Sridevi () (born on 13 August 1963) is an Indian actress who has starred in hundreds of
Tamil,
Hindi,
Telugu and
Malayalam language films.
Starting acting at the age of four, she made her debut as an adult in the late 1970s. After going on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of her time, she left the industry in 1997 to raise her children. Her father, Ayyapan, was a lawyer, and her mother, Rajeswari, was a housewife, who moved to Madras from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. (Her father died while she was filming Lamhe, her mother while she was making Judaai.) Sridevi has a sister, Srilatham, as well as two half-brothers, Satish and Anand, from her father's previous marriage. Her cousins Maheswari and Karthik have also appeared in films.
Sridevi married film producer Boney Kapoor on June 2, 1996. The couple have two daughters: Jhanvi and Khushi.
Career
Sridevi started her career as a child actor in the 1967 Tamil movie
Kandhan Karunai playing the role of young
Lord Muruga and acted in many Tamil and Telugu movies from then on. During her early teens, she acted in a number of Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam movies as a lead actress. Many of the Malayalam movies in which she played were directed by
I. V. Sasi, some examples being
Aadhyapaadam,
Aalinganam,
Kuttavum Sikshaiyum and
Aa Nimisham.
In 1976, Sridevi got her first big break as a heroine in K. Balachander's Parallel Cinema Moondru Mudichu, where she starred opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth. She then followed with a succession of films with both Haasan and Rajnikanth. With the former, she was in movies such as Guru, Sankarlal, Sigappu Rojakkal, Thaayillamal Naanillai, Meendum Kokila, Vaazhve Maayam, Varumaiyin Niram Sigappu, Neela Malargal, Moondram Pirai and 16 Vayathinile. With Rajnikanth, she appeared in movies such as Dharmayuddham, Priya, Pokkiri Raja, Thanikattu Raja, 'Adutha Varisu and Nan Adimai Illai''.
At the same time, Sridevi made Telugu movies, a number of which were made by K. Raghavendra Rao. With N. T. Rama Rao, she acted in movies such as Konda Veeti Simham, Vetagadu, Sardar Paparayudu and Bobbili Puli. With A. Nageswara Rao, she appeared in movies such as Mudulla Koduku, Premabhishekham, Bangaru Kanku and Premakanuka. With Krishna, she acted in movies such as Kanchu Kagada, Kalavari Samsaram, Krishnavatharam, Burripalem Bolludu, and Khaidi Rudrayya.
Towards the tail end of her Telugu film career, Sridevi started acting in Hindi movies. Many of these initial movies starred Jeetendra and were remakes of her Telugu movies, mostly directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and K. Bappaiah. In 1978, she starred in her first Hindi film, Solva Saawan. In her second movie, Himmatwala, she played alongside Jeetendra, whom she also appeared with in Tohfa, Mawaali and Justice Chaudhury. In 1983, she starred opposite Kamal Hasan in the drama Sadma, remade from the Tamil hit Moondram Pirai starring the same lead actors. The film earned Sridevi her first Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.
Her most popular performances in the '80s included Justice Chowdhary, Jaani Dost, Mawaali, Maqsad, Tohfa, Karma, Aakhree Raasta, Jaanbaaz, Ghar Sansar, Nagina, Mr India, Suhagan and Aulad. In 1988's Chaalbaaz, she played a double role as twin sisters which won her the first Hindi Filmfare Best Actress Award. The same year, Sridevi also received a nomination for Yash Chopra's Chandni. Chopra again directed her in 1991's Lamhe, where she plays a double-role act as mother and daughter which won her a second Hindi Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Right after, Sridevi starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in 1992's Khuda Gawah, where she had a double role as a pining Afghan wife. The Telugu film Kshana Kshanam was released in the same year and afforded her another Filmfare Best Actress Award and a Nandi Award. These nominations were followed by another performance as an innocent victim trapped in a Hong Kong prison in Mahesh Bhatt's Gumrah and a negative role in Laadla. For her performance in the 1997 drama Judaai, Sridevi earned her last Filmfare nomination after which she left the industry to marry filmmaker Boney Kapoor and raise their two daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi.
Since retiring
After a six-year hiatus, Sridevi briefly returned to the small screen in the Sahara sitcom
Malini Iyer (2004–2005). She also appeared on
Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai (2004) for
Karisma Kapoor and as a judge in the TV show
Kaboom (2005). She performed a medley of some of her musical numbers at the 52nd
Filmfare Awards 2007. She was elected a member of the Board of Directors at the
Asian Academy of Film & Television.
On September 19, 2009, Sridevi appeared on the famous Sony TV show 10 Ka Dum hosted by Salman Khan. On the episode, she and her husband, Boney Kapoor, were guests, along with actor-director Prabhudeva, actress Ayesha Takia and the musical duo Sajid-Wajid, all of whom had come to promote their film Wanted.
Sridevi also developed passion for painting which has since brought her foreign attention. In March 2010, her paintings have been chosen by a reputed international art auction house. The auction was set to start in April 2010, and all the money raised has been donated.
Awards and honours
Filmfare Awards
Won
1982 - Filmfare Best Actress Award (Tamil) for Meendum Kokila
1990 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Chaalbaaz
1992 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Lamhe
1993 - Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu) for Kshana Kshanam
Nominated
1983 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Sadma
1990 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Chandni
1992 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Khuda Gawah
1993 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Gumrah
1994 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Laadla
1997 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Judaai
Nandi Awards
Won
1991 - Nandi Award for Best Actress for Kshana Kshanam
Honours
1997 - "Kalasaraswathi" award by the Government of
Andhra Pradesh
2003 - "Lachchu Maharaj Award"
2008 -
FICCI "Living Legend in Entertainment" award
2009 - Honoured at
Cairo International Film Festival
Filmography
Tamil
Kandhan Karunai (1967) (Screen debut as child actor)
Thunaivan
Nam Naadu (1969)
Kumagthbhavam (1969)
Babu
Vasantha Maaligai
Moondru Mudichu (1976) (First movie as heroine)
Gayathri (1977)
Kavikkuyil (1977)
16 Vayadhinile (1977)
Sayndhadamma Sayndhadu (1977)
Vanakkaththukkuriya Kaadhaliye (1978)
Ilaya Rani Rajalakshmi (1978)
Ganga Yamuna Kaveri (1978)
Ithu Eppadi Irukku (1978)
Manitharil Iththanai Nirangala (1978)
Mudisooda Mannan (1978)
Pilot Premnath (1978)
Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)
Taxi Driver (1978)
Priya (1978)
Radhaikketra Kannan (1978)
Rajavuukeththa Rani (1978)
Sakka Podu Podu Raja (1978)
Arumbugal (1979)
Dharmayuddham (1979)
Kalyanaraman (1979)
Pagalil Or Iravu (1979)
Kavariman (1979)
Neela Malargal (1979)
Sigappukkal Mookkuthi (1979)
Thaayillaamal Naanillai (1979)
Guru (1980)
Johnny (1980)
Varumaiyin Niram Sigappu (1980)
Viswaroopam (1980)
Sankarlal (1981)
Dheiyva Thirumanangal (1981)
Meendum Kokila (1981)
Raanuva Veeran (1981)
Moondram Pirai (1982)
Deviyin Thirivilaiyadal (1982)
Thanikkattu Raja (1982)
Pokkiri Raja (1982)
Vaazhve Maayam (1982)
Adutha Vaarisu (1983)
Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandhai
Idhu Eppadi Irukku
Saithadhamma Saindhadhu
Sathyavan Savithri
Avalukku Nihar Avale
Kanimutthu Papa
Pirarthanai
Naalumani Pookal
Oonjal
Santhippu (1983)
Naan Adimai Illai (1986)
Tucker Raja
Meenakshiyin Thiruvilaiyaadal
Deva Raagam (1996)
Malayalam
Kumara Samavam (1969)
Swapnangal (1970)
Poombatta (1971)
Theertha Yathra (1972)
Abhinandhanam (1976)
Aasirvadham (1976)
Kuttavum Sikshaiyum (1976)
Aadhyapaadam (1976)
Aa Nimisham (1977)
Amme Anupame (1977)
Angikaram (1977)
Anthardhanam (1977)
Nalumani Pookkal (1977)
Nirakudam (1977)
Oonjal (1977)
Sathyavan Savithri (1977)
Vezhambal (1977)
Amme Narayana (1985)
Devaragam (1996)
Lun (2009)
Telugu
"Bhaarya biddalu" {1971} {as child actor}
Badi Panthulu (1972 (As child actor)
Bala Bharatam (1972) (As child actor)
Bhakta Tukaram (1973) (As child actor)
Yashoda Krishna (1975) (As child actor)
Bangarakka (1977) (First Telugu movie as heroine)
Padaharella Vayasu (1978)
Burripalem Bolludu (1979)
Karthika Deepam (1979)
Mudulla Koduku (1979)
Vetagadu (1979)
Aatagadu (1980)
Chuttalunnaru Jagratha (1980)
Devudu Ichchina Koduku (1980)
Gharana Donga (1980)
Mama Allulla Saval (1980)
Premakanuka (1980)
Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu (1980)
Sardar Paparayudu (1980)
Gaja Donga (1980)
CID (1980)
Mosagadu (1980)
Patagadu (1980)
Balanagamma (1981)
Bhoga Bhagyalu (1981)
Gharana Gangulu (1981)
Gadasari Atta Sugasari Kodalu (1981)
Kondaveeti Simham (1981)
Premabhishekham (1981)
Ranikasula Rangamma (1981)
Illalu (1981)
Satyam Sivam (1981)
Aadi Vishnulu (1982)
Anuraga Devata (1982)
Bangaru Bhoomi (1982)
Bangaru Koduku (1982)
Bobbili Puli (1982)
Devata (1982)
Justice Chowdary (1982)
Kalavari Samsaram (1982)
Krisharjunulu (1982)
Krishnavatharam (1982)
Samsher Shankar (1982)
Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bharthalu (1982)
Adavi Simhalu (1983)
Kirayi Kotigadu (1983)
Mundadugu (1983)
Ramarajyamlo Bheemaraju (1983)
Ramudu Kadu Krishnudu (1983)
Simham Navindi (1983)
Sri Ranganeetalu (1983)
Urantha Sankranthi (1983)
Kanchu Kagada (1984)
Kodethrachu (1984)
Vajrayudham (1985)
Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu (1985)
Pachani Kapuram (1985)
Jayam Manade (1986)
Khaidi Rudrayya (1986)
Makutamleni Maharaju (1987)
Mavoori Magaadu (1987)
Aakhari Poratam (1988)
Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)
Kshana Kshanam (1991)
Govinda Govinda(1993)
S.P.Parshuram (1994)
Hindi
''Julie (1975)
Solva Sawan (1978)
Himmatwala (1983)
Justice Chowdhary (1983)
Jaani Dost (1983)
Mawaali (1983)
Kalakaar (1983)
Sadma (1983)
Akalmand (1984)
Inquilaab (1984)
Jaag Utha Insaan (1984)
Naya Kadam (1984)
Maqsad (1984)
Tohfa (1984)
Balidaan (1985)
Sarfarosh (1985)
Masterji (1985)
Aakhree Raasta (1986)
Aag Aur Shola (1986)
Bhagwan Dada (1986)
Dharam Adhikari (1986)
Ghar Sansar (1986)
Nagina (1986)
Karma (1986)
Suhaagan (1986)
Sultanat (1986)
JanBaaz (1986)
Aulaad (1987)
Himmat Aur Mehnat (1987)
Nazrana (1987)
Majaal (1987)
Joshilay (1987)
Watan Ke Rakhwale (1987)
Jawab Hum Denge (1987)
Mr India (1987)
Sherni (1988)
Ram Avtaar (1988)
Waqt Ki Awaaz (1988)
Sone Pe Suhagaa (1988)
Chaalbaaz (1989)
Chandni (1989)
Guru (1989)
Gair Kanooni (1989)
Nigahein (1989)
Main Tera Dushman (1989) (Cameo)
Banjaran (1991)
Farishtay (1991)
Pathar Ke Insaan (1991)
Lamhe (1991)
Khuda Gawah (1992)
Heer Ranjha (1992)
Aasman Se Gira (1992) (Cameo)
Gumrah (1993)
Gurudev (1993)
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993)
Chandramukhi (1993)
Chaand Ka Tukdaa (1994)
Laadla (1994)
Army (1996)
Mr Bechara (1996)
Kaun Sacha Kaun Jhootha (1997)
Judaai (1997)
Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin (2004) (Delayed Release)
Halla Bol (2008) (Special appearance as herself)
References
External links
Category:Indian actors
Category:Indian Hindus
Category:Indian film actors
Category:Tamil actors
Category:Telugu actors
Category:1963 births
Category:Living people
Category:Filmfare Awards winners
Category:Indian child actors
Category:Hindi film actors
Category:Kerala State Film Award winners
Category:Non Malayali actors acted in Malayalam-language films
Category:Indian film producers
