Sridevi's quote on working with Saif Ali Khan

Sridevi, styled by Manish Malhotra here for a special fashion edition of MOVIE magazine. 

Circa 1994-1995

 

Shatrughan Sinha turns 80! His quote on Sridevi, "Undoubtedly, she's the best actress..."

Shatrughan Sinha was 17 years older than Sridevi and the two worked in only one (flop!) film together, Sherni (1988). 

However, they worked a lot in several stage shows and he memorably handed Sridevi one of her many Best Actress Filmfare trophies.

In 1996, when the press was writing about the end of Sridevi's reign and supremacy, the Bihar behemoth pointed out that she was still a top star and great actress. 

The actor turns 80 today - and we wish him well. 

 

Sridevi at Chiranjeevi's Bollywood Debut: Producers can't afford Sridevi and Chiranjeevi together

Sridevi at Chiranjeevi's Bollywood Debut: Producers can't afford Sridevi and Chiranjeevi together was a quote that did circles around Indian media. While Bollywood took pride in pan Indian fame, the South superstars were quietly raking in big bucks. Star salaries and actor remunerations are not always public knowledge, but there were hints given by a few producers now and then. Sridevi and Chiranjeevi's outsized stardown and star power meant very few people could afford to produce a film with two superstars together - each unwilling to budge on budget! Especially after the runaway success of JVAS - which each can claim credit for. 

Sridevi makes a splash in Himmatwala: But with the tag Thunder Thighs!

 

Q: Were you peeved by the tag--Thunder Thighs-- once given to you?
Sridevi: Ha! No, I didn't take that seriously. It was given to me at the time of Himmatwala. I was very chubby then, I weighed 75kg. At the time of Chandni, I lost weight and came down to 57kg, which I think helped me a lot to impve my dancing..."

Himmatwala released on 25 February 1983 in India, a runaway success where Sridevi wowed the nation. 

Legends line up; Amjad Khan, Kader Khan with Sridevi. 

Sridevi on the sets of Chaalbaaz (1989): Miss Chaalbaaz

Just found out today, that Chaalbaaz was originally going to be called Miss Chaalbaaz, as this early 1988 interview with Sridevi in Star & Style indicates! 

It would have been yet another title role for the definitive leading lady of Indian cinema.

Famous Fan: Mithun Chakraborty!

 Mithun, "Sridevi is the most fantastic actress and the loveliest person I've ever come across. Some may think she's aloof, but she's so lively and warm. Just to see her work is an inspiration."

--Cine Blitz February 1986

Balu sir, Kamal and Sridevi bonded well and became a team: Thyagarajan

Any news and tidbits on Moondram Pirai/Sadma, we remain fascinated on how this gentle story because an instant classic. 

Sridevi's take on Lamhe and its controversial ending! Quote, Unquote!

 Sridevi's take on Lamhe and its controversial ending! Quote, Unquote! 

Sridevi, "I will never give people a chance to get bored of me!"

Sridevi, "I can’t be number one for life. As a girl, the time is even shorter. I am not going to be a performer, going on year after year. I will never give people a chance to get bored of me. The moment somebody younger is going to take my place, I will quit films. I hate to hang on,"
--India Today, 1987.

Left: Sridevi in costume on the sets of Joshilaay. 

"My crush is Sridevi!" Shekhar Kapur

"My crush is Sridevi!" says film director Shekhar Kapur. "Mr India is Sridevi's film."

Or so claims a Hindi tabloid. I question the veracity of everything about this! 

Urmila Matondkar honours Sridevi.

Urmila Matondkar honours Sridevi.

"For me, the last Number One was Sridevi. After Sridevi, there's been no one. Madhuri is still around, so she's still part of the competition now, but Sri was Sri!"

A famous fan of Sridevi - like so many others. 

Kamal Haasan, "When I first met Sri, she didn't even know how to wear a sari!"

 

Colleagues, mentor, friend... Kamal Haasan's quote on Sridevi. Looking for the full feature.

"When I first met Sri, she didn't even know how to wear a sari!" 

Sridevi, "I did a very emotional scene... later, I read she had broken down!"

Excerpt from an archival Sridevi interview. 

"I did a very emotional scene for Khuda Gawah, where I had to scream loudly. Later, I read in some magazine that she had broken down because she couldn't cope with all her tensions!" 

How mountains are made of mole hills in the movie bizz! 
 

Abhimanyu Singh attacks Sridevi: Heart thumping climax of Mom: TBT to 2017

 

Abhimanyu Singh attacks Sridevi: Heart thumping climax of Mom: TBT to 2017

Abhimanyu's quote on Sridevi's professionalism. She was aware of her legendary status but not crippled by it. 

Bollywood Memories: Anil Kapoor's quote on Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit

Bollywood Memories: Anil Kapoor's quote on Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit 

Well... in his home productions, Anil Kapoor let his leading ladies shine often enough. Sometimes to the detriment of his own image... 

Thankfully, once a great actor, always a great actor. 

 

Poonam Dhillon, "The media would call Sridevi dumb...but she was brilliant!" Trending Video clip on Social Media

Cine Blitz scan from the 1980s

Poonam Dhillon, "The media would call Sridevi dumb...but she was brilliant!" Trending Video clip on Social Media!

Right: Cine Blitz, G magazine, Stardust are all guilty of calling Sridevi terms there were grossly unkind. She wasn't the most eloquent English speaker (a theme that came up rather beautifully in her film in 2012!), but she was trilingual - how many of the editors and writers were? Sridevi's legacy is enshrined - where are all these critics? They lived lives of quiet desperation and achieved nothing compared to the stature of the great Sridevi. 

Raveena Tandon's surprising quote about Sridevi's entry to Laadla

Raveena Tandon's surprising quote about Sridevi's entry to Laadla, and how it changed the film!

Well, this is interesting trivia; "Once Sridevi came into Laadla, things changed, everything changed. But I did not for once mention that my role was cut," Raveena Tandon (MOVIE magazine, 1995). Well, until she did in a nationally syndicated magazine and the quote went viral! 

Even though Sridevi didn't have the title role, what do we remember most about the flawed but fun film Laadla? Sridevi's performance. Sridevi famously absorbed attention and at a certain juncture in her career, no matter who was her co-star, she commanded the big-screen like no-other. 

Raveena Tandon was only 9 years younger than Sridevi, but Sridevi was 100+ films years older than the fiesty Ms Tandon. They were not of the same league to be frank. Raveena 2.0 was a fine actress, but definitely struggled to make her mark in the early years. As did every newcomer. 

For cinema trivia, this is interesting. But we certainly aren't comparing the two. 

Shout out to Bollywood Memories for digging this pull-quote out!  

 

"I can't be like Mom (Sridevi) even in 100 years!" Khushi Kapoor

"I can't be like Mom (Sridevi) eveni n 100 years!" Khushi Kapoor. 

Well, yeah... 

Being self-aware is such a blessing. Bless you kiddo! 

Sridevi and the media's obsession with her "thunder thighs"

Sridevi and the media's obsession with her "thunder thighs." 

Body shaming in the film industry has been rampant since the days of Tuntun in the early 1960s, but Sridevi got it in spades during the wild wild west days of her youth in Bollywood. The fad diets, the starvation, the fainting spells were on early... the little seeds planted in her head that slowly eradicated her luminescence and life. As #JusticeForSridevi continues to look for those to blame for her life interrupted, it was the culture of cinema, fandom and the misogyny of size zero worship that provoked her decision to stay thin at the expense of her health. Alas... 

Shilpa Shirodkar, "Sridevi was so humble"

Shilpa Shirodkar at Bollywood Bubble, "Khuda Gawah, From a very beautiful scene in the film. Working with an actress like Sridevi, I never felt like I was a new girl. Sriji was fabulous, kind, humble and very helpful during  a scene or dancing, One of my favourite, favourite co-actors. Now both her kids are in films. Khushi and Janhvi and they look so beautiful I’m sure Sri is very very happy watching them and protecting them…"