Sridevi and Vyjanthimala were both born on August 13 and the South Indian actresses, beauties and legendary dancers ruled Bollywood with top billing, co-stars, directors, as roles were written specially for these \undisputed Number One actresses/superstars of their time.
What else did they have in common? A lot. Some tenuous links and some more gossamer ones.
Vyjanthimala was born in 1936, Sri in 1963. If numerology means something to you, there's a bizarre albeit lofty ink there.
Both started off in Tamil and Telugu films.
Both started their careers when they were young; Vyjanthimala was just 5 years old when she was chosen to perform a dance in front of the Pope as a part of cultural celebrations. Sridevi was 4 when she started acting in devotional films.
Both starred a film titled Devta (1956), Sridevi in Devatha (1982).
Vyjanthimala was highest paid actress in Hindi Cinema from 1962-65; Sridevi was the highest paid actress in Hindi cinema from 1984-1993.
Both actresses had homes in Mumbai and Chennai and were equally at ease in Tamil and Hindi.
One of Vyjanthimala's biggest hits Sangam (1964) was loosely remade as Ram Avtar with Sridevi as the lead in 1988. Why, if you closely look at the way Nigode mardon ka was shot and conceived, its a rework and reimagining of Main Kya Karun Raam Mujhe Budha Mil Gaya...
When they were still top actresses, both gave it all up for marriage and motherhood; Vyjayanthimala married the already married Dr Chamanlal Bali in 1968. Sridevi married the already married film producer Boney Kapoor in 1996.
Both discovered sports after marriage, Mrs Bali was an avid golfer and Sridevi loved playing tennis to stay fit
