Life worth Living: The Icon Called Sridevi: Essay by Bhagyashree, Indian Actress.

(L) Bhagyashree in 1989, (R) Sridevi in 1986

"Isn’t life worth living without this constant need to be what others want us to be? This question popped up with the untimely demise of the iconic star, Sridevi. Was it this projection that led her to be under pressure and be the cause of her passing away? Lots was written, discussed and even judged at this unfortunate event. 

“Why don’t public figures have the privacy of peace even in death?” was the thought that surged through my mind. Did it not chance upon people to think that she was a mother, a wife, a daughter with a separate plate of responsibilities to be catered to? Was all this so trivial? Wasn’t this itself enough to have a life worth living? 

Sridevi didn’t need to prove or project….. She had an iconic stature already thanks to the immense body of work done by her. Her contribution to the Indian cinema is invaluable, be it Sadma, Nagina, Himmatwaala, Chaalbaaz or Mr.India. Having begun as a child actor she has to her credit more than 300 films. At a time where social media did not exist, when one was known purely by the work and effort one put in, there is not one word about her incapability or unprofessionalism which itself proves that she was in a league above many. She was un-paralled in her art and is and will always be looked upon as one of the finest artists of our industry. To thwart that talent and question her need to conform to body images required today on social media is absolutely demeaning. To all those mindless faces who seek recognition through pointing fingers and finding faults with others, I ask them to do a little introspection and find perfection within themselves first. It is sad that when a person is no longer able to defend oneself, many people seek to provide insight into dimensions never touched before. It is a sense of vicious voyeurism to fragment a public figure’s persona. Get a life people!!!! Try and make something worthwhile of your own rather than invest time in putting someone else down. Pause to think before you comment on the implications of this kind of talk on the bereaved family.

Sridevi had led a full life. She was in a profession she loved and it shows through her work. She was married to a man who adored her and that shows through the grace and confidence with which she carried herself. She had 2 lovely daughters who loved their mother for being with them and nurturing them through their childhood with complete dedication. She led a life on her terms and life worth living. 

May her soul rest in peace.

-- Bhagyashree Dasani

Left: Sridevi, Bhagyashree and Rekha on the cover of the Hindi tabloid Filmy Kaliyan.