Sridevi in the Hindi film Army (1996)

 

Sridevi, 32, in the Hindi film Army (1996).  

The face card on this icon... Those eyes, the perfect slips, not a hair out of place.. 

Many credited Shahrukh Khan for the astounding opening weekend numbers - Khan, fresh off the success of DDLJ was the hottest property around. However, do note, it was Sridevi's performance that held the movie together. Give credit, where its due. 

The cast of Judaai: Now and then: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar

 The cast of Judaai: Now and then: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar

The aura of Sridevi

One from the 'airport looks' archive... 

Lord we miss these posts of Sridevi, just a goddess mingling among the humans of Mumbai... 

MOVIE magazine Editor Dinesh Raheja, "Sridevi was always on top of her game."

MOVIE magazine's greatest editor, Dinesh Raheja: 

"...I shot this picture of Sridevi on the sets of Chandni. Sridevi looked resplendent in a chiffon saree. While she waited for Yash Chopra to decide the lighting, she allowed me to shoot a series of her pictures.

During the dozen odd years when I edited a film magazine, I featured Sridevi in half-a-dozen cover stories, and always found her at the top of her game. For one photo-session, Sridevi was trying on different headgear when I conspiratorially whispered to photographer Rakesh Shrestha, “I think Rekha has worn a similar headgear for one of the shoots.”

Sridevi abruptly got up and changed her headgear. She didn’t want to compromise on her originality..."

Read the full feature at Hindustan Times 

Sridevi: Behind the Glamour of Bollywood

Mamta Kulkarni, one of my least favourite actresses (I mean she was a celebrity and mediocre dancer who got lucky), had the gall to take shots at Sridevi calling her nothing but a cosmetic beauty, unlike her! Well. Sridevi looked perfectly fine without her makeup on, she was blessed with great skin, South Indian Goddess features, large eyes, a toothy smile and a cherub, ageless face. 

Rare pic: Poster of Banjaran with Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi: A Colourful Cult Classic That Defied Expectations

A colourful, loud... success!  

Though Banjaran won no favours from critics, something about the colours, dances, uncomplicated script and screenplay, the repeated to death reincarnation theme, yet another double role for Sridevi.... it just worked for the fans. 

Released on November 8, 1991, during the Diwali weekend, Banjaran (Wanderer.. or Gypsy) was a Hindi romantic reincarnation drama directed by Harmesh Malhotra, starring Sridevi as Reshma (and her past-life avatar Devi) opposite Rishi Kapoor as Kumar. The film blended age-old themes of forbidden love between a nomadic gypsy girl and a wealthy landowner’s son, family feuds, and lavish song-and-dance sequences set to Laxmikant–Pyarelal’s music with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The same team behind the supreme success of earlier blockbuster, Nagina. 

Despite mixed initial box-office reports—often described as an average “commission earner” or sleeper hit rather than a blockbuster—it emerged as a surprise success, particularly in smaller centers and interiors. Word-of-mouth, driven by Sridevi’s energetic performances and chart-topping tracks like “Teri Banjaran,” "Desh badalte hai", "Mere dil ki galiyon main", helped it gain legs. Sridevi reportedly watched it incognito in theaters and was delighted by audience reactions to her dances. 

What worked was the film’s unapologetic masala appeal: vibrant costumes, high-energy choreography (often by Saroj Khan), double roles, reincarnation drama, and pure escapism. The chemistry between Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor, combined with Pran’s pivotal role, delivered emotional highs amid spectacle. Songs racked up massive views even decades later, turning it into a musical evergreen for many viewers. 

Critics were largely unimpressed. Many dismissed it as a formulaic, over-the-top hodgepodge—loud, repetitive, with continuity issues, incoherent costumes, and a paint-by-numbers simplistic plot. It was seen as a step down from Sridevi’s more acclaimed work, prioritising spectacle over substance at a time when Hindi cinema was shifting gears toward different, more natural narratives. 

Yet Banjaran found an unexpected massive cult following in Russia. Like many Bollywood films from the Soviet and post-Soviet eras, its bright visuals, emotional storytelling, music, and fairy-tale romance resonated deeply. Russia’s long-standing love for Indian cinema—bolstered by dedicated channels and cultural exchanges—embraced its vibrant escapism. The film’s technicolour aesthetics and heartfelt (if melodramatic) tale of destined love appealed to audiences craving optimism and spectacle, cementing its enduring popularity there. Unlike Western movies (which were mostly banned) simmering with violence and sex, the family-friendly viewing on Indian cinema did wonders with India's northern neighbours. Dubbed Hindi films do incredibly well--and have done so since the time of Raj Kapoor - to Rishi Kapoor. When Sridevi attended a film festival in Moscow in 2017, she was welcomed like the screen Queen she was. Sridevi's also appeared in Russian magazine covers (without her knowledge in the 90s!) and her face, dances and songs seem to have translated well beyond borders; look at the comments in Russian script from the fandom. 

Thirty-plus years on, Banjaran proves that audience love often outlasts critical consensus. A imperfect but joyful ride, it remains a testament to Sridevi’s star power and Bollywood’s cross-border magic.

Sridevi: 90s Glamour: Neeta Lulla styles. Rakesh Shreshta photographs the Indian icon

 More images from this shoot in the archive here and here.