Sridevi and politics

Sridevi and politics. 

We have a lotttt of images of Sridevi with politicians, ministers over the years... 

Sridevi looking so gorgeous here. 

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with Sridevi

This article was published in Stardust magazine in the early 1990s. With no evidence, quotation, fact checking, verification, confirmation by anyone involved. Ipso facto, I'd take the newsbyte with a pinch of salt - just my opinion. 

-- Moderator

SRIDEVI'S LAST TANGO WITH RAJIV GANDHI!

Sridevi's undying love for her Dad became apparent when she mourned his death. Then everything seemed the darkest side of black for the superstar. Her world had come crashing down when her father breathed his last. For Sri-baby lived for her father. She could have gone to the moon for him or bent back wards to make him happy. And once she actually did just that    The story goes thus. In the twilight yeas of his life her father began to show a lot of interest in all things political. He set his heart on a career in politics and was looking for an opening when the Tamil Nadu elections were announced. So he decided to use that as a springboard to enter the fray. Now what he needed was a ticket to contest the elections!

    But getting a ticket in politics is not all that easy. Not even for Sridevi's father. The sea of humanity that throngs the portals of the powers that be, literally begging for that gate pass to paradise, stands testimony to the power politics that are played in the capital during elections time. Everybody who's somebody's chamcha, chacha, bachcha or papa pulls strings, give ghaas and butters the politicians to get the ticket. Naturally in a competition so steep, the price is high and sometimes even exacting. After all, to get something you have to give something. That's the jungle law.     

And that's where Sridevi enters the picture. For her father, the brightest his treasure was his daughter. And he was going to dazzle the powers that be with her charm and star value. So he chartered her down to Delhi. Her job was to gain access to Rajiv and convince him of her papa's credentials as a politician. Now those were the days of the coterie raj and to reach Rajiv one had to first meet the Satish Sharmas and Lalit Suris that surrounded the man. But breaking through the coterie's cordon was as tough as by passing the black cats.

    Yet Sridevi managed to achieve the impossible. Using her charm she sweet-talked her way through the coterie. Befriending the Gandhi boys she gave the impression that he would do anything within her means to get her father what he wanted. And the boys took on the challenge. One of them who is very, very close to Rajiv was planning a blockbuster party for all his pals. The man, an industrialist-cum-politician, was on the look-out for a theme (theme parties being in vogue nowadays). He was probably ratting his brains when in walked Sri baby. Eureka thought the man, here is the screen apsara promising the world to me, why don't I have a repeat performance of the Mr. India thumkas. He offered the evening to Sridevi and she promptly agreed for she knew that heading the guest list was Rajiv Gandhi, the man she was trying to reach desperately. Hugging herself with joy, she promised the industrialist that she would be there, come rain or storm. 

    And sure as sure can be, on the appointed day Sridevi arrived in a discreet Mercedes, dressed to kill! The Delhi-wallas sighed, their pulse raced higher and higher at every song. The select gathering to date remembers that memorable performance. And Sridevi fulfilled her father's last wish. He got his ticket. That he didn't win is a different matter. But that day Sridevi proved that her love for her father was sublime and unconditional.

- Stardust, December 1991

 

Blogger Note: 

The 80s and 90s were not a great time for film journalism and fact checking. Or good writing.... 

I... am not sure any of the above happened. In my opinion there seems to be a lot of creative fiction in the newsbyte... Tabloids peddle in sensationalism, not in truth. As all the cover tags show... everything is a bit of an eye-roll. 

RIP Sushma Swaraj

We just heard the news of the demise of politician Sushma Swaraj.

She was a Sridevi fan and gave Sri an award back in 2013.

RIP Sushmaji

Sridevi, Sridevi's mother Rajeshwari and former co-star Jayalalitha

Political posts always gives us grief - we don't print troll messages so don't even bother - but as Sridevi was so popular, she met and was photographed with all major politicos, including, as seen here, Jayalalitha. 

Jayalalitha was of course, also Sridevi's co-star when Sri was a child artist. All three in the picture above are sadly no more...

Sridevi tweets her condolences as Jayalalitha is laid to rest

Jayalalitha with young Sridevi

As a child star, Sridevi acted with Jayalalitha in five films. While Sridevi went on to become the Queen of Bollywood, Jayalalitha left the film industry (with over 140 movies in several languages to her credit) and went on to join, well, rule politics in her signature style.

Most memorably, Sridevi acted with Jayalalitha in Thirumangalyam, Kandan Karunai and Adi Parashakti.

As we just heard the news of the passing of Jayalalitha on Dec 5, we have been tracing the responses online. Fans posted these images on social media and we've collected the snippets and pics - related to Sridevi. Obv.

E.g. we found this archival image of the actress Jayalalitha (very different from the politico) and young Sridevi as Lord Muruga. Sridevi acted with Jayalalitha in Aadhi Parasakthi (directed by KS Gopalakrishnan) which was a huge success in its time.

Over the past few decades, the two met on and off when Sridevi visited Chennai. During the release of Gumraah, Jayalalitha was doing a hunger strike in Tamil Nadu over some issue and Sridevi went to visit her -  much to the chagrin of her detractors, and banned the film on several screens. Sridevi went on to state that she visited the Chief Minister on a personal basis and had nothing to do with politics but, her defense fell onto deaf ears. Well. Such is the irrational world of politics in India.

SRIDEVI BONEY KAPOOR ‏@SrideviBKapoor 19h19 hours ago 

A great leader who drew huge respect,love,adulation & worshiped by millions of followers,the country will surely miss Jayalalithaa Amma. RIP

SRIDEVI BONEY KAPOOR ‏@SrideviBKapoor 2h2 hours ago

The most articulate dignified,cultured & caring lady, lucky to have worked with her. I Along with millions of our people will miss her.


The last time the two met in person was at the centenary celebrations of Indian cinema held in Chennai, where Sridevi was honoured for her contribution to south Indian cinema.

UPDATE: Sridevi does her condolence visit...

Amar Singh with Sridevi

Self-exiled, former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, laid low by controversy and ill health, has been fiercely keeping away from the charmed circles for several years now. So naturally, when he suddenly emerged out of the woodwork to throw a party for actor Sridevi on her birthday on August 17, there was a huge turnout of curious guests, whose many queries about the Bachchans and about politics Singh just shrugged off.


One didn't know about all your health complexities... still, where were you for so long?
I decided to stay away from the limelight. It was a conscious decision. I had a great run from 1996 to 2009. I had many friends. After 2009, the fairweather friends got filtered out. But from the film industry, Sridevi and her husband Boney remained in frequent touch.

Amar Singh with Sridevi in New Delhi, 2012

One day, she told me that she wanted me to see her comeback film English Vinglish. Initially I didn't think much of the film because comeback films of most senior stars haven't been exciting. But she came to Delhi with the print. Out of sheer respect for her, I saw the film. After the film ended, I was choked with emotion. I then had a small party. When she got the Padmashri, I felt she deserved a big, nice celebration.

Are you going to host more parties, like you often did in the past?
This one was just an emotional outburst. I don't have to do anything to prove myself. I am not an insatiable socialite. I have seen everything - success, failure, disappointment and treachery. Frankly, I am a disillusioned man. But let me add about the recent party that it was a celebration of Sridevi's loyalty and friendship with me, not a celebration of her alone. This woman did not change with time in my rainy days.

You did a few films, here and there. Any more acting aspirations?
I grew up watching Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor's movies. I never liked most of Amitabh's movies, except Hrishikesh Mukherji's Alaap. With both Dev and Shammi gone, I don't think I have any desire left to act, except maybe if and when Sridevi and Jaya Prada (his other loyal friend) offer a film to me.



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Sridevi with Aishwarya Rai, Anil Kapoor meet Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Aishwarya Rai, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor meet the meet Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee - TBT to circa 2000.