Pretty in Pink: Sridevi on the sets of Lamhe in London

Pretty in pink; Sridevi on the sets of Lamhe (1991). Too cute.

Joy: Sridevi in Lamhe: The Happiest She's Ever been on Set. Until....

Sridevi was just 27 when she shot Lamhe - one of her finest hours on film in a career defining double role and performance that garnered her one of her many awards. 

These rare glimpses of Sridevi as Pooja shows the actress just bubbling with joy. Sridevi famously told Yash Chopra during the making of the movie in London, it is the happiest she's ever been in her life... until tragedy stuck when suddenly, her father passed away. 

In documented interviews (most notably a famous conversation with Karan Johar), Yash Chopra spoke extensively about a profound personal tragedy that struck Sridevi precisely while they were shooting Lamhe in London.

When the film's London schedule was nearly 90% complete, Sridevi’s mother called Yash Chopra to inform him that Sridevi's father had suddenly passed away. Chopra recounted the emotional weight of that moment:

"I couldn’t tell her [the news of his death]. I told her he's very serious. You have to take the flight."

Sridevi flew back to India and discovered the truth, remaining there for 16 days to complete the mandatory funeral and mourning rituals.

Her Acclaimed Professionalism

What Yash Chopra marvels at in his quotes - and what is frequently cited as a defining moment in her career- is what happened on her very first day back on set (the 17th day). Due to scheduling constraints and a co-star waiting to leave, the very first scene Sridevi had to shoot upon her return from mourning her father was a highly energetic comedy sequence (the iconic mud pack scene with Waheeda Rehman).

Chopra recalled:

"The next morning when she got up, I told her, 'Sri, there is a problem... This scene is a comedy scene'. She said, 'no problem, acting is acting'... At that time, I thought she is so professional. Such a wonderful artist. At that moment, she forgot everything. She did a wonderful scene. I understood then that is reason, the secret for her success."

Sridevi on the sets of Lamhe in London

Sridevi on the sets of Lamhe in London

 

Sridevi in London during the shooting of Lamhe in 1990

 

Sridevi in London during the shooting of Lamhe in 1990

TBT: Sridevi and Anil Kapoor in London for Lamhe

 

TBT: Sridevi and Anil Kapoor in London for Lamhe

Rare pic: Sridevi with Salman Khan in London during stage rehearsals

 

Sridevi and Salman Khan during rehearsals for the epic London stage shows Bollywood stars did in the early 90s. 

Sridevi as Pooja in Lamhe (1991)

 

Sridevi as Pooja in Lamhe (1991). With Anil Kapoor in London below. 

Sridevi on the sets of Lamhe in London and Rajasthan

Sridevi on the sets of Lamhe in London and Rajasthan

Sridevi during the making of Lamhe in London: Bollywood film shot extensively in the UK in the '90s

Sridevi during the making of Lamhe in London. 

The Bollywood classic was extensively shot in the UK. 

Sridevi as Pooja in Lamhe

click to enlarge

Enacting a double-role for the n'th time, Sridevi ensured that Pallavi and Pooja were as different as they could be in the much loved Lamhe; the wardrobe, the length of hair, the way she cried, the gravitas of Pallavi and insouciance and joie de vivre of Pooja.

By age 27, Sridevi had done enough dual roles in the same film to cognitively and instinctively know that to convince the audience of two separate characters, she used the tricks of the trade and her own preternatural, god-given-gifts as an actress to never confuse the two.

Kamal Haasan had said Sridevi was like blotting paper; she absorbed anything and everything around her to grow exponentially as an actress and it was a "phenomenal" rise like no other star of her generation.

We couldn't agree more.

Sridevi in 2016 with Harry Potter glasses!

 
Harry... Putri? lols. Sridevi has finally been seen shopping and in restaurants in London in August 2016. Looking slim and trim and ever-so-fashionable, the gorgeous Indian actress has been chilling post production of her upcoming film. With no (reliable!) news yet on when the film will release, fans wait with breath that is baited!

 

Sridevi in Lamhe (1991)

Love finding postcards of Sridevi from the sets of Lamhe. A gorgeous series of images from Sridevi on the sets in Mumbai, Rajasthan, London and more.

Sridevi snapped in a mall: Fan Encounter

A lucky fan was shopping around in London, when he saw a familiar face in the mall; Indian legend Sridevi!

He politely asked for a picture and Sridevi complied.

Lucky, lucky fan!! 

BTW Sridevi in 2010 age 47, looks better than Sridevi in the year 1980! God Bless her!

Sridevi looks so simple and chic while ambling around; and fit!

November 2010