Sridevi

Sridevi
Sridevi at the launch of Begani Jewels in Oct 2012
Born	Sree Amma Yanger (1963-08-13) 13 August 1963 Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)	Actress, producer
Years active	1967–1997, 2012–present
Spouse(s)	Boney Kapoor(1996–present) Mithun Chakraborty(divorced)
Children	Jahnavi Kapoor Khushi Kapoor
Relatives	Arjun Kapoor (step-son) Anil Kapoor (brother-in-law) Sanjay Kapoor (brother-in-law) Sonam Kapoor (niece) Rhea Kapoor (niece)

Sridevi (born Sree Amma Yanger on 13 August 1963) is an Indian actress who has acted over three hundred films throughout her career. She has worked in different language films including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada. She was the first actress, who was described as "the First Female Superstar of Bollywood" by Indian media. She is a recipient of numerous awards and nominations, she has won five Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and the Nandi Award for Best Actress. She was honored for her contributions in films by various state governments, including Governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. In 2013, she was awarded the Padma Shri India's fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India. Sridevi began her career as a child artist in M.A. Thirumugham's devotional Thunaivan at the age of four, and continued to act as a child artist in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She made her Bollywood debut as a child artist in Julie (1975) and got her first breakthrough as a lead actress with the Tamil film Moondru Mudichu (1976). Sridevi's Bollywood debut as a lead actress was in Solva Sawan (1978), and she attracted wide public attention with Himmatwala (1983), which was followed by a number of popular films in the 1980s and 1990s such as Sadma, Nagina, Mr. India, Chaalbaaz, Chandni, Lamhe, Khuda Gawah and Judaai. In 2012, Sridevi returned to films after a 15-year long hiatus with English Vinglish and became the only actress in the history of Hindi Cinema to make a successful comeback. Times of India described her as "one of the longest reigning successful leading ladies and one of the most influential actresses of Bollywood."

Family and personal life

Sridevi was born in Sivakasi, Tamilnadu on 13 August 1963. Her birth name is Sree Amma Yanger. Her mother was from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. So Sridevi grew up speaking Tamil and Telugu, her mother tongue. She has a sister named Srilatha and a stepbrother named Satish. Her dad passed away during the year 1991, while her mom died during 1997. During the 1980s, Chakraborty had a love affair with Sridevi. Sridevi had fallen in love with Chakraborty on the sets of Rakesh Roshan's Jaag Utha Insan. Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty had got married secretly and later Chakraborty admitted it to the press but only when a fan magazine published their marriage certificate. Sridevi married Boney Kapoor, a film producer and the elder brother of actors Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor, in 1996. They have two daughters, Janhvi and Khushi.

Career

1967–1975: Child artist

Sridevi started her career as a child actor at the age of four in Tamil movie Thunaivan playing the role of young Muruga. However, Kandan Karunai (1967), her second film released earlier. She acted in many Tamil and Telugu films from then on. Baby Sridevi's performance in Poombatta (1971) won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist. Kandan Karunai (1967); Nam Naadu (1969); Prarthanai (1970) Babu (1971); as a grand daughter of N.T.Ramarao in Telugu film Badi Panthulu (1972), Vasantha Maaligai (1972) are the most notable films of her career as a child artiste. Child Sridevi received acclaim for portraying role of Lord Krishna's childhood events in the 1975 Telugu film Yashoda Krishna. In 1975, Sridevi debuted in Bollywood with Julie, where she played younger sister to the protagonist Lakshmi. In 1974 She acted with Dr.Rajkumar as St. Namadeva's sister in Bhakta Kumbara.

1976–1982: South Indian films

In 1976, Sridevi appeared in her first breakthrough role in Moondru Mudichu directed by K. Balachander. In the film she acted alongside Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth, and followed it with a number of films with both of them. Sridevi's first release of 1977 was Gayathri followed by Kavikkuyil and 16 Vayathinile where she played the role of a young girl who is caught between her two lovers. She also starred in the films's Telugu remake Padaharella Vayasu in 1978. Her subsequent notable films included Bharathi Raja's Sigappu Rojakkal, SP. Muthuraman's Priya, Karthika Deepam, Johnny, Varumayin Niram Sivappu and Aakali Rajyam. In 1981, she starred in the Tamil film Meendum Kokila which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. In 1982, Sridevi starred in Moondram Pirai playing a woman suffering from amnesia and went on to win the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. Sridevi's notable Telugu films include Konda Veeti Simham, Kshana Kshanam, Vetagadu, Sardar Paparayudu and Bobbili Puli. With A. Nageswara Rao, she appeared in movies such as Muddula Koduku, Premabhishekam (1981 film), Bangaru Kanuka and Premakanuka as well as Kanchu Kagada, Kalavari Samsaram, Krishnavatharam, Burripalem Bolludu, Khaidi Rudrayya,with Chiranjeevi she acted in Rani Kasula Rangamma, Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari, S. P. Parasuram and with Akkineni Nagarjuna Govinda Govinda. Her performance in the 1992 film Kshana Kshanam, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and Andhra's Nandi Award for Best Actress.

1983–1997 : Bollywood

Sridevi made her debut in Hindi films with Solva Sawan in 1979. Four years later she was signed to star opposite Jeetendra in Himmatwala. The film released in 1983 and became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. It established Sridevi in Bollywood and earned her the famous sobriquet 'Thunder Thighs'. Her dance number 'Nainon Mein Sapna' became a rage with Rediff stating that "the water pots may have dominated most frames in Nainon mein sapna but it was Sridevi's bejewelled outfits and headgears that stole the show". The following year Tohfa released and turned out to be the biggest hit of 1984. The film established Sridevi as one of the leading actress of Bollywood. with Filmfare magazine declaring her "Unquestionably No.1" on their cover. Sridevi went on to star in several films like Mawaali, Maqsad and Justice Chaudhry forming a popular onscreen pair with Jeetendra.

Sadma released in 1983 brought Sridevi critical acclaim. A remake of her Tamil film Moondram Pirai, Sadma is included in iDiva's list of '10 Must Watch Movies That Weren't Blockbusters'. Sridevi's performance as a child-woman suffering from amnesia was called by Indian Express "a milestone in her illustrious career". Sridevi also featured in the Mid Day list of 'Challenging Roles played by Bollywood Actors' describing her act in the film as "her best performance ever". In 2012, Adil Hussain, Sridevi's co-star in English Vinglish revealed that he became a fan of the actress after watching her in Sadma. The Sridevi-Kamal Hasan pair also appeared on the CNN-IBN 2012 list of 'Greatest Romantic Couples on Celluloid'. The film won Sridevi her first Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.

In 1986, came the snake fantasy Nagina which saw Sridevi play an 'ichhadhaari naagin' or a shape-shifting woman. The film turned out to be the second biggest blockbuster of the year with Box Office India stating that Sridevi remained "the undisputed No.1". Named one of the best snake fantasy films by Yahoo, Times of India ranked Nagina as one of the 'Top 10 Snake Films of Hindi Cinema'. Sridevi's climax dance number 'Main Teri Dushman' also remains one of the best snake dances in Bollywood with Desi Hits calling it "one of Sridevi's most iconic dance numbers...that still gives fans goose bumps" and iDiva describing it as "the stuff of movie legends". Besides Nagina, 1986 also saw Sridevi giving box-office hits in Subhash Ghai's multi-starrer Karma and Feroze Khan's Janbaaz. According to CNN-IBN Bollywood Blockbusters, "Sridevi's popularity grew so much that despite having a guest appearance in Janbaaz, she completely overshadowed the film's lead heroine Dimple Kapadia".

Sridevi followed the success of Nagina by playing a goofy crime journalist in the 1987 film Mr. India described by Rediff as "one of the most iconic films of its time". Directed by Shekhar Kapur, it became one of the highest grossing hits of the year and also found a place in Hindustan Times list of 'Top 10 Patriotic Films of Hindi Cinema'. While the trade famously joked that the film should have been named Miss. India, Rediff also stated that "Sri was a complete show-stealer in the film". Sridevi's iconic imitation of Charlie Chaplin in the film was described by Times of India as "the most hilarious act she has ever done". Rediff also featured Sridevi in its list of 'Super Six Comic Heroines' stating that "her mobile face expressions could give Jim Carrey sleepless nights" and that "her biggest plus point is her ability to be completely inhibited in front of the camera". The dance number 'Hawa Hawai' dance, cited by Times of India as "one of the unforgettable numbers of Sridevi", also became a popular nickname for the actress. Besides comedy, Sridevi gave Hindi Cinema one of its sexiest rain songs in the film's chart-buster 'Kaate nahin kat te' where Filmfare described Sridevi as "truly a goddess in a blue sari". Times of India included the number in its 'Top 10 Hot'n'Sexy Songs' countdown for featuring a "stunning Sridevi sizzling in a wet blue saree" and being "a trendsetter for erotic numbers to follow in Bollywood" while iDiva described the song as "unparalleled in Hindi Cinema". Rediff also featured the song in its list of 'Top 25 Sari Moments' praising Sridevi's "ability to look erotic even when she's covered from head to toe". Kaate Nahi Kat Te song was chosen by NDTV as the most famous rain song in Bollywood Box Office India states that with the success of Mr. India, Sridevi "continued her domination" over her contemporaries Jaya Prada and Meenakshi Sheshadri.

In 1989 came ChaalBaaz which had Sridevi in a double-role playing twin sisters separated at birth. Filmfare ranked her performance 4th in its list of '80 Iconic Performances of Hindi Cinema' stating that "Sridevi´s penchant for giggles and her ability to look distinctly tearful when required polishes these performances to perfection. Hell, she made Sunny Deol and Rajnikant look like sidekicks in the film". while the Times of India article 'Bollywood's Hit Double Roles' gushed "Sridevi's performance rocked the box office". Rediff featured the film in its countdown of '25 Best Double Roles in Bollywood' saying "What you don't realise until you have seen Chaalbaaz is just how incredible Sridevi is at depicting both ends of the spectrum" and that the film "cemented her position as an actress with a killer comic timing". Speaking to Indian Express about Sridevi's act in ChaalBaaz, the director Pankaj Parashar said "She proved her range with the movie and after that she got lots of offers which saw her in a double role". Her slapstick rain dance 'Na jaane kahan se aayi hai' became a big hit with Times of India describing it as a "Sridevi classic where she simply looked wow with her chirpy expressions and rain drops kissing her cheeks". This twin-sister act won Sridevi her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress in Hindi films while the song bagged the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography.

The same year also saw the release of the Yash Chopra romantic saga Chandni with Sridevi playing the title role. According to iDiva, the film was "more an event and less a movie". Chandni emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of 1989 with The Hindu stating that "the film opened to full houses and distributors had to drastically increase the number of theatres". Cited by Times of India as "one of the most watched films of Indian Cinema", the film also reaffirmed Sridevi’s position as the top female star of the 1980s. Describing Sridevi's performance in Chandni, Indiatimes wrote "True to her screen-name, she was an epitome of radiance, warmth and vivacity. She effortlessly introduced us to the powerful streaks, her classic, angelic character was laden with". While Sridevi topped the Hindustan Times list of Yash Chopra's 'Top 5 Heroines', CNN-IBN also ranked her no.1 on its list of 'Yash Chopra's 10 Most Sensuous Heroines' saying "Yash Chopra immortalised Sridevi as the perfect Chandni". The title role became one of the most famous characters of Hindi Cinema with India Today including it in its list of 'Yash Chopra's Iconic Characters' while NDTV featured it in its list of 'Yash Chopra's Greatest Creations' stating that the film established Sridevi "as the nation's sweetheart".

Sridevi's 'Chandni Look' revolutionised fashion in North India with Rediff stating "A luminous Sridevi slips into every possible design in white for a major chunk of the romance and no one complains". The Tribune wrote "Leena Daru scored a winner again when she created the 'Chandni Look' for Sridevi. Every street corner sold the salwar-kameez and dupatta that gave the heroine a refreshingly understated look, rarely seen on the Indian screen". while Mid Day reported that the "simple white churidar and kurta with the leheriya dupatta gave Sridevi an angelic image and caused Chandni Chowk stores to hit the jackpot with thousands of copies". BizAsia also described the effect of the look saying "Chopra never quite got over his Sridevi hangover and chose to present his lead heroines in similar outfits (Juhi Chawla in ‘Darr’ (1993), Madhuri Dixit in ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ (1997)), but none of them became half as iconic as Sridevi". The 'Chandni Look' was also highlighted in the film's famous Tandav dance sequence by Sridevi where Rediff said "the actress transformed into a mythical goddess in a white number". Sridevi's chiffons became equally popular with Indian Express writing "This movie made the chiffon sari a must-have in every Indian woman's wardrobe". The music of Chandni became a Platinum Success with Sridevi's famous dance number 'Mere Hathon Mein Nau Nau Choodiyan' finding a place in the Rediff chart of 'Bollywood's Top 25 Wedding Songs.' The actress also lent her voice to the film's popular title-track 'Chandni O Meri Chandni'. which featured among the 'Top 5 Songs' of Yash Chopra by Hindustan Times. Chandni won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment while Sridevi garnered Filmfare Best Actress nominations for both Chandni and ChaalBaaz in 1989 winning for the latter.

Yash Chopra again cast Sridevi in his 1991 film Lamhe. Times of India included it in its list of 'Top 10 Films of Yash Chopra' describing it as a tale of "love transcending the boundaries of time and space" while Rediff called it "Quite easily one of his most definitive films, Chopra surpassed his own findings of romance with the insightful, lovely Lamhe". Sridevi played both mother and daughter cast in what iDiva described as "another double role but it was unlike any played before". Hailed by Rediff as "one of the most remarkable films of her career...often considered a film way ahead of its time", Her performance brought her much acclaim with BizAsia stating that "Her rendition of both Pallavi and Pooja serves well in highlighting how versatile she is as an actress, playing contrasting characters in the same movie". Sridevi's folk dance number 'Morni Baga ma' also became a rage and was placed among the 'Top 5 Songs' of Yash Chopra by Hindustan Times. Lamhe failed commercially but received high critical praise and has over the years become a cult classic. Talking about the film, critic Rachel Dwyer wrote in her biography of the film-maker "Yash Chopra's own favourite film, Lamhe ('Moments', 1991), divided the audience on a class basis: it was hugely popular with metropolitan elites and the overseas market, which allowed it to break even, but it had a poor box-office response (largely lower class, especially the repeat audience) because of its supposed incest theme". The Hindu reported that "With shades of incest, Lamhe caused more than a flutter and remained the talk of the town" while Sridevi herself admitted in an interview with Rajeev Masand that she found the subject "too bold". Though the film flopped with Rediff describing its failure as "one of those bizarre, unexplained moments of cinema", Lamhe picked up five Filmfare trophies including Filmfare Award for Best Film and Sridevi's second Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her popular Rajasthani costumes in the film also won designer Neeta Lulla her first National Film Award for Best Costume Design.

In 1992, Sridevi starred in the epic Khuda Gawah opposite Amitabh Bachchan. The actress played a double role again as an Afghani warrior Benazir and her daughter Mehendi. Shot extensively in Afghanistan, the film did good business with BBC reporting that "it ran to packed houses for 10 weeks in Kabul". Khuda Gawah still remains popular in the Afghan country and Rediff reported that the film is "in great demand after the opening of cinema halls in the country". The film picked up the Filmfare Award for Best Director while Sridevi earned a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress. The actress's big budget 1993 release Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja was one of India's most expensive films ever made. Though the film failed at the box-office, Sridevi was appreciated with Times of India calling her disguise in a comedy scene "the best ever South Indian role played by any actress".

Sridevi continued to get central roles with big banners like the Dharma Productions venture Gumrah opposite Sanjay Dutt. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, the actress played a singer falsely accused of drugs smuggling in Hong Kong. Bollyspice stated in its 'Sridevi Retrospective' that "Despite very good performances from the rest of the cast, Gumrah was really Sridevi’s film. She managed to exemplify female emotion and robustness to a great degree that you remember the film largely for her significant contribution towards it". Her performance received another nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award. In 1994, Sridevi teamed up with Anil Kapoor again in Laadla playing business tycoon Sheetal Jaitley. The character, described by Times of India as "rude, dominant and very competitive" brought her yet another Filmfare nomination. The last major film Sridevi starred in before she took a break from the industry was Judaai released in 1997. Along with Anil Kapoor and Urmila Matondkar, the actress played a greedy housewife going to extreme lengths for money. Talking about her swan song, critic Subhash K. Jha wrote that Sridevi "left us with the most stunning hurrah in Judaai. A terrible film that I've watched countless times to see her play the money-minded harridan who 'sells' her husband to Urmila Matondkar. Who but Sridevi could carry of such an outrageous role with such enthusiastic élan?!" while Bollyspice stated that "She used her polished acting skills to illustrate her character’s greed and individualism at such a grotesque level." Judaai won Sridevi her eighth Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.

1998–2011

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) 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 is also a member of the board of directors at the Asian Academy of Film & Television. On 19 September 2009, Sridevi appeared on the 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 Prabhu Deva, 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. In March 2010, her paintings were sold by an international art auction house with the money raised being donated. In 2011, Kareena Kapoor paid a tribute to Sridevi by performing to a selection of Sridevi's numbers at the Global Indian Film and Television Awards. Kapoor called Sridevi her hero and the reason why most girls of her generation became actresses. In May 2012, Sridevi appeared in Aamir Khan's TV show Satyamev Jayte as a surprise to an interviewee who had been sexually abused as a child. She also signed a letter to the government in support of passing a law criminalising sexual abuse of children initiated by Aamir Khan.

2012 : Comeback

Gauri Shinde (left) and Sridevi pictured during the shoot of her comeback film English Vinglish.

Sridevi announced her comeback in early 2011, while working in a new film English Vinglish. directed by Gauri Shinde (R. Balki's wife). Her return was officially announced at the IIFA Awards 2011 held in Toronto with a montage of Bollywood stars welcoming her back. After the Toronto premiere,some international media outlets hailed Sridevi as the "Meryl Streep of India." Two weeks later America's entertainment weekly Variety wrote in its review of English Vinglish that it found Sridevi "Disarmingly charming in a manner that recalls Audrey Hepburn." On release, the film and Sridevi's performance received positive response. The Times of India gave it 4/5 calling it "Easily one of the best films of 2012...Sri's performance is a masterclass for actors...Request you to make a little place next to you, Rajkumar Hirani; Gauri Shinde has taken a bow in mainstream Bollywood." Another 4/5 came from Raja Sen of Rediff who found the film is "a winner all the way...Sri excels in fleshing out her character." Critic Subhash K Jha gave a 4.5 saying Sridevi "makes the contemporary actresses, even the coolest ones, look like jokes...If you watch only two films every year make sure you see "English Vinglish" twice!"

Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave it 3.5 stars saying Sridevi delivers "a performance that is nothing short of perfect...It's warm and fuzzy, and leaves you with a big smile on your face." Anupama Chopra also gave it 3.5 calling it "that rare thing...Sridevi doesn't miss a beat. Her performance is a triumph." Firstpost's Rubina Khan gave the film a full 5/5 saying "Sridevi brings acting back in English Vinglish." Komal Nahta said it was 'beyond stars' applauded Sridevi saying she "makes the best comeback in Bollywood history and delivers a landmark performance." Social movie rating site MOZVO gave it 4.1 out of 5 putting it in 'Must Watch' category. Amer Shoib of The Cinema Journal gave it 4/5 and called the film "a hilarious, touching, sensitive, and sweet film that marks the triumphant come back of India's biggest female star...Sridevi." With the worldwide triumph of English Vinglish, Sridevi, most probably, became the only actress in Bollywood to make a successful comeback as a leading lady after marriage and a long hiatus. Box Office Capsule hailed the film and Sridevi's return as "Golden Comeback of the Queen." Director Gauri Shinde featured in the Financial Times 2012 list of '25 Indians To Watch'. Film critic Raja Sen from Rediff explained why she is ranked as No. 1 "This is a simple film where things are credible, never melodramatic, and Sridevi – in a range of well-picked cotton sarees – always judges the tone right. It's the sort of performance younger actresses, including the ones on this list, should learn from." Sridevi emerged as the most-admired Bollywood actress of 2012 in a mobile survey conducted by Vuclip, world's largest mobile research company. Furthermore, she was nominated for Best Actress in most of the award ceremonies, including the Filmfare awards, where she received her ninth nomination for Best Actress.

Fashion Icon

Sridevi made her debut into the world of fashion in 2008. The actress walked as show-stopper for designers Priya and Chintan at the Lakme Fashion Week with the daily Hindustan Times stating "Sridevi oozes oomph." The next year, the actress again walked the ramp for jewelry designer Queenie Dhodhy at the HDIL India Couture Week. Rediff described her second turn as show-stopper saying "Sridevi dazzles at Queenie's show." In 2010, Sridevi again played show-stopper for designer Neeta Lulla at Lakme Fashion Week. While the dress garnered criticism, the media again lauded the actress reporting "Thank God Sridevi salvaged the look with her pretty face." Two years later Sridevi was back on the ramp for fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee at Delhi Couture Week 2012. While NDTV described Sridevi's look on the ramp as "nothing less than an eternal beauty in a white embroidered sari", Sabyasachi said "I am honoured to have designed clothes for her." Sridevi has also appeared on the cover of several fashion magazines. In 2007, the actress graced the cover of Hi Blitz with the tagline, "The Goddess Returns". In 2011, Sridevi featured on the cover of Asia Spa with NDTV writing "we wonder just how does she manages to get more stunning every day?" The same year she also appeared on the cover of Marie Claire with the media reporting "Marie Claire kept it simple, alas! Sridevi looked anything but plain." In 2012, Sridevi became the cover girl for L'Officiel and the media described her Burberry look as "amazingly hot." In 2013, the actress made headlines again when she appeared on the cover of Vogue in a cougar styled photo-shoot. Hindustan Times reported that "Sridevi sizzles for Vogue India" while NDTV wrote "Sridevi left us speechless. The cascading hair, sexy dress and subtle make-up make her look absolutely riveting and much younger than her years." Times of India reported "Sridevi turns it on at 50" while India Today asked "Is she really 49? Sridevi looks drop dead gorgeous." In September 2013, Sridevi walked the ramp along with eight other Bollywood actresses to pay tribute to Yash Chopra on his 81st birth anniversary and showcase the new fashion label of Yash Raj Films titled Diva'ni. Indian Express reported that "Yash Chopra's 'Chandni', Sridevi, who was also seen in Yash Raj’ classic cult ‘Lamhe’, looked stunning in a silver ghagra" while India Today said "Chanelling some of that 'Chandni' vibe, the actress wore a colour that most underestimate - white, as if silently also paying respect to the filmmaker. She looked every bit the diva that she is."

Hollywood

In 1991, Sridevi was approached by Steven Spielberg for a role in his sci-fi blockbuster Jurassic Park but the actress let go of the offer. According to Zee News "She refused because it wasn`t a starring role and it would have meant taking a hiatus from Bollywood, at a time, when she was at the peak of her career." In September 2013, the media announced that Sridevi had been approached by director Amy Redford for a stellar role in a film titled 'Cowboys and Indians' along with Meryl Streep. Times of India reported that "producer duo, Jeremy Wall and Jerry Leider, are attempting to bring together two of the most versatile acting talents in the world" and Sridevi's "superlative performance in English Vinglish is one of the reasons for her being considered for the prestigious project."

Philanthropy

In 2010, Sridevi's oil painting titled 'Thoughts' was auctioned at Christie's auction house in New York for charity. The painting was priced at $50,000 and the proceeds were donated by Sridevi to benefit Christie's Green Auction : A Bid to Save the Earth. In May 2012, Sridevi made a special appearance on the talk show Satyameva Jayate episode hosted by Aamir Khan dealing with child sex abuse in India. She came on the show to meet sex abuse victim Harish Iyer who was a self-confessed fan of the actress. On the show, Sridevi signed an appeal to the Indian Government drafted by Aamir Khan and the makers of Satyameva Jayate demanding more effective laws against child sex abuse. Times of India reported "Sridevi makes Satyameva Jayate special." The actress also lent her support to the NDTV Greenathon hosted by Priyanka Chopra. A nationwide campaign to save the environment, Sridevi joined in the cause and even swayed to her popular number 'Hawa Hawai' on the Greenathon stage. In September 2012, she tied up with the Active English module of television provider Tata Sky to encourage English learning among Indian housewives. Sridevi also participated in the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Amitabh Bachchan along with her English Vinglish director Gauri Shinde. She donated her winning amount to the School for the Blind and Deaf in Chennai. Later she also participated in the Tamil version of KBC Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi hosted by Prakash Raj and donated her winning amount to Little Flower School for Special Children in Chennai. In 2013, Sridevi visited New Delhi to support Design One, a fund-raising exhibition organised by the NGO Sahachari Foundation and Sakha Cabs aiming to provide safe transport for women. In September 2013. Sridevi attended the annual Araaish Trousseau fund raising exhibition for charity purposes.

Awards and honours

Civilian award

• 2013 – Padma Shri India's fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India

Government of India

• 2013 – President of India 'Medallion of Honour' for contribution to 100 Years of Indian Cinema

Government of Kerala

• 1970 – Best Child Artist for Poombatta
• 2013 – Honoured by Government of Kerala for contribution to cinema

Government of Tamil Nadu

• 1981 – Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu
• 1982 – Best Actress for Moondram Pirai
• 2013 – Tamil Nadu State Honour for contribution to 100 Years of Indian Cinema

Government of Andhra Pradesh

• 1991 – Nandi Award for Best Actress for Kshana Kshanam
• 1997 – Kalasaraswathi Award by the Government of Andhra Pradesh

Government of Maharashtra

• 2013 – Honoured by Governor of Maharashtra for winning Padmashri

Filmfare Awards

Won:

• 2013 – Filmfare Special Award for Nagina and Mr. India
• 1992 – Filmfare Best Actress Award for Lamhe
• 1990 – Filmfare Best Actress Award for ChaalBaaz
• 1991 – Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu) for Kshana Kshanam
• 1982 – Filmfare Best Actress Award (Tamil) for Meendum Kokila

Nominated:

• 1983 – Filmfare Best Actress Award for Sadma
• 1989 – 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
• 2012 – Filmfare Best Actress Award for English Vinglish

Stardust Awards

• 2013 – Stardust Award for Best Actress Drama for English Vinglish

Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Award

• 2013 – Guild President Honour for English Vinglish

NDTV Indian of the Year

• 2013 – NDTV Entertainer of the Year

India Today Woman Summit Awards

• 2013 – India Today Woman in Arts

TSR-TV9 Awards

• 2013 – Empress of Indian Cinema

Special Honors

• 1983 – Award from Lions Club Delhi
• 1990 – Smita Patil Memorial Award for Contribution to Indian Cinema
• 1994 – Kalaiselvam – South Indian Cine Artists Association Award
• 1994 – Giants Award for Contribution to Indian Cinema
• 2003 – Lachchu Maharaj Award
• 2003 – Vamsee International Award for Contribution in Indian Cinema
• 2003 – MAMI Award in Contribution to Indian Cinema
• 2008 – FICCI "Living Legend in Entertainment Award"
• 2009 – Special Honour at 33rd Cairo International Film Festival for Contribution to Hindi Cinema
• 2012 – Hello Fame Award for Outstanding Performer of the Year 2012
• 2012 – IRDS Film Award 2012 for performance as Shashi Godbole in English Vinglish
• 2012 - Honoured by Walk of the Stars as her hand print was preserved for posterity at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai.
• 2013 – Hindustan Times Mumbai's Most Stylish Award
• 2013 – Voted 'India's Greatest Actress of All Time' in CNN-IBN Poll
• 2013 – Felicitated by Telugu NRIs at Minneapolis, USA
• 2013 – Vogue India Awards Timeless Beauty Award
• 2013 – Best actress award for English Vinglish at Jagran film festival
• 2014 – ANR National Award for 2013
• 2014 – Inspiring Icon award from Sathyabama University

Annual Lists and Polls

• 2012 – Voted "Most-Admired Bollywood Actress" by Vuclip, world's largest mobile research company.
• 2012 – Ranked No.1 as "Bollywood's 10 Best Actresses of 2012" by Rediff
• 2012 – Ranked No.1 in the Top 10 Bollywood Actresses of 2012 by Box Office Capsule
• 2012 – Ranked No.1 in the Top 10 Bollywood Actresses of 2012 by CNN IBN
• 2012 – Voted No.1 in the Top 10 Finest Actresses of Bollywood 2012 by Filmy Buzz
• 2012 – Voted No.1 as the best Bollywood Actress of 2012 by Koimoi.com
• 2012 – Ranked No.1 in the Top 10 Bollywood Actresses of 2012 by Bollyspice.com
• 2012 – Voted No.1 as the most powerful woman in Bollywood town with more than 74% votes by Bollywoodlife.com

Filmography

Main article: Sridevi filmography

External links

• Sridevi at IMDb