TBT: Sridevi with Shobhaa De

Sridevi with writer, columnist and best-selling Indian author Shobhaa De

We have made no qualms about hiding our love for Ms De. It just reached another level earlier today when she posted on her FB page, "We love our Sri". And we do. We soooo do!

The sari-clad divas and icons in their respective field, Sridevi and Shobhaa De seen here at an event. 

See archive of Shobhaa De posts about Sridevi here.

Follow Shobhaa De's blog here. 

 

UPDATE:

Hello! 23 Super Achievers of the year 2012: Sridevi: Shobhaa De presents actress award

Well, Hello! Sridevi!! On the cover of the Super Achievers issue. But naturally.

See archive of shots from Hello! here.

Sridevi on Winning: "How time flies! I just felt very good about Gauri Shinde's script when she showed it to me. I have a good connection with her. Honestly, it all happened so fast - I don't even realise when I signed, acted in the film; now it's already released and the success has put me back on my toes! I am very, very honoured to be receiving this award, I thank everyone at HELLO, it is very heartwarming!"

 

Sridevi with Shobhaa De

Click to enlarge pic

Bollywood Queens: Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi at the Hello! Mumbai bash

Shobhaa De presents Sridevi an award for her performance in English Vinglish: Sridevi fan presents the trophy

Shobhaa De presents the award to Sridevi at Hello magazien Hall of Fame awards...

More pics from the award ceremony here.

Sridevi and Boney Kapoor at Amitabh Bachchan's 70th Birthday Bash: Ravishing in red, Sridevi stuns on the red carpet

Sridevi and Boney Kapoor walk the red carpet, heading to the Ambani bash for Amitabh Bachchan's 70th birthday bash.

Sridevi looked absolutely drop dead gorgeous in her red gown

Author Shobhaa De was a the event and wrote on her blog;  "For me, Sridevi clad in a red gown, was by far the most super glam heroine around. And yes, she was speaking English-Vinglish."





 

Shobhaa De: What is that ‘something’ about Sridevi…?

While we all agree there’s ‘something’ about Sri, when asked what that something really is, we are totally thrown! We could say it’s nostalgia – for a top actress who waltzed away from dizzying movie glory , fifteen long years ago. That fact alone is enough to get her fans into a frenzy of anticipation.But that’s not the whole answer, is it?

Many an actress has waltzed away, waltzed back and regretted the decision later. As they say in this cruel business, once off the silver screen, it’s off from people’s hearts and minds. Largely true. Fantasy feeds on visual reminders. In an era in which an alarmingly young Alia Bhatt (17) is being projected as the next big thing, and established stars hitting 30 are seen as over-the hill has-beens, it is a monumental challenge for Sridevi (49), a mother of two teenage daughters, to woo a blasé, hardened, seasoned audience once again. Will English-Vinglish do the trick for the glorious Sri?

I’d say, whether or not the movie sets the box office on fire, Sridevi devotees ( countless, across the world) will applaud, whistle and shout during the screenings. I know one such diehard fan who lives in Hong Kong. Rama has worshipped Sri from the time he was a little boy ( Rama is just 30 himself). His home is a shrine dedicated to Sri . It has been his sole and most fervent dream to be in Sri’s divine presence and breathe the same air as his Goddess. Well, it happened recently when Sri was in Hong Kong to promote her film. I am not sure Rama has started breathing normally yet! To evoke this powerful a response, an actor needs more than just physical beauty. Sri, with her statuesque body and those eyes like ‘dark pools’ ( Rama’s description!) that invite you to drown in them, is indeed a gorgeous lady.

But there are equally gorgeous and far younger stars around. While most of Sri’s contemporaries have either opted for Reality TV ( Madhuri Dixit) or disappeared into oblivion, by picking an unconventional,quirky subject, Sri has displayed rare acumen. For a girl , who at her peak, was known for her standard ‘Ask Mummy’ response to any and every question, today’s Sri has responded to interviewers with poise, grace and intelligence. More importantly, she has picked a deglamorised role that relies far more on her histrionics than on those ample curves. That’s a pretty brave decision! Going by just the teasers and previews, Sri’s plain jane character comes into her own after facing enormous hurdles on account of her lack of English language skills in a foreign land. Determined to overcome hurdles and prejudice, the awkward, embarrassed lady decides to enroll in a language school. What happens after she acquires those hard to master skills, is the basic premise of Gauri Shinde’s movie. Thousands of Indians across the world will easily identify with Sri’s predicament. That in itself is a huge start. But eventually, the film’s commercial and critical success will rest on the audience reponse to Sri herself.

One generation of movie goers doesn’t really know who Sridevi is . The older fans may expect another wet blue saree dream sequence, complete with orgasmic groans and close ups of Sri’s heaving bosom. Despite these distorted hopes, my feeling is that Sri will score big time. The reason is simple : Sridevi endears herself to her audience. She has the capacity to connect directly and emotionally to her fans.

On screen, Sri is electrifying, no matter whom she’s playing. Off screen, she’s another human being – almost boringly reticent. The other thing about her comeback, is that she doesn’t sound desperate about it. Unlike most of her rivals. She, more than any of them, appears relaxed and chilled out about her big decision to taste stardom all over again. With an attitude like that, Sri has nothing to lose!

From Times of India
Shobhaa De
02 October 2012,

12:42 PM IST

MODERATOR: Whee, thrilled about Shobhaa De's shout out and of course beyond thrilled that I met Sri. Just one minor note, I met Sridevi in Mumbai, not Hong Kong. And yes, I did drown in her eyes! =0)

Shobhaa De; Spare a thought for Sridevi

"I didn’t know Mona Kapoor. Even though, as a young girl, she lived in the same South Mumbai complex as I do, and in which her mother, the formidable Sattee Shourie owned a flat. I was away in Muscat when Mona died, and got to hear of it through mutual friends who had attended her funeral. Later, I scanned media coverage of the multiple functions that followed Mona’s passing away, and found one person missing from the images. Sridevi.

The other mourners in impeccable designer whites may or may not have been Mona’s close friends. Nearly every celeb covered by the media was present for someone else, not for Mona. They were there as acquaintances of the Kapoor clan. Some were Anil Kapoor’s old associates, others, part of Boney’s (Mona’s husband) or Sanjay’s circle. Then there was the younger lot, cousins and buddies of Mona and Boney’s two children. There were no pictures of Jahnavi and Khushi, Sridevi and Boney’s daughters. And my heart went out to Sridevi.

What a position to be in, after spending so many years of her life living with Boney (since June ’96), and giving birth to two daughters. Yet, when tragedy struck, there was no place or position for ‘the other woman’ in that very public space in which Boney was featured as a grieving widower.

Clearly, Mona was a much adored and popular person, judging from the outpouring of love for her even from virtual friends who knew her from just from her Twitter handle and frequent tweets, including the rather grim final one in which she bravely confronted her condition and imminent death. Mona must have been an extraordinarily courageous, dignified and strong woman. May her soul find peace. In terms of timing, it’s sad that she didn’t live to see her son’s movie debut. And that his first media exposure happened under tragic circumstances at his beloved mother’s funeral. What now?

Sridevi will be seen in her major comeback film fairly soon, an ambitious and risky project that her countless devoted fans are looking forward to. Boney has also landed himself a cushy job with Sahara. And yet, Bollywood watchers are still in a bit of a quandary wondering how to respond to Sridevi once the rituals and mourning period for Mona are over. Should they offer condolences? Make no reference to the unfortunate death in the family? Pretend nothing has happened?

What will Boney do? Make it legal and officially marry Sridevi, the lady he has shared his life with for 16 years?? Will Sridev’s long cherished dream of being recognized by all, family included, as “Mrs. Boney Kapoor”, finally come true? Sure, it’s complicated. But these are just a few realities of modern life, not restricted to Bollywood. There are several similar situations in urban society. It is just that for Boney and Sridevi, being Bollywood personalities, the spotlight and speculation are hard to avoid. There are no road maps in delicate scenarios like this one. What should Sri have done? Stayed away or turned up? What was going through her mind and heart as she and her young daughters followed the coverage (assuming they watched it?). How will she deal with the public scrutiny and intrusive questions when she does step out with Boney next? Tough.

Mona has left for a better place. But Sridevi is very much around. A little sensitivity directed her way, wouldn’t hurt.


Moderator: Please see Shobhaa De's blog here.
Sri feature:
http://shobhaade.blogspot.com/2012/04/spare-thought-for-sridevi.html


From Bombay Times
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/Spare-a-thought-for-Sridevi/articleshow/12531817.cms

Shobhaa De's quote about Sridevi

"...Several top actresses have taken maternity leave to go off and have their babies. Some have taken permanent leave after that and left movies for good. Others have waited for the kids to grow up a little before announcing a come back...Sridevi is the bravest of them all as she readies herself for her return to the big screen even after years of being just a svelte mom to two daughters...." 

 -- Shobhaa De More at Shobhaa De's blog.

Shobhaa De

Cine Blitz: So who do you think has the star quality?
Shobhaa De: In today's context, Sreedevi alone has it. In fact, she's the last one with it. Madhuri is beautiful, but there is no star quality here. She's far too wishy-washy. She looks like a very pretty Maharashtrian wife, who accidently strayed into the glamorous world of movies. Even when she's skimpily dressed, and doing a "Dhak dhak..." she doesn't exude the kind of sexuality that Sreedevi, clad in a skin-tight pair of jeans, enormous hips furiously gyrating all over the pace, manages to do. I mean, Sreedevi has it! That's something, that magic on screen. Nobody else does.