Sridevi's first film as a child artist in the Tamil film Thunaivan (1969)

 

Thunaivan was released on 4 July 1969; and young Sridevi was barely five-years-old when she shot the devotional, mythological Tamil film. The cherub face, large eyes, ease in front of the camera and a multitude of expressions, she made a lasting impact in her brief role. Cinema critics were as harsh then as they are today, this excerpt from The Indian Express; "If you can ignore the cinema medium, ignore the shortcomings in acting, story, direction and the craft of film-making but are bent upon seeing only the Murugasthalas, you will not be disappointed."

Wow.

Well, for us Sridevi fans, the only reason to watch is the first glimpse of young Sridevi, who has an all too brief yet impactful role. 

Icons only: Mumtaz with Sridevi

Mumtaz arrives at the Delhi premiere of Yash Chopra's Chandni and shares the frame with Sridevi. Rare stills. TBT to 1989! Above right; a bad colour edit of the original pics. They weren't wearing the same shade of faded pink! 

Mumtaz turns 78 today. Shahrukh Khan in an old interview said Mumtaz was his favourite actress and he liked Sridevi cause she reminded him of her... um... ok! Well, both were superstars of their time. Sridevi had more critical acclaim though... and more awards and recognition for her thespian skills. Mumtaz famously won a Best Actress award for Khilona (1970) and left Bollywood for marriage and kids when she was on top. 

Janhvi Kapoor's Sridevi denim jacket!

Imprinted with stills from Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Janhvi Kapoor's denim jacket is for... well, hardcore Sridevi fans. Wonder how much it retails for... Asking for a friend. 

 

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Dinesh Raheja, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor back in 1997!

Dinesh Raheja, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor back in 1997!

Sridevi and Anil Kapoor came from the sets of Judaai. 

Sridevi looks soooo beautiful here. That gentle, hint of a smile... 

Sridevi in the Tamil film Ganga Yamuna Kaveri (1978)

Sridevi, 15, in the Tamil film Ganga Yamuna Kaveri (1978)

There's Chandni Chowk: And now Sridevi Chowk!

There's Chandni Chowk: And now Sridevi Chowk! 

An icon gets a landmark. 

This in Mumbai, India, honouring the late great Sridevi. 

Sridevi and the elusive mujra

 

While she did about a dozen rain songs, Sridevi barely did five mujras on film in her ENTIRE career. While Rekha has done... too many to count, its funny how Sridevi rarely attempted to do the dance-form on film. 

A glorious screengrab from a Telugu film of gorgeous Sridevi. 

Pinky Reddy with Sridevi: Friends

 

Sanjay Dutt and Sridevi pose for Stardust Annual: Happy Birthday Sanju!

Sanjay Dutt and Sridevi pose for Stardust Annual: Happy Birthday Sanju! 

Pre publicity shot by Rakesh Shreshta, just before the release of Gumrah. 

Sanjay Dutt turns 66 today

Our archive of Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt images together here.

Sivakumar and Sridevi in Kavikkuyil (1977)

Released on 29 July 1977, Tamil film Kavikkuyil had Sivakumar, young Sridevi (all of 13 when she shot the movie!), with, believe it or not, Rajinikanth is a supporting role! 

The movie also featured Fatafat Jayalaxmi, who I believe didn't get enough credit for her contribution to Tamil cinema--all due credit to Rajinikanth for bringing up her name again into discussion when he named her as his favourite co-star.  

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Lady in Red: TBT to Sridevi in 1991 posing for a cover shoot

Lady in Red: TBT to Sridevi in 1991 posing for a cover shoot 

Rare photo: Sridevi getting ready on set

Mirror mirror... 

Sridevi getting ready on set. There are several similar images of the Indian actress preparing behind the scenes that are studded throughout our page. 

 

The Turban Explorer: Sridevi's look test for Khuda Gawah in the early 1990s in Mumbai

The Turban Explorer: Sridevi's look test for Khuda Gawah in the early 1990s in Mumbai 

When Sridevi was shocked by Boney Kapoor's original proposal...

When Sridevi was shocked by Boney Kapoor's original proposal... 

Well, it was mentioned in an interview years ago in Filmfare but somehow the quote is trending on social media this week. Quiet day in the newsroom I guess... 

Rishi Kapoor, "Sridevi and I don't talk much on set."

Throwback to this snippet in MOVIE magazine back in February 1990.

Hello Mr. How do you do of the Month: “These are the only words Sridevi has ever spoken to me right fromt the Nagina days to Gurudev,” admits Rishi sheepishly. 

Sridevi

Teenage sensation that was Sridevi in Tamil cinema.
 

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Anupam Kher and Sridevi on the sets of Nigahein (1989)

 

Anupam Kher and Sridevi on the sets of Nigahein (1989). 

Anupam Kher has referred to this film a few times as one of his worst performances on the big-screen.

Honestly, we were only looking at Sridevi and remember little else. 

East or West: Sridevi was the best!

Sridevi 2.0 was rocking contemporary fashion in India with pure elegance and with panache that she was born with. Be it Western or Indian attire, the Indian icon played the double role of actress and fashionista with such ease. 

Sridevi in Yugpurush: Sridevi OUT of Yugpurush: Indian icon walks out of Nana Patekar film

The bizarre cut of the wig, too many accessories, the unflattering 90s gown in green and that shoe... not sure anything in this look (styled by Manish Malhotra no less) works but still, Sridevi was oh-so-lovely. The look test for the film Yugpurush - which she eventually chose not to do (Manisha Koirala took over). The film wasn't much but we the audience didn't get to see two greats -- Nana Patekar and Sridevi--work together on film. Alas, the loss is ours. 

So what happened?

More in the archive here. 

Boney Kapoor posts rare pic of Sridevi from the archives

Earlier this week, film producer Boney Kapoor posted a rarely seen picture of Indian actress Sridevi from the early 1980s in Bollywood. A rare find, it was an outtake from a shoot Sridevi did for Filmfare magazine back in the summer of 1985. Obviously, we the entire series and interview up in the archive here. 

Sridevi was around 22, she had already met Boney Kapoor by then, as he wanted to cast the southern sensation for a film. The earliest record we have of the two meeting is for the launch of the (shelved) film Govinda back in 1984, with Anil Kapoor in the lead and Sridevi as his village belle heroine. The film was never made but while the Kapoors had the dates of superstar Sridevi, they ended up making Mr.India - which later released in the summer of 1987!