Photographs: Suresh Natrajan
Outfit: Valentino
Manish Malhotra, fashion designer and stylist
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| Sridevi with Manish Malhotra |
I'm still as awestruck by Sridevi as I was the first time I met her at Mehboob Studio [in Mumbai] 23 years ago. We later met at a photo shoot for Aadmi Aur Apsara [1991], as I had designed her costumes in it. To date, she is the only actor I address as "ma'am"—I simply can't get myself to call her by name.
Sridevi is the quintessential superstar, and I've loved many of her movies and characters over the years. While Himmatwala, Chaalbaaz, Mr. India, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Gumrah and Judaai definitely top the list, what really blew me away was the transformation she went through for Judaai [1997].
Her look was so modern and radical. It makes me glad to think that I've contributed to her career—from wearing big feathers and loud costumes, I steered her towards a much more contemporary look with my styling.
When we first started working together, at every trial she'd look at my face to gauge my expression. She could tell what I thought of an outfit and any advice I gave her she took constructively. I have learnt tremendously from her, too. She is truly a fashion designer's dream to work with. She wears any garment beautifully and with great élan, which makes her one of my favourite muses of all time.
Rishi Kapoor, actor
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| Sridevi with Rishi Kapoor on the set of Chandni (1989) |
We met at the mahurat of our first film together, Nagina [1986]. She was very reserved, the sort who kept to herself and her family. When we were shooting one of the songs, the film ran out, the magazines were being changed, and when that happens there's an awkward moment when the lights are still on. She told me, "Sir, I saw your film Khel Khel Mein four times," and I replied, saying, "Thank you very much." And that was it. That was the only conversation we had during the making of the whole film.
By the time we started work on Chandni [1989], she was a changed person. She had developed confidence, panache, and even a sense of ease in talking to people. It showed on-screen. She was absolutely mesmerising in that film. She even sang [a part of the] song 'Chandni O Meri Chandni', even though she wasn't very fluent with the language. But Sridevi could pull it off with such aplomb.
She's one artist I've worked with in my time who's perfect in song sequences, comic timing, emotional scenes—she's a perfect actor. She's not simply a glamour girl. She is a consummate professional. She fits every bill. That's what makes Sridevi the star she is.
It's a difficult task to reconcile your legacy with what the audience expects of you today. But Sridevi has accomplished that. See, I may be playing a character actor, but she's not. She’s still playing the lead.
Christian Louboutin, shoe designer
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| Christian Louboutin with Sridevi, 2013 |
I've known about Sridevi since I was a teenager, which is exactly when Sridevi herself was a teenager on-screen. The main differences between us, well, firstly she was a girl, but she was also a great beauty and a child star—the Shirley Temple of India—and in my keen French eyes, a colourful icon with complicated hair.
Her looks at the time were numerous, but I was most impressed by the mix of gravity and strength behind those humongous Bambi eyes. It is only recently that we met [for a shoot], and when she first walked into the studio we were to work in, her entry was that of a queen; Nefertiti, Cleopatra or Elizabeth Taylor.
She entered the room with such magnificence, surrounded by brushes, mirrors, assistants, all dedicated to her—the entourage formed a halo around her magnetic presence. I was enchanted. She carries all of what Bollywood stars wish to project—beauty, extravagance, mystery, femininity and power. She is magnificent, living proof that elegance is not a foolish statement, and can run vividly in the veins of a natural-born screen goddess.
From Vogue. in
See our archive of Vogue's coverage of Sridevi over the years here.
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