Sridevi

 Sridevi in 1982! 

Shahrukh Khan with Sridevi at a restaurant

 

Shahrukh Khan with Sridevi at a restaurant from a scene in Army.

Sreelatha - the only woman who knew Sridevi from childhood, movies, motherhood and marriage: Sisters in Arms

When there's a supernova in the family, every other character in the household becomes eclipsed by luminescent one. Alas, this is the case of Sridevi's only and younger sister Sreelatha. When the first-born is leading lady and legend, everyone else sadly is relegated to the secondary. Heck even in a family like the Mangeshkars, the legend Aasha Bhosle felt relegated to a tier lesser than Lata Mangeshkar, when Asha tai was clearly brilliant in her own right and second to no one. Second born perhaps, and of such extreme merit and yet, she battled critics for decades as they were determined to puncture her baloon.  

Ayappan Sreelatha, the only younger sister of iconic Indian actress Sridevi (born Ayappan Sreedevi), 'Latha' remains a relatively private figure despite her close involvement in her sister's early career. During the peak of Sridevi’s career across Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Sreelatha was her constant shadow and personal manager. She routinely accompanied Sridevi to film sets, outdoor shoots, and award ceremonies. False rumours persisted that Sreelatha briefly harbored aspirations of acting herself - this is blatantly not true as both Sridevi and Sreelatha stated in magazines that the younger lady had no intention or interest in facing the camera. She did a few photoshoots for fun and for personal posterity, but there were certainly no sessions with producers to launch in a film. She family stayed behind the camera to manage Sridevi's affairs and schedule until her lavish wedding in Madras in the early 90s. 

Sreelatha married Sanjay, in a high-profile ceremony in Chennai, attended by prominent film industry figures and political stalwarts. It was the event of the year as stars of all stripes attended, from Bollywood, Tollywood and politicos who were never shy of facing the camera.  

Archives from Chennai publications detail a prolonged rift between the sisters during the late 1990s following the death of their mother, Ayappan Rajeswari (nee Reddy). After their mother’s tragic passing due to complications following a medical malpractice incident in the U.S., a legal compensation settlement was awarded to the family. Financial and property disagreements led Sreelatha to file a suit against Sridevi regarding property shares and compensation proceeds. The court eventual awarded Sreelatha a share of ₹2 crore, but the dispute led to years of estrangement. Sreelatha famously lashed out in print - it was a scandalous Cine Blitz cover story. 

The sisters reconciled in later years with the help of family members. Sreelatha hosted a family gathering to mark the occasion of Sridevi's Padma Shri and Sridevi frequently visited her sister whenever she was in Madras. 

While her exact date of birth is kept private, public records and historical press reporting indicate Sreelatha is approximately 2 to 4 years younger than Sridevi (who was born in August 1963), making Sreelatha approximately 58 to 60 years old. She continues to reside in Chennai, maintaining a low profile away from media attention. 

Sreelatha occasionally posts and reminses about her sister - and the incredible life they lived during the Sridevian era of national fame and global travels. As the new generation tries to joing the entertainment bandwagon - some more successful than others - all remain in the shadow of eternal Chandni. Not a single person in either side of Sridevi's family has attained the position, power and prestige of the last female superstar of India. "The Empress, Sridevi". 

Showtime: Dec 1988: Dimple Kapadia, Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna

Showtime: Dec 1988: Dimple Kapadia, Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna
 

Sridevi postcards from the 1980s and early 90s in Bollywood

I used to buy postcards of Sridevi for Rs 2- Rs 10!! 

Every look, style, hair, wardrobe.. 

A life lived on sets. 

The hardest working Indian actress of her time. The sheer volume of movies... staggering. 

Sridevi as a child artist: With her mother Rajeshwari

 

Sridevi always said, whenever she was on set, her mother was always by her side. There are several images online of young Sridevi as a child artist and her mother, manager, protector and bodyguard, Rajeshwari Ayappan (born Rajeshwari Reddy!) is within the frame.  She kept the wolves at bay... if you know, you know. 

Sridevi and Jeetendra

 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Sarfarosh - back in 1985!

More in the archive here.