'I chose films over studies,' said Sridevi, Bollywood's first female superstar: Bidding goodbye
She was in Dubai to attend the wedding ceremony of her nephew Mohit Marwah when the news of her death came.
Sridevi, the Hawa Hawai of Bollywood passed away on Saturday night in Dubai after a cardiac arrest.
According to the confirmation by actor Sanjay Kapoor, she suffered a heart attack at the age of 54 when she was in Dubai to attend the wedding ceremony of her nephew Mohit Marwah.
In a rare interview with the Filmfare magazine, Sridevi spoke of missing out on education for a career in films:
"I was a good student for a while my parents did make me cope with school and films simultaneously. When we'd go on outdoor shoots, a teacher would accompany us. But after a point, this wasn't practical. I had to choose between studies and films. I chose films."
Where and when was she born?
Sridevi was born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayappan on August 13, 1963 in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu.
Debut in Bollywood:
- She debuted as a lead actress in a Bollywood film in 1978 and became one of India's biggest film stars
- Sridevi started her career as a child artist in M.A. Thirumugham's devotional Thunaivan at the age of four. However, in Bollywood, she made her debut as a lead actress in Solva Sawan and as a child artist in Julie
Pan Indian actress:
She had worked in films in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages.
Sensitive portrayal of women:
The actress won acclaim for her sensitive portrayals of women thrown into challenging situations in movies.
Imitated Charlie Chaplin:
She also imitated Charlie Chaplin in Mr India in a few scenes which made her even more versatile.
Superstar without the support of a male hero:
She was considered one of the very few Indian female superstars capable of huge box office success without the support of a male hero.
Bollywood Classics starring SriDevi:
- Over five decades, she starred in more than 150 films, including such Bollywood classics as Mr India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Sadma and many others
- Sridevi was 13 when she played the role of Rajinikanth's stepmother in a Tamil film called Moondru Mudichu and she played his love interest in Chaalbaaz, many years later
Comeback in English Vinglish:
- She made a comeback in 2012 in Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish after a long break after the film Judaai
- The last movie she acted was in Mom, also starring Akshay Khanna and Nawazuddin Siddiqui
SriDevi felicitated with Padma Shri:
In 2013, the Indian government awarded her the Padma Shri Award which is the fourth highest civilian honour.
10 Filmfare awards nomination:
Sridevi was nominated for 10 Filmfare Awards and won five of them.
Debut in the fashion world:
- Sridevi made her debut as a fashion model in 2008. The actress modelled clothes for designers Priya and Chintan at the Lakme Fashion Week
- She worked at Lakme Fashion Week again in 2010 and at Delhi Couture Week 2012, showing clothes designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Felicitated with 'Ultimate Diva':
Sridevi received the 'Ultimate Diva' award at the Ciroc Filmfare Glamour & Style Awards in 2015.
May her soul rest in peace!
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