Smiles to Go: Rishi Kapoor, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor in Gurudev

Rishi Kapoor, Sridevi and Anil Kapoor on the sets of Gurudev 

The Stylist Edit: Sridevi: Jaya Prada

 The stylist edit: Sridevi and Jaya Prada. The "bandini" sari in green and red. 

Remembering Sridevi... every day

 

TBT: Sridevi in 2008

Sridevi, 44, in a print sari at Cinemascapes Third Annual Awards Ceremony. 

Showtime: Dec 1988: Dimple Kapadia, Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna

Showtime: Dec 1988: Dimple Kapadia, Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna

 

Sridevi on the Red Carpet: A look back at some of her best moments with the papz

Be it a feathered gown or a dazzling Sabya sari... Sridevi rocked the stage and red carpet like no one else. 

Sridevi and Jaya Prda in a photo essay for Star & Style: Together at Last

Young Sridevi in Tamil and Telugu films

Anyone recognise the look/sari/styling? Any idea which film? Pls help us by commenting below with the correct answers. 

After Khuda Gawah, did you know Manoj Desai wanted Amitabh Bachchan to direct Sridevi?!

Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan with Sridevi
at the premiere of Khuda Gawah, 
May 8, 1992 

Well, it was a rumour in the early 90s, after the stupendous success of Khuda Gawah that film producer Manoj Desai wanted Amitabh Bachchan to direct a film - with Big B and Sridevi in the lead... 

Ah. One can imagine... and dream...  

When other stars fan out at Sridevi: Telugu stars in Malaysia

Sridevi at SIIMA 2014, Day 2 in Malaysia! Even her co-stars fanned out at Sridevi. 

Khusbhoo, Radhika, Sridevi and Chiranjeevi - with the host of SIIMA. 

More in the archive here. 

Fan art: Sridevi in English Vinglish

Delhi based artist, Puneet Sharma, captures a defining moment from the film English Vinglish; Sridevi in her triumphant role and the performance India's been talking about all year.

The Stylist Edit: The Yellow Sari, Pearl Necklace combo

Leaning heavily on the phrase, "If it ain't broke... " Sridevi repeats a look, if not the sari per se. Sridevi in a signature monochrome sari, this time its yellow chiffon with pearl accessories. Pretty, so pretty! 

 

Sridevi in Nigahein: The First Superheroine

Sridevi’s iconic performance in Nagina, often remembered alongside its 1989 sequel Nigahen, firmly established her as Bollywood’s premier modern day superheroine. She effortlessly channeled supernatural shapeshifting - reminiscent of Mystique from the X-Men - combining extraordinary sight, uncanny speed, and an aura commanding enough to stop a crowd of men in their tracks. On and off the screen, she carried an undeniable, larger-than-life presence. 

Released shortly before Chandni (1989), Nigahein (1989) captured Sridevi at the absolute zenith of her physical charm and dramatic prowess. While Fearless Nadia - an Australian-born actress who famously starred in Hunterwali (1935) - pioneered the action-heroine archetype in early Indian cinema, her legacy remains obscure to most modern audiences. By contrast, Sridevi brought the female-led fantasy genre into mainstream pop culture.

Although Nigahein initially received tepid reviews from critics, audiences embraced it immediately. Made on a modest budget, the film recovered its costs within days and went on to become profitable, if not a blockbuster like its predecessor Nagina. 

Above: All images have been AI modified and enhanced

Sridevi and NTR on the cover of Sunday magazine

Wow, there was a time in Indian cinema history when Sridevi was on the cover of a magazine and the editors thought not to even name her!! Just NTR  "with heroine!"

Well, back then Sridevi was just 19, her famous co-star was 60 - and making headlines as he jumped from cinema to the political bandwagon, cashing in on his wild popularity in Andhra. 

They say star power is power; well, political power is real power in India. The more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Sridevi: Model Actress: An Actress who Modeled

 

So sari Sridevi

 

Sridevi's elegance in a sari... 

Manish Malhtora saris... But the middle one might be a Sabya... 

Perfection = Sridevi in an ivory Sabyasachi embroidered sari

 

Back in December 2015, Sridevi attended Jaya Prada's nephew's wedding in an ivory Sabyasachi sari - surprising the other actress' clan that she accepted the invitation, considering the famed feud between the two for years. Well, she arrived in full glam, looking better than ever. She dwarfed short and heavier Jaya reminding all of the grand strides Devi made, while leaving her competition in the dust... 

Just sayin'... 

There are no permanent relationships in Bollywood, no enemies, no friends, no relationships. 

More in the archive here.

Sridevi

When Sridevi made a return to stage after taking a self-imposed hiatus. Presenting the Best Actor award at Filmfare to Shahrukh Khan for Dil toh Paagal Hai in 1998. 

Dazzling in her favourite kanjeevaram and traditional temple jewellery. 

Sridevi in Karma: Jackie Shroff and Sridevi in the biggest hit of 1986

 

Released on August 8, 1986, Karma, the action thriller directed by Subhash Ghai features an ensemble cast including Dilip Kumar, Nutan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Sridevi (as Radha), Poonam Dhillon, and Anupam Kher. 

This was the biggest hit of 1986 by a mile. 

Do note, the above collage has been ai modified - colour added in and sharpened as the original was a newspaper scan. 

40 Year Anniversary of Subash Ghai's Karma : Sridevi in 1986's biggest blockbuster

"Showman" Subhash Ghai’s action-drama Karma, released on August 8, 1986, stood tall as the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. Unfolding as a sweeping, patriotic epic, the film pitted veteran Dilip Kumar against (relative newcomer!) Anupam Kher’s iconic villain Dr. Dang, supported by a star-studded ensemble featuring Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sridevi, Poonam Dhilloon. To combat the rampant video cassette piracy of the 1980s, Ghai mounted the production in grand 70mm with six-track stereophonic sound, driving audiences into packed theaters to experience its massive cinematic scale. Ghai was a fine director, but perhaps an even more astute busienss man - they don't call it show'bizz' for nothing. 

Central to the film’s immense draw was, in our opinion obviously, Sridevi, who by 1986 had achieved an unprecedented reign over Indian cinema. Commanding remuneration on par with her top male counterparts, she proved her supreme versatility across drama, comedy, and iconic dance numbers. Beyond Karma, 1986 was a career-defining year marked by four major Hindi blockbusters: the snake-fantasy Nagina, which established her solo box-office clout; the hit revenge-drama Aakhree Raasta alongside Amitabh Bachchan; and Feroz Khan’s Janbaaz, where her iconic extended appearance stole the entire show. 

Despite Karma’s remarkable commercial victory, it remained the sole collaboration between Sridevi and Subhash Ghai. Ghai was a director who preferred total control over his productions, increasingly favouring younger proteges—like Madhuri Dixit in Ram Lakhan and Manisha Koirala in Saudagar—whom he could easily mold to his directorial vision. Sridevi, meanwhile, was riding a wave of solo stardom with female-centric classics like Mr. India, ChaalBaaz, and Chandni, leading her to strictly prioritise author-backed scripts. 

When Ghai later approached her for a brief role in Yaadein (2001), she ultimately declined because the character lacked real substance. She was supposed to be paired with Jackie Shroff again, which would have been an interesting watch. BTW Yaadein currently is trending on social media, the film is being rehashed and discussed by new generation on Instagram and let me state, the movie is as hollow as the attempt to revive it. Great music, choreography - and innumerable cringe moments as Ghai slowly, but surely loses his deft hand in direction.   

Rumours have it that Ghai couldn't communicate well with monosyllabic Sridevi on the sets of Karma, and Sridevi didn't like doing films where she had little to do in an ensemble film, so the two never really worked together again after Karma - thus it remains their first and final film together.

1. We have a huge gallery of features and images from the film Karma here. 
2. Subash Ghai with Sridevi over the years here.
3. Jackie Shroff with Sridevi here.

The Karma posters - Sridevi's sensuous amrapali outfit in all-black and dazzling gold jewellery was such a rage in the 80s... 

Now Subash Ghai, a famously ineloquent speaker in English but a thinker none-the-less, always had rather bizarre tags. Love Brings Alive... Karma. Um.. really?!