The first female Superstar of the Indian Film Industry- Sridevi
By
RUBY ZAIDI
Sridevi was the first actress who was tagged with the title Superstar.
Looking at the craze and fan following of Sridevi, journalist started writing the first Female Superstar of the country. Although before her there were Mumtaz, Zeenat Aman, Hema Malini, Rekha who made India crazy, but In the 1980s it was Sridevi all over. Sridevi used her attractive eyes and toned body structure so well that her first entry in all of her films were such mesmerizing that audiances welcome her with whistle and applauds. She became a threat for all the actresses, even top actors of her era felt insecure.
Her stardom was just like a miracle that never happened before. Her photographs adorned autorickshaws, her posters hung in barber shops, and her poses provided amiable employment to calendar artists.
Guys, could you tell me Who is the hero of Nagina or Mr. India? Who is the centre of attraction in Chaalbaaz or Chandni? In these films, made by established production houses, top heroes played supporting roles. These films revolved around her. And they all were blockbusters. Her Superstardom can be judged by K.C. Bokadia’s ‘Main Tera Dushman, Sridevi rescues hero Jackie Shroff from the clutches of the villain and delivers more punches than him in the fight scene that follows. She, not the ‘hero’ with facial hair, hacks down the villain Anupam Kher. In an era when heroines were often effaced from the climax, Sridevi radically recast the gender script. In the film Army there were seven supporting actors including Shah Rukh Khan and Sridevi played the lead.
This situation occurred because of her huge fan following and filmgoers loved to see their icon playing Hero in the movies.
The 1980s were her most prolific years. She acted in a staggering 150-odd Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films in that period, roughly fifteen films in one year. Many were with average storyline generally Sridevi managed to rise above the rubble. Like any good artiste, she was often better than the movie.
Fellow performer Rameshwari said, ‘Amitabh Bachchan had the ability to make any ridiculous situation look convincing. Sridevi also had that ability. She could do anything. She had a hunger to do more, like Mr Bachchan.’
Infact filmmakers were least interested in other stuffs after signing Sridevi in their films, as they were sure of her huge demand amongst the audiences.
Her heroes Jackie Shroff, Jitendra, Anil Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor etc looked like supporting actors in many of their Sridevi starrer movies.
Sridevi was just a miracle of the Almighty who bestowed her with all the ingredients of a finest actress who ruled the Indian Film Industry from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and even across the continent.
Remember her in Lamhe, Sadma She chill your spine with her incredible acting.
