Quiet off the cam, Sridevi set screen on fire

If stardom is to be judged by mass appeal, then there’s no other India actor who had the kind of reach that Sridevi did. From the late ’70s to the late ’90s, she was the reigning superstar of the Hindi and Southern film industry, with legions of fans across the country.

Her massive filmography reflects 300 films for which she was appreciated by critics and audiences alike. Off-screen, she came across as someone who was reclusive. Those on the sets of her films have seen her going from a woman sitting quietly in her chair to a superstar as the director called ‘Action’.

She began her career at the age of four with the film Thunaivan.

Besides being a master at emoting every expression in the book, and dancing like a dream, Sridevi had unmatched comic timing. . Often hailed as the first female superstar of the Indian film industry, she shone even in small parts like the one in Julie (1975) when she was 12 years of age, playing Lakshmi’s younger sibling.

The powerhouse-performer later made a smooth and successful transition into a leading lady and ruled the industry. After many hectic years of work, Sridevi was recently picking movies that appealed to her. Post-Judaai, which released in 1997, she took a long sabbatical.

Her comeback venture was English Vinglish (2012), which saw her bringing to life the character of Shashi Godbole, a homemaker who makes and sells laddoos, but is mocked for her poor English skills by her husband and daughter.

It might have been a 15-year break from the arclights, but she proved that her skills had only refined during the time that she was away. Her last outing Mom (2017) saw her playing a mother seeking revenge for her daughter’s rape. The film received critical acclaim as well as adulation from the junta.

It also fetched the actress many awards. On the personal front, she was looking forward to her daughter Janhvi’s Bollywood debut later this year. Her untimely death is a major shock for her family, friends, and fans.

The news of her death was confirmed in the late hours of February 24, 2018, by the actress’ brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor. She died after a cardiac arrest in Dubai. She, along with her husband Boney Kapoor, daughter Khushi and other members of the Kapoor clan, were in the UAE for the wedding of her nephew Mohit Marwah. Her elder daughter, Janhvi, couldn’t join the family as she was busy with the shoot of her debut film Dhadak.While a few family members had returned, or were on their way, to Mumbai, Sridevi had stayed back. As the news of her demise became public knowledge, fans across the globe, as well as her colleagues from the industry, mourned her death.