Rare photo of Sridevi: Styled by Neeta Lulla, Photography by Rakesh Shreshta

A rarely seen photograph of Sridevi from the late 90s, styled by Neeta Lulla, photographed by Rakesh Shreshta. Yes, a real pic - if its fake or AI, I will always, ALWAYS, label it as such. 

More from this photoshoot in the archives here and here.

Sridevi: The Face of pan-Indian cinema

A simple pink salwar kameez, minimal accessories, but that luminous face. We've long stated she was/is/forever will be the face of Indian cinema. 

Can you recognise the two looks from two disparate films?! 

Rare photo of Sridevi on the sets of Gumrah

 Gorgeous Sridevi ont eh sets of Gumrah. 

Stunning Sridevi in Nigahein (1989)

 

The uncredited as such but Sridevi was a superhero in Nigahein - she stopped bullets, saved the guy - not the other way around, was a magical shape-shifter...  She fought her own battles, didn't need a man, the hero, to rescue her.  It was also indicative of her life off-screen, she didn't need a big hero in her film - she was the highlight of several title/double roles for a reason. She was the great Sridevi. 

And my god she looked incredible in the movie. Have seen this film umpteen times just to see Sridevi in all her glory and gorgeousness. 

Cover girl: Mayapuri: Sridevi

Sridevi looks so much like Bhanupriya here or Bhanupriya has been styled to look like Sridevi so often in the 1980s... 

This cover shoot of Sridevi in Mayapuri magazine, the off shoulder dress and the hair band accessoriy... 

The 80s makeup and styling... 

Sridevi in Devatha:

Released on 4 September 1982, Telugu film Devatha (Goddess) was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, starring Sobhan Babu, Sridevi, Jaya Prada and Mohan Babu. The film was seen across the Hindi belt with Jeetendra as Tohfa, a frame-by-frame remake that ended up being the biggest hit of 1984!  

The film was produced by D. Rama Naidu and was key in establishing the formulaic business model of quick Madras movie remakes. 

The story of two sisters and their love triangle with a man, of sacrifice and loyalty, with chart topping numbers is easy viewing. K. Raghavendra Rao remade the film in Hindi as Tohfa (1984), with both Sridevi and Jaya Prada reprising their roles. It was also remade in Tamil as Deiva Piravi (1985) with a different cast. .

Sridevi was just 19 when she shot the film - and so staggeringly beautiful. 

 

In royal purple: Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah

 In royal purple: Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah 

Sridevi in pink: Classic 80s fashion, makeup for Cine Blitz

A serious throwback; April 1989, Cine Blitz cover shoot. the glamour of the 80s - the entire series of pics in the archive here. 

Sridevi imprisoned! The actress stuns in Gumrah (1993)

 

Sridevi: The Face of pan-Indian cinema

 

Rare image and extreme close up of Sridevi getting ready for a photoshoot at Rakesh Shreshta's studio.

The final images were a centrefold for MOVIE magazine - in the archive here.

Dazzling Sridevi: Indian icon

 

Stunning Sridevi in Jaag Utha Insan

 

Sridevi, 20, in the Hindi film Jaag Utha Insan. Released on 6 July 1984, this lovely Hindi film is easily the most underrated and rarely seen movies. Legend has it that, according to film writer Rajesh Subramanian, Jaya Prada (the director's favourite) was the first choice but since her dates were committed and clashed with Prakash Mehra's Sharaabi, Sridevi was signed to play the female lead. 

Sridevi worked in the film (and cut her considerable price) to work with the legend K. Viswanath. Sharaabi went on to be a big hit, and Jaya Prada got a few scenes and songs out of it. Jaag Utha Insan was a serious affair that tanked at the box-office and ignited much speculation and rumours about the lead stars, Mithun and Sridevi. Rumours that have refused to die till date!

Sridevi's cover shot from Cine Blitz: August 1991

Sridevi, 28, poses for Ashok Salian. The cover shot of Cine Blitz back in August 1991. The background has been AI modified by... someone. 

The real pics along with the cover story, are in the archive here.

Sridevi in Lamhe

So many expressions and beauty - Sridevi in Meri Bindiya... 

And to cap that was this memroable scene.... 

What an actor she was. 

 

Sridevi

A digitally enhanced, modified image of Sridevi from a film screengrab. 

Anyone recognise which film?! 

Sridevi in the Hindi film Army (1996)

 

Sridevi, 32, in the Hindi film Army (1996).  

The face card on this icon... Those eyes, the perfect slips, not a hair out of place.. 

Many credited Shahrukh Khan for the astounding opening weekend numbers - Khan, fresh off the success of DDLJ was the hottest property around. However, do note, it was Sridevi's performance that held the movie together. Give credit, where its due. 

Sridevi as a bride in Jaag Utha Insan (1984)

The trouble with Ai-- be it Gemini, Grok or what have you -- is that when it does image corrections, it overcorrects to the point of non-recognition. Unless the prompt is just right and accurate, and done without laze and constant edit that reverts to the original face of the star, it looks like an alternate cousin. of the original. But not the original.

The above image was a newspaper scan, and colour corrected and restored by Gemini. 

Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan in Khuda Gawah

Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan in Khuda Gawah 

Released on 8 May 1992, one of the grand epic Hindi films released in the 1990s. 

Sridevi and her peacock feather

 

The South Indian Goddess who once ruled Indian cinema

Though she was no exponent of Bharatanatyam, or a trained dancer, she had to dance parts of it in several films - like here in Kalaakar. 

With her expressive face and large eyes, and her long limbs and graceful feminine poses, she danced on screen like she was trained - even though famously she wasn't. As she mentioned on Baaje Paayal. Wish I had saved that full episode - only parts of it are now left online.