The most comprehensive fan blog dedicated to India's most beautiful and greatest actress of all-time (in our humble opine!), Sridevi. Sridevi aka Sreedevi, ruled Indian cinema (with awesome performances in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films) in a career spanning 50 incredible years featuring 266 films. Born in Sivakasi on August 13 1963, her untimely and tragic death on February 24, 2018 left a nation in mourning. In our hearts, she'll forever be, the eternal Queen of Bollywood.
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.
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
Any news and tidbits on Moondram Pirai/Sadma, we remain fascinated on how this gentle story because an instant classic.
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"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.
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!"
"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's quote on Sridevi's professionalism. She was aware of her legendary status but not crippled by it.
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.
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| 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, 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!
Well, yeah...
Being self-aware is such a blessing. Bless you kiddo!
Sridevi and the media's obsession with her "thunder thighs."
Soon after the release of two films and fiascos with Salman Khan, Sridevi was pressed for a quote on her mega flops with the rising star. Sridevi spoke to Stardust in Nov 1994, and held her ground.
Sridevi, "How can you say that my reign is over and that I don't have any draw at the box-office anymore? Was I the only person in the film? Chandra Mukhi and Chaand kaa Tukdaa were two major disasters of mine. I did what I was asked to do in the film. But people want to see more than just a dolled up and dancing Sridevi.Frankly speaking, Chaand kaa Tudkaa didn't really shape out the way it was supposed to. Saawanji had spent a lot of money on the film but it just didn't show. But I really don't have regrets doing theses films for I quite enjoyed doing all the fantasy stuff. I think my biggest mistake was that I trusted my directors totally, I hadn't even asked for the entire scripts. I just heard the basic idea and I was content with it.
You know, in this industry, it is very easy to ridicule and run down people, specially those going through a rough patch. and yes, I agree that I am going through one of those phases where things are not going exactly in my favour at the box-office. But I have realised that here, people put you on a pedestal only because they can pull you down later. Anyway, what they say doesn't really bother me, for I know what I am all about. Saawanji is not that kind of person to say anything behind a person's back. He is quite forthright that way and I don't think that he has ever said to anyone that he has regretted taking me. He was the one who was very keen in signing me for the film. Anyway, if at all there is anyone who should have any regrets, then it should be me!"
Throwback to this quote from SHOWTIME, August 1990,
SHOWTIME: “Do you feel trapped in a star image?
Sridevi: (Shrugs) Nahin. [No]. A normal girl’s family life must be better than mine. Every minute is spent working. Kabhi din hua kabhi raat, pata nahin chalta. [I don't know if its day or night when working]. I can’t just go for walks or go out for dinner. I always feel I am in school. Get up in the morning, rush for shooting, obey the directors or dance-directors, pack up, go back to the hotel or home (if in Madras), have dinner and go to sleep. When the director says ‘pack up,’ it sounds like the school bell and I am ready to rush home. On the sets, I am an artiste, at home, I am an ordinary girl, who loves to spend her time with only her family. Now tell me, am I stuck in an image?"
