How Sridevi became India's first female superstar from Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan
Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan, Bollyeood diva marked a place for herself in the world of films and glamour as Sridevi. Boney Kapoor's second wife and the heartbeat of millions of people, Sridevi made her debut in Indian film industry when she was just four and starred playing Tamil deity Lord Murugan in Thunaivan. Her journey from her first film to the 300th one named Mom was not easy but she worked so hard that she earned herself the title of India's first female superstar.
Sridevi's first Bollywood film was P Bharatiraaja's 'Solva Saawan' that released in 1979. The film was a remake of Bharatiraaja's Tamil super hit '16 Vayad hinille' but it failed to woo the audience that time. Nonetheless, it introduced the actress to the Northern audience who surely desired to see more of her. It took another four years for Sridevi to bounce on in Bollywood and this time she appeared onscreen to take the breaths away. She starred opposite Jeetendra in 1983 film Himmatwala and then impressed the masses with her performance in the remake of another Tamil superhit, Balu Mahendra's 'Sadma', in which she played the lead opposite Kamal Haasan. While Himmatwala became one of the top films of that year and gave Sridevi attention, Sridevi's role in Sadma of a child-woman suffering from amnesia made many critics and fans believe that she is here to stay.
In no time Sridevi started ruling millions of hearts with her back to back hits like Maqsad, Justice Chaudhary, Mawali, Tohfa and others. The 80s was the time of Sridevi. She emerged as the top actress of her time especially after her appearance in Nagina. The film not only became a cult classic but audience till date relate to the Naagin dance to Sridevi. If Nagina was not enough to write Sridevi's name in golden words, her another film Mr. India, in which she starrer opposite Anil Kapoor, earned her praise and applaud from all corners. Infact people said that the film should be called Miss India as the actress stole away all the thunder from Anil Kapoor. By this time, Sridevi had made sure everyone know that there is hardly anyone like her. With Chalbaaz, Yash Chopra's Chandini and Lamhe, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja further carved her name deeper in Bollywood. Her blockbuster films, other than making her topmost actress in the north, gave her popularity in the Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam cinema as well. By this time, everyone wanted to work with Sridevi, be it actors or directors.
The actress worked in Bollywood, Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam cinema and earned appreciation for her role before taking a step back and concentrate on her personal life and two daughters - Janhvi and Khushi. After 15 years, Sridevi bounced back on the big screen with Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish in which she played the homemaker who goes to learn English but instead discovers her identity. The film made people remember that Sridevi's craft is just getting more polished as the years go by. Next she ruled the screen with her 300th film MOM and fans were sure that it is the time, Sridevi is back in action and will rule the hearts again. The actress was still soaking up the attention MOM brought to her that on 24th February last year we heard that India has lost her first female superstar at the age of 54.
