Sridevi

Sunday, 26 January 2025

Fake pics of Sridevi trending online

Vile. Fake pics need to be binned and banned from the net. Its deceptive, a false narrative and often its just unkind. The delusion that fan pic & fan fic(tion) is fandom... Even a flattering image when created by aps or AI is still projecting falsehoods; this is not the hair the star chose, outfit she'd opt for, or a skin or colour patina that she'd willingly choose. I beg all Sridevi fans to stop creating fake pics of the late, great actress. She was just fine as she was. In fact, she was perfect.

25 years of Sabyasachi: Jan 25, 2025: TBT to Sridevi as a heartstopper show-stopper in 2012

Last night, Indian designer Sabyasachi celebrated 25 years of his brand that created a cultural, creative, seismic shift in the Indian fashion hemisphere like no designer before him. Intricate embroidery, a rich colour palette, artisanship, curation, exalted Indian aesthetics, early on he had a vision and he fulfilled it to the max. That fine line between maximalism and austerity, he's threaded the needle in creating a perfect brand for moneyed Indians and the NRI diaspora.

He came into our orbit when he dressed Aishwarya Rai in Raavan back in 2010. Then when Sridevi attended the show of a relatively unknown designer in 2011... we knew a storm was coming. The way he dressed the actress in Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish, was game-changer. Now of course every star and starlet dresses in a Sabya ensemble.

Last night (Jan 25, 2025) in Mumbai, as the parade of top models, led by muse Deepika Padukone and Christy Turlington no less, walked down the long, wide catwalk, we were nostalgic for the time Sridevi walked for--and with Sabyasachi Mukherjee--back in 2012. A showstopper... more like heart-stopper... Sridevi stunned in her natural effortless elegance. If any woman ever knew how to drape a sari to perfection, 'twas and forever will be 'the great Sridevi'. Aided by MUA Mickey Contractor's able hand, he toned down the colours on her face to enhance her divine features... and truly she's never looked better. Which is saying something as Sridevi has famously given the world, several mega-fashion moments, be it on or off the catwalk, on film, in life...

As it is on trend of the fashion tribe, the shots are being fired at Sabya, from critic and critique in equal dose of high praise and appraisal. Why did Deepika look like Rekha? Why were so many of his usual muses absent? Why were there so many random "influencers"... As the annual sales show, Sabysachi Mukherjee and his brand is immune to naysayers. A soft-spoken gentleman of extreme gifts, his classic Indian aesthetic may not always be on trend, but it will forever be in style. A classica Sabya sari will be draped gracefully by the gracious till the end of time.

Congratulations Sabyasachi - here's to another 50 years!

Sridevi, "Rekha is loved because she acts well and looks' stunning."

-- Filmfare, May 1985 interview with Sridevi.

Jeetendra and Sridevi: Gorgeous Sridevi as a new, young bride!

Name the film below...

Saturday, 25 January 2025

Shady leading ladies: Collage of Bollywood's Leading Ladies

Can you name them all? Not sure I can, From top left clockwise; Rekha, Amisha Patel (is it?!), Raakhee, Jaya Prada, Manisha Koirala, Sridevi, Zeenat Aman, Reena Roy, Juhi Chawla, Jaya Bhadhuri, Urmila, ? and Hema Malini in the centre!

Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi rock the stage: Jooma Chumma on Tour in the 90s was EVERYTHING!

Salman Khan, Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Neelam, Aamir Khan - early 1990s, there was no Bollywood show bigger on earth!

Sridevi in the Tamil costume drama: The Indian Goddess Incarnate

Her face and features, the large expressive eyes, her gentle, almost reluctant smile, her classic curves, tall frame, the long limbs... there was something apsara-tic-about her; other worldly, the divine Devi. Sridevi has been an inspiration to innumerable artists and many have envisioned her as a Goddess - in fact, she's played Goddess/Queen/Princess/Fairy/ several times over the years in her resplendent career.

Part of the immense shock of Sridevi's sudden and untimely passing (an expression that's now forever attached to 'the great Sridevi'), was how this otherworldly diva died in such a mortal way. On average, 135,050 people die in bathroom every single year; but Sridevi wasn't an average anything. She's been a part of our lives and the national consciousness for 54 years; and to have her suddenly vanish into the ether seemed unnatural. Hence, the lunacy of innumerable batshit conspiracy theories that will outlive you, me till eternity. Hell, every year new theories crop up about Marilyn Monroe - and she died in 1962; one imagines the same hacks will be conspiring to deny the simple fact that Sridevi had low blood pressure, fainted in a steaming bath, and her divine soul left the mortal coil.

Alas the Goddess had clay feet, as the expression goes...