi worked on 3 films!

Just heard the news that Tamil film director Bharathiraja passed away earlier today. He was 84. The prolific filmmaker directed Sridevi in three films; two iconic hits and one forgettable flop.

Sridevi was his muse and leading lady in;

1. 16 Vayathinile (1977)

His directorial debut, a landmark rural drama where Sridevi played Mayil alongside Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.

2. Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)

A psychological thriller where Sridevi starred opposite Kamal Haasan. It was made into Red Rose with Rajesh Khanna and Poonam Dhiloon reprising the roles of Kamal and Sri.

3. Solva Sawan (1979)

Bharathiraja’s Hindi directorial debut (a remake of 16 Vayathinile), marking Sridevi’s first Bollywood entry. Unfortunately, the third remake flopped. Sridevi never worked with him thereafer.

In an interview with newspapers, soon after Sridevi, tragic, untimely death back in 2018, the director spoke to the papers.

Sridevi had transformed herself from a child artist into a heroine at the age of 13 in Tamil cinema and went on to dominate the country's film industry displaying her outstanding talent, expressed veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja, who gave Sridevi one of her earliest breakthrough roles in Tamil cinema with 16 ‘Vayathinile’. When Bharathiraja remade the national award winning movie in Hindi as ‘Solva Sawan’, it had marked Sridevi's entry into Bollywood.

He said, "I can proudly say that I introduced Sridevi to the Hindi film world. When I initially told her about the remake, she was hesitant to act in the Hindi movie but I convinced her. Through her hard work, she rose to rule Bollywood too. She was an extraordinary talent. She had an inherent talent to grasp things fast. She did not study in any college or university but she can speak nine languages.”

He also said, "I had seen Kamal's movie and I know he will become a big actor. I saw Sridevi first time in the shooting of ‘16 Vayathinile’. I was wondering how a young actor like her will match the talents of Kamal. But she has matched him in every scene. I know she will go places.”

He further added, "Many male actors refuse to risky stunts scenes nowadays but she insisted doing it on her own. We had a double ready to go. She refused and did her own stunts in the movie. It shows her commitment.”