Sridevi Kapoor: A Tribute to India’s First Female Superstar

Introduction:

Welcome to Shradhanjali.com’s dedicated page on Sridevi Kapoor—lovingly remembered as Sridevi, the first female superstar of Indian cinema. We celebrate her extraordinary life, her trailblazing journey across five decades, and the enduring legacy she left behind.

Early Life & Childhood in Tamil Nadu

Full Name & Date of Birth
Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan was born on 13 August 1963 in Meenampatti (Sivakasi), Tamil Nadu. Family

 Background
Her father was Tamil Ayyapan, and her mother was Telugu Rajeswari. She had a sister and two half-brothers from her father’s earlier marriage (FilmiBeat)

Child Prodigy
Sridevi started acting when she was around four or six years of age, with her acting debut in the Tamil Thunaivan (1969), and subsequently won a Kerala State Award for Poompatta (1971).

Rise in Southern Cinema: Tamil, Telugu & Malayalam

Pioneering Roles

She captured her first major adult role in the popular film ‘Moondru Mudichu,’ which was released in 1976, and was paired opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, being only 13 years old at that time to play Rajini’s stepmother.

Classic Performances

16 Vayathinile, Meendum Kokila, Neela Malargal, and Moondram Pirai showed her immense range and depth across Tamil and Telugu cinema.

Collaborative Efforts

She has shared screen space with Rajinikanth in nearly 19 films, forging what undoubtedly must be one of the most talked-about on-screen partnerships in Indian cine-history.

Bollywood Breakthrough and Stardom

Hindi Debut
While her first Hindi film, Solva Saawan (1978), had been a disappointment, she skyrocketed after Himmatwala (1983), earning the name “Thunder Thighs” in the memory. Superhits

 and Persona
With films like Tohfa, Mawaali, Justice Chaudhury, Maqsad, Karma, Mr. India, Waqt Ki Awaz, and Chandni (1989), she became the reigning heroine of Bollywood.  Voice

 and Stardom
Incidentally, till Chandni, her Hindi voice was dubbed by others. For the first time in Chandni, she voiced herself in her language, marking a landmark in an artist’s empowerment.

Career Highlights & Landmark Films

ChaalBaaz: A comedy-drama wherein Sridevi starred in a dual role as twin sisters. The Filmfare Best Actress Award winner received her recognition for this dramatic and comedic role. The song of the rain dance, “Na Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai,” remains evergreen.

Lamhe: A sweeping romantic drama with Anil Kapoor, produced by Yash Chopra. Sridevi also won the Filmfare Best Actress Award again in this movie, and it later became one of the Top 10 Romantic Movies in the Centenary of Indian Cinema.

Sadma (1983), Nagina (1986), Judaai (1997), Khuda Gawah (1992), Gumrah (1993), Laadla (1994): This showcased her emotional depth, dramatic flair, and box-office appeal across genres

Awards, Honors & Records

Padma Shri honoured her in 2013 for the contribution she has made to Indian cinema.

Filmfare Awards: Two Best Actress awards, followed by a Lifetime Achievement award. Also, countless Filmfare Awards South.

National Award for Film: She was honoured with this posthumously as the National Award for Film for Mom.
This Bollywood diva was at one time at the peak of her pay in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Personal Life & Family

Marriage and Family Married to Boney Kapoor, the producer, in 1996 and has two daughters: Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor, both of whom are actors today.

Off-screen Personality Behind the camera, she is said to be modest and shy, but in her roles, much stronger and more assertive. She stayed away from the tradition of working with megastars like Amitabh Bachchan to create space for herself, earning the media nickname “Female Bachchan.” Vogue India

Unseen Bond: Not Viewed Publicly as Romantic, but Rajinikanth was said to have loved her deeply and was intending to propose to her the time when she turned sixteen. According to his belief, superstition prevented him from doing so, but they were both close friends till death.

Break, Comeback & Final Films

Hiatus & Television
She had a long sabbatical post-marriage, apart from Malini Iyer (2004–2005), the TV sitcom.

Return with English Vinglish (2012)
In this film, she gave a superlative performance as a housewife who learns to speak English only to gain the respect of her family. The comeback was commercially successful as well as acclaimed; critics commented that she was bouncier than ever

Last Role for Mom (2017)
Her 300th and last great film, in which she played a mother who fights for justice. The National Best Actress Award was conferred on her posthumously for that performance.

Cameo in Zero (2018)
Her last film appearance was a brief yet remarkable cameo in Zero, which was released months after she passed away.

Her Passing and Legacy

Shocking Fatality
Sridevi was found unconscious in her hotel bathtub in Dubai on February 24, 2018. Accidental drowning was considered the official cause, after earlier assumptions of cardiac arrest. 

Heart-wrenching Farewell
India was rocked by her sudden death. Fans, fellow actors, and celebrities grieved deeply. Tributes showered instantly
The Times of India

Timeless Imprint
Celebrated as a screen goddess, Sridevi was the first woman in the country to carry an entire film on her shoulders on the basis of pure talent. She altered the image of the heroines for Hindi cinema forever.

Why Sridevi Still Matters

Heroines of the Trailblazers: She has proven that the actresses can stand alone and draw audiences by earning the highest pay in Bollywood.

Pan-Indian: With staggering figures of 269 films across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, she boasts an exceptionally rare all-India reach.

Inspirational: Celebrities like Priyanka Chopra regard her as their inspiration and a guiding light of Indian cinematography.

Conclusion: Remembering Sridevi

Sridevi Kapoor remains an enduring symbol of talent, resilience, and grace in Indian cinema. From a child star in Tamil Nadu to Bollywood’s first female superstar, her journey inspired millions. Her performances continue to shine on screen, capturing hearts across generations. At Shradhanjali, we honor her memory and celebrate her legacy every day.

Image Source: Google