On a fateful February evening in 2018, the world of Indian cinema fell silent. Sridevi, the famous star who had captured millions of hearts across generations, bid an unexpected farewell in Dubai, leaving behind a legacy that would never be forgotten. At just 54, the sudden departure of India's most celebrated female superstar sent shock waves through the nation. A Padma Shri recipient and an artist par excellence, Sridevi wasn't just an actress but a phenomenon who redefined the role of women in Indian cinema. Let's know some lesser-known chapters of a child artist who blossomed into Bollywood's first female superstar- Hollywood Calling: The Path Not Taken by Sridevi In a testament to her international appeal, Sridevi achieved what few Indian actresses could dream of in the early '90s – a Hollywood's big offer. Steven Spielberg himself approached her for a role in "Jurassic Park." However, her dedication to Indian cinema prevailed as she chose to continue her reign in Bollywood. Sridevi was born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyappan Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan on August 13, 1963, she adopted the screen name 'Sridevi' at the dawn of her acting career. Her journey began at the tender age of 4 with the Tamil film 'Thunaivan,' eventually spanning across four major film industries – Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. Rekha dubbed for Sridevi in 'Aakhree Raasta' Very few people know that actress Rekha dubbed for Sridevi in the film 'Aakhree Raasta' as she was not good in speaking Hindi. But Sridevi's commitment to perfection was evident when she mastered Hindi for her own dubbing in "Chandni," despite initially being unfamiliar with the language. Queen of the Box Office, ruled Bollywood from 1985 to 1992 Breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, Sridevi commanded unprecedented power from 1985 to 1992, emerging as the highest-paid actress of her time. She once completed the shoot for "Na Jaane Kaha Se Aayi Hai" from "Chaalbaaz" while battling high fever. When Rajinikanth proposed Srivdevi Behind the glamour lay a touching tale of unrequited love, Superstar Rajinikanth, who was 13 years senior to her, developed deep feelings for Sridevi during their numerous movie collaborations. At one point, he even approached her mother with a marriage proposal when Sridevi was just 16, though the feelings may not have been mutual. Sridevi undergone various cosmetic surgeries In a poignant revelation after her passing, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma shed light on the actress's personal struggles with beauty standards. Despite being widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women in Indian cinema, Sridevi grappled with aging concerns common to actresses, occasionally turning to cosmetic surgeries to maintain her appearance. When Jaaved Jaaferi compared Sridevi to Michael Jackson Actor Jaaved Jaaferi compared actress Sridevi to Michael Jackson, saying that they both had pressure to perform from a young age, and were quiet and introverted but explosive on stage. Sridevi's property dispute with her sister The dispute between Sridevi and her sister Srilatha stemmed from their mother's tragic death in 1996 due to a failed surgery. After Sridevi successfully sued the hospital and received ₹7.2 crore in compensation, she retained control of their mother's property. This led Srilatha to take legal action against her sister, demanding her rightful share. She was awarded ₹2 crore as settlement.Original Article by Dainik Bhaskar
