Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja

Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja: 90s pre-release publicity shoot with the two leads. 

The images used for the audio cover. The number of photoshoots for the film was staggering - esp as the movie was in production for so long. 

Sridevi in Nagina: One of the biggest hits of the 1980s in Bollywood

Released in 1986... Sridevi in Nagina

Iconic stills from one of the biggest blockbusters in Bollywood!

Click on the images ot enlarge. 

Rare pic: Rishi Kapoor with Sridevi in Banjaran

Yet another title role AND a double-role for Sridevi. 

Harmesh Malhotra's appreciation for his leading lady was famously in print, and he bet the house on Sri offering her a film every year from the days of Nagina. Some she accepted, others she rejected. But the relationship of mentor and muse remained intact. She spoke highly of the producer/director and vice versa. 

Rare pic: Rishi Kapoor with Sridevi in Banjaran 

Sridevi in and as Chandra Mukhi: Elaborate costumes by Neeta Lulla

 

The costumes of Chandra Mukhi are a mix of what was in contemporary fashion in the early 90s + with an element of fantasy. Some of the more elaborate pieces were all by Neeta Lulla.

Eternal Chandni: Sridevi

Eternal Chandni: Sridevi 

Sridevi in and as Sherni (1988)

The way algorithms work on the net, the first Sherni that comes up is the newer Vidya Balan film that released in 2021. For Sridevi fans of course, there's only one Sherni, her 1988 Harmesh--Nagina--Malhotra producer/director-made film. To be honest, Vidya's movie is much better, more thoughtful and a far more serious movie compared to the ill-executed predecessor, Sherni with Sridevi. Sridevi herself disliked the film and almost never spoke about it. Most of the budget went on her fees, not in the writing, cinematography, costumes, dances, music or... well, you get the gist.

There are several moments were Sridevi shines in scenes and songs but she was greater than the film she was in, trying to rescue a losing battle. Alas.

Online legend has it--and lets take that with a pinch of salt--that the film started long before Nagina but was going nowhere and shelved. Nagina became a surprise blockbuster which suddenly made the proposition of Sherni (with almost the exact same team), a more exciting proposition for exhibitors and a rushed job hit the cinemas.  
 

 

Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi in Banjaran

 

Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi in Banjaran 

Rare poster from thr film - how pretty Sridevi looks. 

Sridevi in and as Sherni (1988)

Released on 13 May 1988, Sherni had Leonine Sridevi in the title role.  

As a village belle protagonist who takes revenge against the dacait antagonists, Sridevi rarely played victim and showed agency both in professional, personal and cine-life. She didn't need rescuing on the big-screen often, she took up arms to defend herself. 

TBH not a great film by any measure but a movie running on the steam of a young 25-year-old superstar had its moments. 

Staggeringly beautiful Sridevi in and as Chandni (1989): Facing another icon Waheeda Rehman

Staggeringly beautiful Sridevi in and as Chandni (1989)
 

Sridevi postcards on sale on ebay

Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran, Gurudev, Chandni, her Tamil films and other postcards on sale on ebay.

Note her preference of monochrome over print and multiple colours. She knew what looked good and timeless in front of the camera.  

Below: well, this painting of Sri's... ok... 

 

Sridevi reigned Supreme: Gorgeous Indian actress on the sets of Banjaran

 

Beauty in pink: Sridevi in and as Chandni (1989)

We have over 200 posts about Sridevi in Chandni here.

Features, gallery, reviews and more. 

 

Sridevi in Chaalbaaz (1989)

Rumour has it Yash Chopra thought Sridevi deserved the Best Actress win for Chandni, not Chaalbaaz, but the popular vote was for the double-role. 

Either way, 1989 was the apex of Sridevi's supernova status in Bollywood. 
 

Sridevi in and as Sherni (1988): Another title role for Harmesh Malhotra's favourite muse and movie star

Sridevi in and as Sherni (1988): Another title role for Harmesh Malhotra's favourite muse and movie star. 

There are several moments where she shines, but overall the film is... a mess. 

Celebrating Chaalbaaz: Sridevi's tour-de-force double act: Anju aur Manju!

Released on December 8, 1989, the momentum of Chandni released a few months earlier propelled this movie--which originally had limited buzz btw--into box-office gold. Chaalbaaz was ONE OF SEVEN Hindi films Sridevi appeared in back '89! Was a great year to be a Sridevi mega-fan, cause damn, did she deliver. 

Sridevi's tour-de-force double act aged beautifully, she's so freaking good in both the tragic parts and comedy, but of course she went on to win awards, acclaim, famous fans, captivated audiences and critics alike (although there were some snarky notes that we've seen it all before via Hema Malini in Seetha aur Geetha, Dilip Kumar in Ram aur Shyam - I mean this film could just as easily have been called Anju aur Manju!). Apart from the rushed ending of the film, there's something so cool about the movie - the sharp edits, the title sequence, the song and dance originality... there was just something magical that so many in the cast and crew did some of their best work in the movie. 

Sridevi 's gypsy rose coloured outfit: Banjaran: The Diwali release of 1991

It was the Diwali release of 1991 and the wild colours, song and dance routines, the festive mood, massive dance troupe, a predictable reincarnation storyline with the usual tropes (revenge, deja vu, paintings of Sridevi!)... rarely do Diwali movies tank. This technicolour musical fared well at the box-office despite a lukewarm reception by all critics. 

Despite being a flawed film in many ways, the audiences went wild for the return of the Nagina team; Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi and the cast and crew that included producer/director Harmesh Malhotra, music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal, lyrcist Anand Bakshi, choreographer Saroj Khan, singers Lata Mangeshkar, Anuradha Paudwal, Suresh Wadkar and so on and on.

It's fun to watch - the music is a bit loud - but for a weekend viewing to see Indian stars who were larger than life... roll up on a couch with a comforting cup. 

Released on 8 November 1991 

Left: The costume designers were all over the place and so were Sridevi's outfits. Before the department was streamlined for a cohesive look. 

Glad Neeta Lulla and Manish Malhotra and others found fame and recognition in due course. Leena Daru is one of the few I wish got more media love. She did a lot of work in creating looks with the superstars of their time, especially Rekha, Hema Malini and Sridevi. The holy South Indian trinity of B'wood. 

• More images from Banjaran here.
• Sridevi celebrating Diwali over the years here
• Sridevi in pink here. 

Sridevi: Queen of the Title Role: Bollywood's Ultimate Leading Lady and her unprecedented 11 Title Roles

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but probably not, but Sridevi had more title roles as a leading lady than any of her contemporaries, competitors, predecessors and successors. Off the top of our head, well, from our comprehensive site anyway, Sridevi's most memorable title roles are;

1. Nagina (1986)
2. Sherni (1988)
3. Nigahein (1989)
4. Chaalbaaz (1989)
5. Chandni (1989)
6. Banjaran (1991)
7. Heer Ranjha (1992)
8. Roop ki Rani, Choron ka Raja (1993)
9. Chandra Mukhi (1993)
10. Chaand kaa Tukdaa (1994)
11. Mom (2017)

And this doesn't even include her Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam films. If anyone would like to help out with that, pls list below! 

Sridevi's top billing for Chaand Kaa Tukdaa: 90s

For a leading lady to have about the title placement, for higher billing than the 'hero', and of all stars, Salman Khan no less, is a reminder to current gen how massive a star she was. Sridevi's power, aura, oversized stardom eclipsed many of her co-stars (much to their voluble chagrin) and she went about her ways with such elegant ease. 

Chaand kaa Tukdaa was... just God-awful. Tbh, the earlier Salman-Saawan Kumar Tak collab, Sanam Bewafaa, wasn't particularly great either but luck favoured the film and it went on to be a massive success - that same luck didn't extend to this catastrophe. 

Some of the songs live on and in parts the leads looked great. Less said the better. 

Released on this date 30 years ago. 

Sridevi in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994)

Sridevi in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994). Released 30 years ago today. 

More from this look in the archive here.

The still and the quote: Sridevi

Film Companion posted this still. You know the quote - and the different still of film. Can you name both? Comment below. 

Be it her first Hindi film or last, the title role always belonged to her.