The most comprehensive fan blog dedicated to India's most beautiful and greatest actress of all-time (in our humble opine!), Sridevi. Sridevi aka Sreedevi, ruled Indian cinema (with awesome performances in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films) in a career spanning 50 incredible years featuring 266 films. Born in Sivakasi on August 13 1963, her untimely and tragic death on February 24, 2018 left a nation in mourning. In our hearts, she'll forever be, the eternal Queen of Bollywood.
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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.
There are innumerable images of Boney Kapoor with Sridevi, but somehow, this random snap of them at Mumbai airport, captured by the papz, is enlarged and framed in their house.
Sridevi has often been hailed as the undisputed Queen of Comedy. Among her finest films, her comedic sequences stand out as the most memorable moments—ones audiences continue to cherish long after the credits roll.
Even in her less successful ventures, such as Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, her scenes of broad, uninhibited humour were nothing short of magnificent. For someone so classically beautiful, she was never afraid to “make faces,” contort her expressions, or throw herself into slapstick. Critics sometimes dismissed it as “not acting,” but one wonders—what else could it possibly be? The notoriously shy superstar came alive on the big screen, shedding her armour completely. She had no qualms about looking foolish if it served the comedy. She would fall, tumble, and vibrate with pure joy, determined that the audience, her co-stars, and she herself were all having a genuinely good time. And in those moments, she made people laugh—truly, loudly, and wholeheartedly.
In the 1980s, Sridevi was often referred to as the Lucille Ball of India. Some passionate fans took offence at the comparison. They needn’t have — Lucille Ball was a former model and a great beauty who transitioned into films and achieved global success as a sitcom superstar, eventually earning the title of the First Lady of Comedy. The comparison resurfaced in 2004 when Sridevi, for the first time, ventured into television comedy. Unfortunately, she was part of a flop sitcom Malini Iyer. The show started with massive ratings but suffered from sloppy writing, editing, and direction, which caused it to taper off quickly. Sridevi herself was a massive fan of I Love Lucy and was pleased as punch to be compared to the American icon!
Sridevi was unique, as the unquestionable Number One actress of her time, the phrase fearless comes to mind. She was unafraid to be funny, silly, sexy, to look destitute, avenging, fearful and fearless in equal measure - whatever the part, she played it to perfection.
Sridevi wearing a Manish Malhotra tricolour sari.
Sridevi wearing a full Sabyasachi look.
Looking regal in both, she truly was the Queen of Indian cinema.
The reign ended tragically... but she'll forever be remembered.
Two of our fav looks on the legend.
