What are some interesting facts about Sridevi, the Indian film actress?

 

Many people think that Solva Sawan was the first Hindi film of Sridevi but this is wrong. One report said it was Julie which is also wrong. Sridevi played a small part in a low budget Hindi film Rani Mera Naam in 1972 where she played the childhood version of the lead actress.

Secondly, even though Sridevi started her career in Hindi in 1972 and as a lead actress in 1979, till 1986 she didn't worked in even a single film which was not a South remake. Her first original Hindi film came in 1986 with Sultanat, Bhagwan Dada and Nagina. In between she did around 20 films all remakes. Initially she worked in Hindi movies shot at Madras and came to Mumbai occasionally. It was much later she started doing Bombay based Hindi films

Her voice was dubbed by Naaz in most of her films in 80’s because of her Hindi diction. From Chandni onwards she started dubbing for herself regularly. Before that she dubbed for only few films here and there (like Sadma). Interestingly in the film Aakhree Raasta, her voice was dubbed by Rekha as the makers wanted a unique voice for her.

Her biggest rival in the 80’s was Jayaprada. And despite them not in talking terms they worked in more than half a dozen movies in Hindi together including some of her biggest hits. The film both of them did together include- Mawaali, Tohfa, Maqsad, Naya Kadam, Aakhree Raasta, Aulaad, Majaal, Main Tera Dushman. She also worked prolifically with Jeetendra till 1987 in more than dozen films but when Jeetendra’s career started stagnating she went to Anil Kapoor and did around 9–10 films with her. Jaya Prada meanwhile persisted with Jeetendra and lost her stardom.

Sridevi stopped doing Tamil movies for more than a decade when her film Naan Adimai Illai with Rajnikanth flopped. She also worked in the Telugu remake of the same Pachani Kapuram which was a hit. Interstingly, Jayaprada didn't allow this film to be screened in the theatre owned by her as it was a Sridevi movie. Also interstingly, both these movies were remake of the 1985 Blockbuster Hindi film Pyar Jhukta Nahi.

How did Sridevi manage to shoot a comedy sequence for Lamhe right after her father's passing?

 Sridevi was not an ordinary actress, she was so much passonate towards acting that when once she faced the camera she used to forgot everything. Her deep involvement into the character that she had to portray had made her an extraordinary actress.

While shooting the film Lamhe in London, a tragedy incident took place. 90% of the filming in London got completed, only 10% filming had remained, at that time Sridevi's father Ayyappan had passed away in 1990 due to heart attack. So Sridevi had to come back to India to participate in her father's funeral. After 16 days she returned to London to continue with her shooting and she had to shoot for a comedy scene but she surprised everyone including Yash Chopra with her professionalism.

She finished the scene with full perfection without exhibiting her personal grief. Yash Chopra himself had stated that she (Sridevi) forgot everything and gave a wonderful scene. Chopra felt that, that was the secret of Sridevi's success, what she is and why she is.

Many noted personalities like Rajinikanth have mentioned that she used to transform herself in a magical way in front of the camera and that is unbelievable. That was the main reason for Sridevi’s tremendous success and to become the first female superstar of the Indian cinema. Sridevi was the favourite person for her colleagues and to her directors who worked with her and she had become an inspiration for several of her successors in the film field.

In the film Lamhe which was released in 1991, Sridevi had given a standout performance in dual roles as a mother and as a daughter alongside Anil Kapoor. It was directed and produced by Yash Chopra. The film had a bold topic written by Honey Irani. Waheeda Rehman, Anupam Kher, Deepak Malhotra and Dippy Sagoo were in the supporting roles.

Lamhe was the second and the final collaboration of Yash Chopra and Sridevi after the film Chandani in 1989.

Sridevi's folk dance in the film Lamhe, ‘ Morni Baga Ma Bole” was placed among the Top 5 songs of Yash Chopra.

Sridevi did the contrasting roles of mother Pallavi and daughter Pooja in the film Lamhe, this is the best example for her versatile acting that too in the same film. This is one of the most remarkable performances of Sridevi’s career.

Lamhe didn't receive success at the box-office due to its bold and unusual subject for that time. Many film analysts felt that the film was ahead of its time, if it was released at a later period it would have achieved success. Over the years Lamhe received the cult classic status. It was Yash Chopra's personal favourite of the films he made.

The film was critically successful and won numerous awards, nominated for 13 Filmfare Awards and won 5 Filmfare Awards for Best Film for Yash Chopra, Best Actress for Sridevi, Best Comedian for Anupam Kher, Best story for Irani and Best Dialogue for Masoom Raza.

On the occasion of the Centenary of Indian Cinema in 2013, Lamhe was featured in the list of Top 10 Romantic Movies of 100 years.

Sridevi was a different kind of personality in the real life, she was a very reserved and a shy person, she often disliked big crowds and noise. If one watches her on the screen one would never think that she was a reserved woman. When her husband Boney Kapoor proposed her for the first time, for their marriage, she didn't speak to him for 6 months.

But in front of the camera, she was a different person, opposite to her nature in the real life. She used to portray varieties or roles from glamorous, funny roles to strong woman characters without any difficulty or struggle. She never hesitated to express her expressions or feelings completely with full force when the camera lights were put on. So due to that special trait of her, Sridevi managed to shoot a comedy scene for Lamhe right after her father's demise.