Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja

 

Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja

Early 90s in Bollywood... 

Anil Kapoor and Sridevi on the cover of a Hindi tabloid

 

Throwback to the summer of 1993, during the aggressive pre-release promotions of Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor carpet bombed every film magazine cover real estate and gave endless - and mostly the same- interviews. The promotion rigamarole can be exhausting. As Sridevi famously said during Mom film promotions (or was it EV?!) "Picture se dar nahin lagta, promotions se dar lagta hai!"  

Rare photo with Sridevi with her only sister on set: Sreelatha with Sreedevi

On the sets of the sadly shelved and unreleased film Garajna (rumour has it, the entire thing is complete and in a vault somewhere lost in legal battles galore), Sridevi with her younger sister Sreelatha [now Sreelatha Sanjay]. 

There are inaccurate YouTube clips and Instagram posts stating that Sreelatha tried to do films - this is wildly untrue and speculative. Sreelatha married young and early and while she accompanied Sridevi on sets innumerable time (which we've often archived here), at no point has she ever expressed interest or enthusiasm for appearing in films. The very vocal sister of the superstar was opposite of Sridevi, who was press shy. Sreelatha has often shown in the past, she has no qualms about talking to the press. She was/is no wallflower. 

You can follow her on Instagram. She, on occasion, posts rare pics of Sridevi on her account. 

Mohan Babu with Sridevi, wearing Anita Dongre: Telugu Legends on Stage

 

What a face! 

Sridevi wearing Anita Dongre at an event back in Sept 2016. Telugu cine-legend Mohan Babu was celebrating 40 years in the industry when his former co-star arrived to wish him. Sridevi looked so stunning - even he had to comment on her loveliness on stage.

As Sridevi arrived late for the event, the crowds parted like the sea to make room for the legend. You can see the clip on YouTube; it was like royalty appearing in front of the masses and Sridevi truly was a Queen. 

Flashback Friday: Sridevi and Boney Kapoor at the Swarovski party in New Delhi

Flashback Friday: Sridevi and Boney Kapoor at the Swarovski party in New Delhi 

-- April 10, 2000

 

Sridevi and Khushi Kapoor: Sridevi with her children Janvhi Kapoor and Kushi Kapoor

The stylist edit: The purple pleasures of a designer sari 

Khushi Kapoor posts on Instagram rarely seen images of herself with her superstar and legendary mother, the great Sridevi. 

 Above: Janhvi Kapoor, Sridevi and Khushi Kapoor seen at Mumbai airport a decade ago. 

Beautiful Sridevi in a purple chiffon sari

 

The eyes, that gentle smile... 

Anyone recognise which film this look is from?

Comment below.

More of this lookin the archive here.

Sridevi in dance costume: Purple Reign

 Sridevi, 21, in dance costume: Purple Reign 

 From Jaag Utha Insan. 

Sridevi

Ah! One of the few books about Sridevi that she got to witness in person live. 

Bless.

 

Sridevi on screen, Sridevi in still photography

Sridevi on screen, Sridevi in still photography! 

Sridevi being oh-so-cute in the (awful!) film Chaand kaa Tukdaa. 

Mid 1980s Sridevi:

The colours of Bollywood in the mid 1980s; bold, brash, technicolour. 

 

Sridevi with Vidya Balan and Manav Kaul

 

Sridevi with Vidya Balan and Manav Kaul during the promotions of Tumhari Sulu (2017). 

From bags to riches: Sridevi stuns in elegant saris and western wear

A true versatile style icon, the gorgeous Indian actress Sridevi. Be it a floral print Sabyasachi or a purple satin Manish Malhotra, a Maxmara dress or a Valentino ensemble, she was pure elegance. 

Rare still of Sridevi on the sets of Chaalbaaz: Dazzling Indian icon

Rare still of Sridevi on the sets of Chaalbaaz: Dazzling Indian icon 

The image on the right of course we've had in the archive for decades, but that first pic of sparkling Sridevi, from the song Raste Main Woh Kahda Tha... have never seen. Sridevi looks sooo pretty! 

Sridevi

Purple reign!

Sridevi in... anyone recognise which look this film is from? Pls comment below. 

Sridevi as a young model!

Sridevi models for Vimal saris. 

An early proponent of advertising for brands, Sridevi appeared in prominent posters modeling saris since the yearly 1980s. 
 

Sridevi gossip from the 1980s!

Random tidbit about Sridevi from the early days. 

 

Sridevi in dance costume: Purple Reign of a Bollywood Queen

 

The Face of Indian Cinema: Sridevi

The hardest working and certainly one of the most prolific leading ladies, the filmography of Sridevi is staggering. Credit to the great Sridevi that the audience didn't tire of her. Ever. 

 

English Vinglish anniversary: This Day, That Year!

Well, technically, there are two anniversaries for the film; 14 September 2012 (TIFF) and 5 October 2012 (India release).

Either way, here’s to celebrating 12 Years of English Vinglish today! 

I saw the film four times on the big screen thereafter; one with friends, then family, then the office crew and then finally my western friends. 

They alllll fell in love with 'Shashi' ie Sridevi. All the western friends had the same reaction, "Why didn't she leave the husband for the French guy?!!" 

Was a fascinating study of humanity that response; every, single, Western (or I guess Western-minded/modern) person wanted her to leave the marriage for the greener pastures... or so to speak. 

English Vinglish brought Gauri Shinde to our orbit and brought Sridevi back where she belongs; on the big screen. 

Now that its been decade plus, can tell you, absolutely didn't care for the title when I first heard it and had never heard of Gauri... And DAMN did she deliver! And how! The most perfect comeback in the history of Indian cinema and easily the best first film of any film maker... I love how new gen audiences still discover this film with a smile on their face and a tear in their eyes... 

Our entire, comprehensive archive about the film, its cast here. That's over 261 posts and galleries! 

Some highlights;

• Celebrity responses to English Vinglish and Sridevi here.
• Film directors pick their fav film of 2012, English Vinglish is in every list.
• Fan art (the really good ones!) inspired by Sridevi in EV here.
• The all-star premiere of English Vinglish here.
• Raveev ('Rama!') talks about working with 'the' Sridevi and makes her laugh on set here.
• Designer Sabyasachi on working with Sridevi for her look in the film here.

And finally, my cover feature and interview with Sridevi and Gauri Shinde - thank you for making my every dream come true. xx