Remembering Sridevi: From 'Sadma' to 'English Vinglish', legacy of India's 1st female superstar lives on

Sridevi, who is remembered as the first female superstar of the country, died in February 2018 when she was in Dubai to attend a family wedding. She was 54.

She ruled the industry in an era when it was explicitly dominated by superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, and Dharmendra.

With hits such as ‘Chandni’, ‘Sadma’ and ‘Mr India’, Sridevi broke the glass ceiling in the film industry and established herself as a crowd-puller.


Sridevi, the enigmatic actress in the Indian cinema, passed away five years ago, but she still lives through her art. The undisputed queen of the silver screen has left some unforgettable performances for the audience.

From ‘Chandni’ to ‘Sashi’ ... Let's take a look at some of the best works of Sridevi.

'Sadma'

Anyone who has seen the film has felt the emotional depth of the end scene. A remake of Tamil film, 'Sadma', released in 1983, established Sridevi as one of the most powerful actresses to look out for.

'Chandni'
Directed by Yash Chopra, the 1989 film 'Chandni' kickstarted a fashion trend in the 80s as Sridevi looked breathtaking and ethereal in her white looks. Apart from the visuals, the film is also celebrated for its music.

'Mr India'

Sridevi was not only a powerful actress, but she was also one of the most successful commercial stars in the Indian cinema. Anil Kapoor may have been the lead, but the film was all Sridevi. From 'Hawa Hawai' to 'Kaate Nehi Katte', Sridevi showed her range of versatility in 'Mr India'.

'ChaalBaaz'
Sridevi played twins in 'ChaalBaaz'; the tamed and submissive Anju and the boisterous and go-getting Manju. Sridevi won hearts for her comic timing in the film, making it clear once again that she was a complete package.

Also read: Sridevi: A woman who lived, loved, and acted on her own terms

'Khuda Gawa'
Amitabh Bachchan, larger-than-life setting and Sridevi! The film was talked about as Amitabh and Sridevi were struggling to deliver hits at the box-office at that time.

'Lamhe'
Teaming up with her 'Chandni' director Yash Chopra one more time, Sridevi played double roles in this movie. For playing the dual roles of mother and daughter, the actress won accolades.

'English Vinglish'

After a 15-year-long hiatus, Sridevi made a pleasant comeback with 'English Vinglish' by film-maker Gauri Shinde, which was her directorial debut.

The film received a standing ovation at the Toronto International film festival.