The late great photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha on working with Sridevi: "Total personality is awesome!"

Remembering Gautam da on his birth anniversary today. Though his favourites were Madhuri Dixit, Kajol and Aishwarya Rai... possibly in that order... he took many of Sridevi's early portraits for film magazines.  

Excerpt below: 

Legendary photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha on working with Sridevi, " [Sridevi... is a quietly retiring person. I met her years ago at her home in Chennai when she was still doing Tamil films and just beginning her work in Hindi films. She was very open to a lot of ideas for shoots. You just had to explain something to her and she would agree. Once before the camera she would give you what you wanted. Her eyes, facial expressions and personality were magic. 

While shooting in Mauritius for Gumrah, Mahesh Bhatt gave us a day off and we shot some awesome outdoor pictures like her sitting with a tall drink by the pool and doing things she had never done before. She captivated the camera. I have great pictures of her. It's her total personality that's awesome. She's a nice person." 

 "WHILE SHOOTING IN MAURITIUS FOR GUMRAH, MAHESH BHATT GAVE US A DAY OFF. WE SHOT SOME AWESOME OUTDOOR PICTURES LIKE SRIDEVI SITTING WITH A TALL DRINK BY THE POOL!"