Actress Sridevi dies in Dubai, Telugu Film Industry in shock

Though Sridevi was born in Tamil Nadu, the silver screen diva has countless admirers in Telugu state. The Telugu film industry, with which she has over two decades of association, is in deep shock and mourned her sudden demise.

Sridevi entered Telugu film industry as a child artist in movie "Maa Nanna Nirdoshi" and acted with stalwarts such as NT Rama Rao, A. Nageswara Rao, Sobhan Babu, Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh.

The South Indian star shot to fame with the Telugu super hit movie "Padaheralla Vayasu", a remake of Bhratiraja's Tamil blockbuster "Padanaaru Vayadanile." There was no looking back since then as she was paired with the leading Tollywood heroes.

 

Subsequently, she moved to Bollywood in the late 1980s where she made a mark for herself with a series of super hits. Her comeback Tollywood film "Kshana Kshanam", directed by Ram Gopal Varma, earned her accolades and a Filmfare award.

 

She was one of the most sought-after heroines and worked with several leading directors of the time like Dasari Narayana Rao and K Raghavendra Rao and her major hits include "Vetagaadu", "Sardar Paparayudu", "Bhooloka Veerudu, Atiloka Sundari", "Premaabhishekam" and "Kaarthika Deepam".

 

Sridevi was born on 13 August 1963 as Sriammayyangar Ayyapan in Sivakasi of Tamil Nadu. In 1967, she made a debut as a  child artiste in Tamil movie "Kandan karunay." In 1976, she got a break to work with ace director K Balachandar along with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in "Moondru Mudichu". She got a  break in Telugu film industry through Padaharella Vayasu which was made in Hindi as Solva Savan.

 

"With her death Telugu film industry lost a versatile actor, several characters she depicted in many films would be remembered forever," said Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in his condolence message. Movie Artists Association (MAA) former president Murali Mohan mourning her death demanded that Sridevi must be honoured with Dada Phalke Award. Senior actress Jamuna said that Sridevi is an icon of South Indian film industry. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Governor ESL Narasimhan also condoled the sudden demise of Sridevi.