| Sridevi |
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Sridevi, born on August 13, 1963, is an Indian actress
who has starred in hundreds of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and
Malayalam language films. She started acting at the age
of four, and made her debut as an adult in the early 80s.
She established herself as one of the leading actresses
of her times, and although she left the industry in 1997,
she is regarded by the industry members, as one of the
most talented and prominent actresses of India.
Early Life
Sridevi was born and brought up in Sivakasi, a district
in Tamil Nadu. Her mother tongue is Tamil. Her father's
name was Ayyapan (a lawyer) and her mother's name was
Rajeswari. Sridevi has a sister, Srilatha. She has two
step brothers from her father's previous marriage.
Career
Sridevi started her career as a child artist in the Tamil
movie Kandhan Karunai (1967) and acted in many Tamil and
Telugu movies. During her early adult career, she acted
in a number of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies. Many
of her Malayalam movies were directed by I. V. Sasi. Some
examples of her notable Malayalam movies are: Aadhyapaadam,
Aalinganam, Kuttavum Sikshaiyum, Aa Nimisham. In 1976,
she got her first big break as a heroine in K. Balachander's
Moondru Mudichu, where she starred opposite Kamal Haasan
and Rajnikanth. In many ways, this movie was a landmark
in Tamil filmdom. It was also one of Rajnikanth's first
major movies.
After Moondru Mudhchu, Sridevi had a succession of
huge hits with both these Tamil superstars. With Kamal
Haasan, she acted in movies such as Guru, Sankarlal,
Sigappu Rojakkal, Thaayillamal Naanillai, Meendum Kokila,
Vaazhve Maayam, Varumaiyin Niram Sigappu, Neela Malargal,
Moondram Pirai, 16 Vayathinile. With Rajnikanth, she
acted in movies such as Dharmayuddham, Priya, Pokkiri
Raja, Thanikattu Raja, Adutha Varisu, Nan Adimai Illai,
etc. She was the number one actress in Tamil films during
the period 1979-83.
During the same time, Sridevi also made inroads into
Telugu language movies. She acted with all major heroes
in Telugu. A number of her Telugu movies were made by
K. Raghavendra Rao. With N. T. Rama Rao, she acted in
movies such as Konda Veeti Simham, Vetagadu, Sardar
Paparayudu, Bobbili Puli etc. With A. Nageswara Rao,
she acted in movies such as Mudulla Koduku, Premabhishekham,
Bangaru Kanku, Premakanuka etc. With Krishna she acted
in movies such as Kanchu Kagada, Kalavari Samsaram,
Krishnavatharam, Borripellum Bolludu, Khaidi Rudrayya
etc. After Kamal Haasan, Sridevi has acted the most
number of movies with Krishna. Towards the tail end
of her Telugu career, she started acting in Hindi movies.
Many of her initial Hindi 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 which failed at the box office. However, her
second movie, Himmatwala, went on to be a success and
established her status in Bollywood. The film also earned
her the famous nickname Thunder Thighs. This was followed
by the critically acclaimed drama Sadma, which is often
cited by critics as the most definitive child-woman
performance of her career. Throughout the 1980s, she
starred in a galaxy of box office hits, including Tohfa,
Nagina, Mr. India, Chandni and Chaalbaaz, in which her
double-role won her the first Hindi Filmfare Best Actress
Award. The commercially successful Nagina is remembered
for her iconic dance sequence in the film's climax.
Her performance in Shekhar Kapur's blockbuster Mr. India
won her rave reviews, and her comic-timing was praised.
Prominent sequences in the film are Sridevi's imitation
of Charlie Chaplin and her rain-dance. . Yash Chopra's
poetic fairy-tale mega-hit Chandni earned her another
nomination at the Filmfare.
Yash Chopra again directed her in the path-breaking
modern day classic Lamhe (1991), where the sensitive
and intense double-role act immortalised her forever
in Hindi Cinema. It also won her, her second Filmfare
Best Actress Award. She followed it with acclaimed performances
in films like Khuda Gawah, Gumrah and Laadla. The Telugu
film Kshanam Kshanam released in 1992 won her the fourth
Filmfare Best Actress Award. She is one of the few Bollywood
actresses who dictated terms and for whom exclusive
roles were written. The failure of the multicrore Roop
ki Rani Choron ka Raja proved to be a major setback.
After the hit drama Judaai (1997), she left the industry
in order to marry filmmaker Boney Kapoor and raise her
two daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi. Sridevi is crurrently
retired from acting, and is more involved as a film
producer.
After a six-year hiatus, Sridevi returned to the small
screen, briefly, in the popular Sahara sitcom Malini
Iyer (2004-2005). She also appeared on Jeena Isi Ka
Naam Hai for Karishma Kapoor (2004) and as a judge in
the TV show Kaboom (2005). She is a member of the Board
of Directors at the Asian Academy of film and television.
She performed a medley of some of the popular songs
previously picturised on herself at the 52nd Filmfare
Awards 2007.
Personal Life
Sridevi married film producer Boney Kapoor on June 2,
1996. Boney and his first wife Mona Shourie Kapoor had
accommodated Sridevi in their home during Sridevi's stay
in Mumbai. At that time Boney and Mona had been married
for several years and had two children Arjun and Anshula.
Mona Kapoor stayed in Boney Kapoor's parents home for
10 years after the divorce to give her children a sense
of family. Boney Kapoor and Sridevi have two daughters:
Jhanvi and Khushi. Through her husband she is related
to the large Surinder Kapoor film clan (see List of Bollywood
film clans). Actor Anil Kapoor, her co-star in a number
films, is her brother-in-law.
Her father died while she was filming Lamhe, her mother
while she was making Judaai. Although it is the Hindu
custom that the son lights the funeral pyre, Sridevi
lit the pyre for her mother's last rites.
Awards Won
* 1982 - Filmfare Best Actress Award (South-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
* 1976 - Filmfare Best Actress Award (South-Tamil)
for Moondru Mudichu
* 1977 - Filmfare Best Actress Award (South-Tamil) for
16 Vayathinile
* 1983 - Filmfare Best Actress Award (South-Tamil) for
Moondram pirai
* 1980 - Filmfare Best Actress Award (South-Tamil) for
Jhonny
* 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
Honours
* 1997 - "Kalasaraswathi" award by the Government
of Andhra Pradesh
* 2003 - "Lachchu Maharaj Award"
* 2008 - FICCI "Living Legend in Entertainment"
award
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