Sridevi by Gautam Rajadhyaksha

So back in August 2000 - yes we have been around for 20 years this year - on Sridevi's birthday, while I was in college, I started the Sridevi blog 'cause in the early days of the internet, I was annoyed that only the same set of Sridevi pics were up on Google. And not always the best quality, clarity or having the magnificence of my favourite Indian actress of all-time.

One of the images was this portrait below. Shot in the late 1980s by the great Gautam Rajadhyaksha, who single handedly elevated Bollywood film journalism and portraiture. Gautam da was the perennial favourite of all the stars and legends - he was so popular, stars requested him. He did the most polished photographs of celebrities in the 1980s. 

After him, many followed suit but ask any contemporary photographer, young gen', the glossy, soft-focus, kind eye of the man behind the lens is still the inspiration, the touchstone of greatness. He was India's Lindberg, Leibovitz, Newton... all rolled into one.

I had the tremendous joy and pleasure of interviewing him - and his permission to host Sridevi's portraits on this blog - which he followed. He was kind and gracious, witty and loquacious. 

RIP wherever you are Gautam da. I lost my one chance to meet you in person - you left us way too soon.

A gallery of Sridevi portraits by Gautam Rajadhyaksha here.