Sridevi Trivia: Rare facts and factoids about the great Indian Actress

Random Sridevi trivia

• Did you know Sridevi acted with three former Chief Ministers? MGR, NTR and Jayalalitha?
• Did you know Sridevi's work ethic, exertion and pushing through when she was ill to wrap a film has been recorded since the early 1980s? Sridevi's self sacrifice, much to the detriment of her own health, has been recorded several times; famously, during the making of Mr.India, Chaalbaaz, Meri Biwi Ka Jawan Nahin, Gumrah, and English Vinglish. 
• Did you know while facing personal loss and tragedy, Sridevi suppressed her profound grief to continue working? Sridevi worked soon after her father's death in Lamhe, and her mother's too, when she completed Judaai soon after the passing of her mother. 
• Did you know, despite doing innumerable (well, numerable -we're working on the list!) rain song & dance sequences, she was not a fan of working on them? She couldn't hear the sound, she wasn't sure the water was clean, she spoke on Baje Payal that she doesn't love the experience of dancing in the rain on set! 
• Did you know Sridevi didn't much care for live interviews - hence rarely did them? During the peak of her career, she barely did five on TV interviews and begged off appearing on Koffee with Karan, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal and Aap ki Adalat and Vir Sanghvi's show. Finally during Mom promotions, while the others were on hiatus, she appeared with Vir Sanghvi.
• Did you know she was a huge fan of Savitri, Shammi Kapoor and Michael Jackson? 
• Did you know among new gen, Sridevi's favourites included Kajol, Vidya Balan, Kangana Ranaut, Karishma Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone? 
• Sridevi was a great fan of fellow Number One heroines, Rekha, Hema Malini and Vyjanthimala? She considered Rekha and Hemaji the ultimate screen beauties and said of herself, 'Some films, I look OK.' 

Sridevi's favourite; Hema Malini, Rekha and Vyjanthimala

Paintings by Sridevi: 2010: Indian actress's Brush with Fame

Paintings by Sridevi!

Sridevi’s newly developed passion for painting has gone international. Her painting Thoughts has been accepted by a reputed international art auction house. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to Sridevi’s favourite charity.

At the moment, Sridevi is in unwilling to talk about her passion for painting. However, her husband, Boney Kapoor confirms the news and says, “Yes, Sri’s painting has been accepted for an auction by a well-known international art house.

The auction will take place in April and all the money that Sri gets from it will be donated.” Incidentally, this is the first time that the now reclusive actress has made her paintings public.

“Only two friends, Salman Khan, after he was released from the Jodhpur jail, and fashion designer Manish Malhotra, have been gifted a painting each by her. She has been painting religiously for some time now,” says her proud husband.

Boney says his wife spends 4-5 hours a day painting. “It is generally in the evening. After she has finished with household duties and is done with our daughters’ homework, Sri locks herself away to paint,” adds Boney.

“After me and the kids, painting is her main passion. Now her paintings have reached a level of professionalism where they can fetch a handsome price.”

Where does this new passion leave Sridevi’s plans to return to acting? Boney replies, “Sri has been acting since the age of four. She is the only child artiste to have reached the number one position in Hindi films. She will return to acting only when something special comes her way.”



Want to buy an original painting by Sridevi? Click here.

Thoughts
By Sridevi Kapoor
Oil on canvas
2009

UPDATE: Jan 2018

 

Sridevi's portrait of Sonam Kapoor

Sridevi Trivia: Did you know these littl' things about the Indian superstar?

Sridevi Trivia:

Sridevi did her own costumes [aided by Neeta Lulla] for the film Heer Ranjha and was inspired from paintings from the bygone era.

Sridevi has mostly stuck to a team of favourites; Saroj Khan as choreographer, Neeta Lulla and Manish Malhotra as designers, Rakesh Shreshta and Gautam Rajadhyksha her favourite photographers, Mickey Contractor, makeup artist. Pandhari daada did her look and MUA in Chandni. 

Sridevi was the second choice for three of her most memorable acclaimed films: Nagina was Jaya Prada's rejection, Chandni was to be made with Rekha and Sadma with Dimple Kapadia. 

Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor's favourite actor - as of today - is Hrithik Roshan, and actress Priety Zinta. In turn, Priety Zinta's favourite actress is Sridevi. See clip here. Hrithik Roshan has also been a fan of Sridevi.

Sridevi has worked with all the top stars, be it from the 1970s (Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatruhan Singha), '80s (Rishi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor) and even '90s (Shahrukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan).

Sridevi is a big fan of Shammi Kapoor and the dancing of Michael Jackson.

Sridevi's favourite American actresses are Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. When MTV first launched in Mumbai, a VJ called Sri, "The Julia Roberts of Bollywood!" on the set of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja.

Amitabh Bachchan presented the Best Actress award to Sridevi for the film Chaalbaaz. Nearly a decade later, Sridevi presented him the Best Actor award for the film Black [left] to him. 

Sridevi's comeback film Shakti was put on hold when she realised she was pregnant with her second child and asked her favourite actress Kajol to step in. Kajol initially agreed but because of long outdoor shoots and with a newborn baby who couldn't travel, she backed out. Karishma Kapoor stepped in afterwards. The film wasn't as big a hit as expected... but its "item song" with Aishwarya Rai and Shahrukh Khan Ishq Kamina was a super-hit on the charts. 

Sridevi worked with Hrithik Roshan in his first film; Hrithik was a child artist in Bhagwan Daada (dad Rakesh Roshan and Tamil superstar Rajinikanth were the leads).

Sridevi refuses to name her favourite co-star but did acknowledge that Amitabh Bachchan was "the greatest". She worked with Kamal Haasan the most in nearly 27 films. 

Sridevi is petrified of cats. She had to pose for the cover of Cine Blitz with one but told the team after she was frightened! Sridevi has always had dogs as pets. 

Asha Bhosle and Kavita Krishnamurthy sang most of Sridevi's songs, however, Lata Mangeshkar sang all of Sri's most popular numbers. Sridevi herself sang in the superhit, albeit shrill, title song of Chandni with singer Jolly Mukherjee. She has sung several songs in various languages in her own films.  

Though producer/director Yash Chopra worked with all the top actresses of India, in MOVIE magazine (1993 issue), he reportedly said, "Juhi and Madhuri are good. Sridevi's the best".

Sridevi never shied away from acting with younger co-stars including Deepak Malhotra (Lamhe), Aravind Swami (Deva Raagam) and Akshay Kumar (Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin). For photoshoots for Mumbai magazines, Sridevi even posed with Sunil Shetty, Saif Ali Khan and Aamir Khan - though none of these actors shared screen-space with Sridevi on film.

Although Sridevi did many films with Jeetendra (9), Anil Kapoor (9) and Rishi Kapoor (8), it's Kamal Haasan that she did the maximum number of films with; 26-27! 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi were considered to be one of the best on-screen pairs in the number of Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil films they did together. Both were considered versatile actors as well as incredible dancers - and genuine movie stars. Together they did a record 26-27 films together in Tamil, including most memorably perhaps in; 16 Vayathinile, Vazhvemayam, Meendum Kokila, Moondram Pirai and Sigappu Rojakkal. 

People were so enamored by the two, they wondered how they did not fall in love with each other beyond the sets. Years after they appeared on film, Kamal Haasan said in a TV interview that the duo fought often throughout the making of the films and he was a "bully". Whether spoken in jest or seriously, the two superstars were (and remain!) friends. After Sadma was released (and flopped, despite its acclaim) in 1983, the two didn't appear in films together until 1985 when the did their last film together; Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu. Most memorable for its Ilyaraja songs, the two actors should reunite on screen - but alas never did despite several attempts by several producers and directors - including Kamal Haasan. 

Sridevi's an avid painter and only the privileged few have her artistic endeavors hanging on their walls, namely Salman Khan and Manish Malhotra.

Sridevi spells and signs her name as 'Sreedevi' - not Sridevi, Shree Devi, Sri Devi, Shiri Devi etc. Somehow, when credits are written in Hindi films, the name ended up as Sridevi. Well, if the lady herself didn't protest, why should we?! 

When Sridevi first joined the Hindi film industry, she spoke no Hindi so her voice was constantly dubbed by other artists, most notably by yester-year actress Naaz, and Habiba. In 1986, superstar Rekha dubbed for Sridevi in Aakhri Raasta. Rekha and Sridevi were great friends in the 80s. After Chandni, Sridevi started dubbing her own films in Hindi.

Though afraid of crowds, wary of interviews and shy of public speaking, those very close to Sridevi know that she's incredibly funny and warm. In the Stardust, August 1994 issue, Sridevi penned down her favourite things and with tongue firmly in cheek, she responded:

Sridevi: These are few of my favorite things:

I love - This Green planet
I prefer to forget - How we are spoiling this green planet
I dig - Good screen play
I get turned on by - Good screen play
My biggest assets - My family
My sex appeal - My Jeans...er... Genes
My passion - Pomeranian puppies, Pineapple ice-cream, pack time
My greatest necessary - To know if there are make-up rooms in after-life
My sorrow - That there might be no after-life
My most unforgettable moment - Filmfare award for Chaalbaaz
My favorite bedroom line - To the Star I prefer Door-darshan
My strength - To view life from a distance, yet be part of it
My favorite possession - My emotions
My special ability - To do Kathak at the edge of a cleft
My most embarrassing moment - When I fell of the cleft
What bored me most - The ride to the hospital after I fell off
What painted me most - The treatment in the hospital
What I avoid most - Dancing on the cleft / Sly Stallone phone calls
What tires me most - Re-takes in re-make
What touches me most - When re-make is a super-hit
My birthday - Another day closer to the edge

Be away from drugs

With love - Sridevi

Sridevi also loved photography:

Sridevi tells you how it all began…

I used to feel quite bored idling not he sets on in between shots and doing nothing. I’m not terribly fond of reading, especially when I'm working since it breaks my concentration. Photography always fascinated me. So one day I just picked up a camera and went click-click-click!
 

To start with, I had more out of focus and distorted frames than clear pictures. But I learnt through trial and error. 

I took longer learning because I shoot only in natural light and don’t use the flash. Now, I’m quite an expert at my job though I want to buy a more professional camera than the ‘Ricoli’ I’m using presently...

It may seem like an exaggeration but the nation can be divided between Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit fans; each loyal to the respective superstars. Sridevi's own famous fan club however includes: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgan, Manisha Koirala, Shilpa Shetty, Juhi Chawla, Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Urmila, Raveena Tandon, Amrita Arora, Vikas Bhalla, Amrita Singh, Anupam Kher, Asin, Celina Jaitley, Karishma Kapoor, Deepa Sahi, Diya Mirza, Emraan Hashmi, Ganesh (choreographer), Gracy Singh, Isha Koppikar, Mahima Chaudhary, Lara Dutta, Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar, Neeta Lulla, Nana Patekar, Padma Lakshmi, Nagarjuna, Preity Zinta, Madhoo (from the film Roja), Ram Gopal Verma, Rakhi Sawant, Sangeeta Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha, Shekhar Kapoor, Harmesh Malhotra (who at one time ONLY worked with Sridevi), Sonu Sood, Tanisha, Yash Chopra, Vidya Balan, Zayed Khan. 

Also see this fab page on what others say about Sridevi!

Sridevi and Jaya Prada shared a notoriously acerbic relationship. Both hailed from the same region, appeared in Bollywood at roughly the same time. In the initial years, their status quo was iffy. Jaya Prada famously said about Sridevi, "Making faces is not acting." 

Er. Right. And as Sridevi climbed up the ladder of success, Sridevi also famously said about arch-rival, and former friend, Rekha, "When Rekha is ill, there's no one to give her a pill."

Years on, with age and maturity, all three actresses remain cordial at best, un-controversial at worst.

Sridevi reveals her minimum essential make-up kit: La Prairie Platinum cream, some eyeliner and a lip gloss.. She says she believe in minimal make-up. All those gorgeous ladies, go and grab the La Prairie Platinum cream.