Sridevi and Sobhan Babu in the Telugu film in Kaksha (1980)

Sridevi and Sobhan Babu in the Telugu film Kaksha (1980). The film was a blockbuster in the early 1980s. 

Released on 28 March, 1980

Sridevi in Sri Ranga Neethulu (1983)

Sridevi and her red car.

Sridevi in Sri Ranga Neethulu (1983) 

Sridevi in Vetagaadu (1979) with NTR: She was barely 16, he was 56!

Sridevi and NTR in the Telugu blockbuster Vetagaadu released on 5 July, 1979. 

At the time of the film's release, Sridevi was had just turning 16--her co-star was already 56! Legend has it that the producers were not convinced with K. Raghavendra Rao's choice of the female lead being Sridevi because she was so painfully young. Rao convinced N. T. Rama Rao, that the talented teen Sridevi would be a popular choice and work for the masses. Clearly something clicked; Vetagaadu was the highest grossing Telugu film of 1979 - the second highest grossing Telugu film of all time in the 1970s. 

Sridevi in the Telugu film Kaksha (1980)

Sridevi in the Telugu film Kaksha (1980). The film was a huge hit in the early 1980s. 

Released on 28 March, 1980

Sridevi in the Telugu film Sri Ranga Neethulu (1983)

 

Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sridevi in the Telugu film Sri Ranga Neethulu (1983). 

Released on 13 September 1983, today is the 37th anniversary of this massive hit. 

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in the Tamil film Guru (1980):

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in the Tamil film Guru (1980). Made in Tamil and Telugu 40 years ago today, the movie was a major success.  

The Tamil version of the film was released on 18 July 1980; the Telugu version a day later. Both were critically and commercially successful. 

Funnily enough, in retrospect, Kamal Haasan has been critical of the film, calling it utter "crap"! 

Sridevi was all of 17 when she did the film and wore the teen fashion of the time - whatever was in trend in the late 1970s ipso facto the short shorts, the tops with piping and the bright technicolour. 

Early on she liked wearing white saris on screen. 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Vazhvey Maayam (1982)

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the Tamil film Vazhvey Maayam (1982)

The movie was a major success at the box-office.

Sridevi in Makutamleni Maharaju (1987)

Sridevi in Makutamleni Maharaju (1987)

Sri loved a sari - esp a traditional Kanjeevaram. 

Sridevi in the Telugu film Ramarajyamlo Bheemaraju (1983)

Sridevi in Ramarajyamlo Bheemaraju (1983). 

This Telugu blockbuster had Sridevi with her most frequent co-star Krishna. 

Released on 28 July 1983

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)

Tamil cinema's superstars and legends, Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Sigappu Rojakkal. 

Released on 28 October 1978, the psychological thriller was an iconic film and box office smash.

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the 1978 Tamil blockbuster Sigappu Rojakkal! 

Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborthy on the sets of Waqt ki Awaz (1988)

Rare images of Mithun Chakraborthy and Sridevi on the sets of the Hindi film Waqt ki Awaaz (1988). One of the three blockbusters the two delivered. 

Sridevi was strongly against kissing on screen so these gentle cheek peck exchanges between Mithun and Sridevi - was about as touchy-feely as Sri got on screen. 

Above: The only handful of times Sridevi kissed on screen - that too, only on the cheek. In the song Ladki Akeli Tu Bhi Akela from the film Waqt Ki Awaaz (1987)