Gorgeous Sridevi in white: Balidaan (1985)

 Sridevi in white - luminescent. 

The perfect chaand face... 

From a scene in Balidaan (1985) 

Pretty in Pink: Teen queen Sridevi on the sets of Kalaakaar (1983)

Pretty in Pink: Teen queen Sridevi on the sets of Kalaakaar (1983). Sridevi was 19 when she shot the film. 

 

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988)

27 years of Laadla: Sridevi's iconic role from the 90s

Released on March 17, 1994, today is Laadla's 27th anniversary. Though she didn't have the title role, though it had 90s 'it' gal Raveena Tandon, though it had Anil Kapoor with the long misogynistic monologues... all people remember about that movie is Sridevi's performance. 

Its a divisive performance; some people loved it, the finger-wagging "You better Understand" definitely played to the gallery, the constant repetition of the catch phrase was popular on one hand....  On the other, its a bit OTT. Well, it's really over-the-top. In the wake of the subtle perfection of Lamhe, reviews were decidedly mixed. 

What wasn't mixed - the box-office reception; it was the seventh biggest hit of 1994. 

8 million views! Sridevi site stats

Sridevi, portrait by Rakesh Shreshta. Styled by Manish Malhotra in the early 90s. 

Though its now been over two years since Sridevi passed, we are still crossing over 8,000,000+ views. 

Sridevi wearing a Sabya saree

Sridevi wearing a while lace-y Sabyasachi Mukherjee sari at the Mumbai premiere of English Vinglish.

More from this event in the archives here.

Sridevi with Kajal Aggarwal: On stage at SIIMA 2013

TBT: Sridevi presents the Best Actress Award to Kajal Aggarwal, SIIMA 2013.

Manish Malhotra remembers Sridevi on her death anniversary

Two years after her untimely death, its interesting to note ow fickle Bollywood is that many either forgot or didn't bother to remember Sridevi on her death anniversary, apart from her immediate family and the odd one or two celebs.

We were not surprised that her best friend, long-time associate designer Manish Malhotra posted this previously unseen picture of Sridevi.

Reminded of Kaagaz ke Phool, a look at the fickle film industry that forgets one's own so quickly...

UPDATE:

Sridevi's friend and co-star of four films, actress Poonam Dhillon remembered Sri on her death anniversary with below post on instagram:

poonam_dhillon_
Verified
#nostalgia-series .
—- so sharing some moments of films , co-actors & friends through the years . Starting Today with the supremely talented beautiful @sridevi.kapoor who was #magiconscreen #gorgeous #beautifuleyes #amazingdancer #softspoken !! Her presence & grace is missed . Can’t believe 2 years since we lost this jewel of Film industry !

Sridevi on the red carpet: Sridevi and Boney Kapoor at Filmfare

Sridevi and Boney Kapoor at the Filmfare Award Show.

Sridevi attended Filmfare Awards show in a black gown from Kuwait based label, Ali Younes Couture. She looked exquisite, glamorous, sensuous, age-appropriate, chic and elegant. 

January 2017

 

Sridevi in Laadla (1994): Bollywood 90s hit

Sridevi in Laadla. Mixing pink satin and black lace, the robe and gauzy gown for the song was meticulously created for the seduction song in the film. Sridevi was so particular about her wardrobe on screen she had designers meet her at every available hour during her busy schedule and they worked around the clock to ensure what appeared on screen was exactly as meant to be.

? and Sridevi

The State of Lace: Sridevi

Sridevi portraits by the great Gautam Rajadhyaksha

Sridevi stuns in a white sari...

I remember watching this on TV and the spontaneous burst of applause when Sridevi arrived, looking ethereal in a white sari - as she always did. So stunning, so beautiful Sridevi looks.

Sridevi on the sets of Laadla. Bride or Vixen, both with equal ease

 

Despite the kowtow-to-patriarchy ending, Sridevi was stellar in Laadla. Must confess, was not a huge fan upon initial viewing - hang on before you pelt your stones Sridevi fans - as after the supreme high of Lamhe (be it in acting, dialogues, cinematography, music, choreography), Laadla was a bit of a let-down in execution. It was a little gaudy, it didn't have the polish of Sridevi's previous film. 

The music and choreography was just OK, the costumes were a little garish (The silver costume, Tina-Turner wig, the high-camp makeup and the silver-brass Thai dancer nails in Mere Ghulam, Tera Qatal e-aam is a no go), the systematic adherence to patriarchy (the basic man good, headstrong woman bad motif throughout) and the role of the ideal woman shown as a domestic haan-ji yes-sir tiffian-carrying wife is cringe beyond belief, and sure as hell jars now in 2018!

Moving on...

Made after the tragic demise of Divya Bharathi (hence the final edit was a bit hodgepodge), but the OTTness of the movie vs the subtle perfection of Lamhe had us underwhelmed.

Purely on entertainment basis, the movie works. It plays to the gallery - especially the dialogues, the masochism, sexism, there are many scene-stealing moments for the leads and Sridevi and Anil Kapoor are so immensely watchable, no matter what they're doing on film. 

Sridevi's iconic dialogue ("You understand, you better understand") was repeated so often it could have been a chore...  but note, she does it in different ways throughout the film. The scene where she burns down her own car will have you glued to the screen... Its her finest time on film. 

The movie was a bona fide hit with the masses, while Lamhe was a class apart. Worth watching for Sridevi and Sridevi alone. She takes over the entire film leaving others in her dust. 

Laadla was released theatrically on March 25, 1994. The film grossed ₹11 crore domestically, becoming the seventh highest grossing Hindi film of 1994. Sridevi's performance as Sheetal Jaitley was widely acclaimed and earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

East or West, Sridevi's the Best!

Two incredible looks in as many weeks, Sridevi is just... beyond beautiful! Be it an eastern ethos or western silhouette, she stuns in both. Not many of her contemporaries... if any... can pull it off with such ease and elegance.

Sridevi and Janhvi Kapoor at Manish Malhotra's house party for Suzy Menkes: Actress stuns in Oscar de la Renta. Again.

Veteran fashion writer and International Editor of Vogue Suzy Menkes landed in Mumbai last week...but more importantly, we finally have the first glimpse of Sridevi in 2017!

In honour of Menkes, celebrity designer and indeed 'the' designer to the stars Manish Malhotra hosted a glam dinner at his residence. His oft muse Sridevi arrived with her eldest daughter Jhanvi in tow.

For the fashion followers; Sridevi wore a white Oscar De La Renta top. Her grey Hermès Kelly clutch and snake-skin Louboutin completed her elegant look.

• manishmalhotra05#AllAboutLastNight #AtHome #Dinner #legend @suzymenkesvogue @vogueindia . Here with my most favourite #iconic @sridevibkapoor #young #pretty #cool #JanviKapoor and @suzymenkesvogue

suzymenkesvogue

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suzymenkesvogueSridevi Kapoor and daughter Jhanvi at the party in my honour by #Bollywood's fashion design super star Manish Malhotra #manishmalhotra #suzyinmumbai @vogueindia #bollywoodfashion #sridevi @sridevi.kapoor PICTURE CREDIT ROHAN HANDE@rohande