SRIDEVI (1963–2018)
Sridevi was one of the most iconic and influential figures in Indian cinema. Sridevi was born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. She entered the film industry as a child artist at the age of four in the Tamil film Kandan Karunai (1967) and quickly established herself as a versatile performer. Her screen presence, emotional range, and ability to seamlessly shift across genres — from intense drama to comedy, romance, and dance — earned her a unique place in the hearts of audiences.
Over the course of her career spanning five decades, she acted in films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi cinema, making her one of the first true pan Indian superstars. In Hindi cinema, especially during the 1980s and 1990s, she was celebrated as the "First Female Superstar" of Bollywood, credited with redefining the role of the heroine from a supporting character to a central figure driving the narrative. Sridevi married film producer Boney Kapoor in 1996. They had two daughters—Janhvi Kapoor (now an actress) and Khushi Kapoor.
Some of her most acclaimed performances came in films such as Sadma (1983), Mr. India (1987), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), and English Vinglish (2012) — the last marking her remarkable comeback after a 15-year hiatus.
Her career was decorated with numerous honours, including the Padma Shri (2013), India’s fourth-highest civilian award, as well as multiple Filmfare Awards. Beyond her acting prowess, Sridevi was admired for her charisma, dance artistry, and ability to set fashion trends that resonated across generations.
She passed away tragically on 24 February 2018 in Dubai, an event that left the film fraternity and millions of fans in mourning. Her legacy endures not only through her body of work but also through the transformation she brought to Indian cinema.
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