Happy birthday to Sridevi's Bestie: designer Manish Malhotra

Happy birthday to Sridevi's Bestie: designer Manish Malhotra! We've said this before and we'll say it again, we are jealous of the archive of images Rakesh Shreshta has - and the bond Sridevi had with Manish. 

A somewhat model turned celebrity designer, Manish Malhotra paved the way for what has now become the billion-ruppee fashion industry in India. A pioneer in many ways, he composed a full head to toe look long before the current gamut of stylists, designers and glam squads. 

Sridevi often said he was the best and her closest friend in the industry, bar none. 

The affection was mutual. 

As Malhotra turns a young 56 - he looks twenty years younger doesn't he?! - we urge him to make the film he's been nursing in his mind for decades. You never know, he could pull a Tom Ford - the only other designer turned film maker we can think of who did both jobs well. 

There are lesser talents making movies today - just for the aesthetics alone, think we'd enjoy watching a Manish Malhotra movie! 

If Sri's untimely passing has taught us anything, tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. So make that film today Manish! 

Draped in style: Sridevi in a satin Manish Malhotra saree

When we first saw this Manish Malhotra designed sari on Sridevi, we were stunned by how graceful and elegant she looked. On sale at an event, a major socialite picked it up and wore a similar one trying to emulate the iconic Indian actress. And it was a royal mess. There was none of the panache and natural flair that Sridevi exemplified with effortless ease. Be it acting, dancing, style, diva-ness, Sridevi made everything look easy. It wasn't.

The material, the fold, the complexity of design, unless donned carefully, the outfit can overwhelm a lady. Sridevi, a natural model for saris, wore it with ease. Such is not the case for all fashionistas following her, trying to emulate "the goddess of grace" as a media outlet described her...

See earlier post with more images of Sridevi in this look here in the archive

Below: Sangeeta Bijlani, Kahkashan Patel and Sridevi 

Sridevi at The Grand Finale of Lakme Fashion Week with Juhi Chawla, Karan Johar and others

Though Kareena Kapoor was the show-stopper for Manish Malhotra's grand finale show at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014, it was Sridevi who was the heart-stopper. Looking glamorous and satin-chic, she arrived with her film-producer husband Boney Kapoor as VIP guests for the designer Manish Malhotra (who has collaborated with Sridevi over the years and is a self-professed fan of the Indian actress).

Resplendent in her simplicity, Sridevi smiled her way through the show. When actress Juhi Chawla caught up with her, she tweeted, "These are a few of my favourite people," as the charming actress struck a pose with Sridevi and producer/director Karan Johar.


More famous fans join the list, including ace musician Shekhar Ravjiani (of Vishal-Shekhar duo). 

Cutie pie Juhi Chawla's been a self-professed fan of Sridevi for ages! Bless her adorable socks.

Shabana Azmi with Sridevi, Boney Kapoor and Anil Kapoor at Manish Malhotra's Show 2006: Shabana, "I like Sridevi very much"

Bollywood Actors Shabana Azmi, Sridevi, film producer Boney Kapoor and actor Anil Kapoor at designer Manish Malhotra's show during Lakme Fashion Week.
Mumbai, Tuesday, 28 March 2006.

If Sridevi was considered queen of the marquee in Bollywood throughout the 1980s and '90s, Shabana Azmi was hailed as the definitive Indian thespian, bar none. Despite two divergent styles of the creative form, the duo had and still have tremendous respect for the other. While Sridevi was ruling the box-office with ghaghra-clad ease, Shabana Azmi, 13 years her senior, was collecting Best Actress trophies by the dozen. When Sridevi entered Bollywood, she had little interest in the artistic side of films, she was all about commercial cinema and stated as much. Her innate talent shone through despite that - and its a testament to her monumental talents as an artist. What Shabana Azmi can do on screen, so can Sridevi. But can Ms Azmi do a dance number among pots and pans with ease and similar conviction? Doubt.... 

Filmfare Best Actress nominations in 1984 - Azmi won for Arth

It's a frivolous question, so let's not delve further. Both had parallel lanes in Indian cinema and were fans of each other. 

Below are are excerpts from Ms Azmi (published in Filmfare over the years) regarding Bollywood Queen, Sridevi. 

Shabana Azmi about Sridevi:

FILMFARE: Which heroines do you find worth your while?
Shabana Azmi: "Sridevi is very good. Lots of actresses have shaped themselves in the Sridevi mould, be it Madhuri Dixit or Juhi Chawla. Sridevi was the first heroine to bring energy to her performances, not only in the dances but also in the acting.

Before that we were enamoured by Rekha. Looking good was the ultimate then. So there was no distortion even if Rekha lay dying. She looked perfect even in death. Sridevi came in like a breath of fresh air, not afraid of making faces. A lot of that she acquired from Kamal Haasan. She has a flair for comedy. And she wasn't shy, she didn't care if she was hampered by the fact that she didn't know the Hindi language well. She's lovely, I like Sridevi very much..."
-- FILMFARE, June 1996

Shabana Azmi, "Sridevi was the first heroine to bring energy to her performances, not only in the dances but also in the acting. Before that we were enamoured by Rekha. Looking good was the ultimate then. So there was no distortion even if Rekha lay dying. She looked perfect even in death. Sridevi came in like a breath of fresh air, not afraid of making faces..."

-- Excerpt from MOVIE magazine - TBC, To be confirmed...