Sridevi: It's a Sadma, but Chandni's Lamhe would never be forgotten

From charming and comic ‘hawa hawai’ and sensuous 'kaate nahin kat te’ act in Mr India to romantic dramas like Chandni and Lamhe to loss of memory in Sadma, Sridevi has defined stardom by transforming simple roles to stellar performances.

Sridevi was the first female versatile Bollywood star in true sense in terms of stardom and pay-packet in this largely male-dominated Bollywood.

As a child artiste to a star, she has ruled as queen in the hearts of millions of Indian fans – because of her performances in Hindi, Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam films.

Her comic-timing and dance numbers are still considered best and have entered text books of Indian cinema.  She was a favourite among movie-goers and critics, alike.

She died just 54, but leaves behind five decades of acting – and she had worked in most of the big actors and filmmakers including Yash Chopra, the czar of romantic triangulars – where she was cast in Lamhe opposite Anil Kapoor and Chandni opposite Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor.

With Shekar Kapur, she performed  a classy role against Anil Kapoor and several kids in Mr India, a film that cuts across generations.

Sridevi made her debut as a heroine in Hindi films in Solva Sawan in 1979. Four years later she was signed to star opposite Jeetendra in Himmatwala. She had Jeetendra went on to act in 17 films including  Tohfa (1984), Balidaan (1985), Suhagan(1986), Ghar Sansar (1986), Dharm Adhikari (1986), Aulad (1987), Sone Pe Suhaaga (1988). The 3 flops of the pair were Sarfarosh (1985),Aag Aur Shola (1986).

Sadma released in 1983, brought Sridevi  - in which she paired opposite Kamal Hassan – brought her critical acclaim. It was remake of her Tamil film Moondram Pirai.

Sridevi also had successful pairing with Rajesh Khanna in films such as Naya Kadam (1984), Maqsad (1984), Masterji (1985) and Nazrana (1987).

In 1986, came the snake fantasy Nagina which saw Sridevi play an 'ichhadhaari naagin'.
In 1989, in Chaalbaaz, she paired with Rajnikanth and Sunny Deol.

In 1992, Sridevi starred in the epic Khuda Gawah opposite Amitabh Bachchan. The actress played a double role again as an Afghani warrior Benazir and her daughter Mehendi. The film is still popular in Afghanistan.

Her 1993 release Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, however, failed in box office. But in Gumrah opposite Sanjay Dutt – she bounced back.
 
Family
Born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan to Tamil father Ayyapan and Telugu mother Rajeswari, she emerged as a child artiste. In 1996, Sridevi married Boney Kapoor, a film producer who is also the elder brother of actors Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor. They have two daughters, Jahnvi and Khushi.
 
Post-marriage
Several years after marriage, she worked in Sahara sitcom Malini Iyer (2004–2005). She made a comeback with English Vinglish in 2011 – and she was hailed Sridevi as the "Meryl Streep of India. next seen in her home production titled Mom.
 
 
Child actor to Diva
Sridevi started her career as a child actor at the age of four in the Tamil movie Thunaivan
 
In 1976, Sridevi started her first leading role in the Tamil film Moondru Mudichu directed by K. Balachander. She followed it with a number of films with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth
 
In 1981, she starred in the Tamil film Meendum Kokila which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. In 1982, Sridevi starred in Moondram Pirai playing a woman suffering from amnesia and went on to win the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress.
 
Sridevi's notable Telugu films include Konda Veeti Simham, Kshana Kshanam, Vetagadu, Sardar Paparayudu and Bobbili Puli. With A. Nageswara Rao, she appeared in movies such as Mudulla Koduku, Premabhishekham, Bangaru Kanuka and Premakanuka as well as Kanchu Kagada
 
Her performance in the 1992 Ram Gopal Varma directed Kshana Kshanam won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and Andhra's Nandi Award for Best Actress.
 
In the eighties, Sridevi’s link up with Mithun Chakraborty appeared in gossip magazines.
 
Sridevi is among the first actress in Bollywood, who accepted the fact that she was expecting before marriage. She tied the knot with Boney Kapoor when she was seven months pregnant.
 
Awards Sridevi had received six Filmfare Awards over the years, and in 2013 was conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.