How Sridevi Became India’s First Female Superstar
Sridevi is celebrated as one of indian cinema's greatest icons, leaving an indelible mark on the industry that will resonate for years to come. While many child artists emerge in the film world, only a select few achieve the lasting fame that sridevi did. She began her career at just four years old, making her debut as a child artist in 1967, and eventually earned the title of Bollywood's first female superstar. Reports suggest that her salary even surpassed that of male leads in her films, underscoring her immense popularity.
Her entry into the film industry was with the tamil film Kandhan Karunai, released in 1967 and directed by A.P. Nagarajan, featuring prominent actors like sivaji ganesan and Jayalalithaa. By age 13, she took on her first lead role in Moondru Mudichu (1976), directed by K. Balachander, alongside legends Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. The duo of sridevi and Rajinikanth collaborated on approximately 22 films, many of which were box-office hits.
For over five decades, sridevi was a dominant force in cinema. Even after a 15-year hiatus, her stardom remained intact. She made a triumphant return to bollywood in 2013 with english Vinglish, directed by Gauri Shinde. The film was a massive success, featuring a talented cast that included adil hussain and priya Anand.
Sridevi's final film was the crime thriller Mom, directed by ravi Udyawar, where she starred alongside nawazuddin siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna. The film was well-received, further cementing her legacy as a legendary actress in indian cinema.