Early life
Sridevi (born on August 13, 1963) was born in Tamil Nadu to a Naidu family historically settled in a village near Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. Her mother tongue is Tamil though Telugu is spoken at home as well. Her father Ayyapan, was a lawyer, and her mother's name was Rajeswari. Sridevi has a sister, Srilatha. She has two step brothers Satish and Anand from her father's previous marriage.
Personal life
Sridevi married film producer Boney Kapoor on June 2, 1996. Boney and his first wife Mona Shourie Kapoor had accommodated Sridevi in their home during Sridevi's stay in Mumbai. At that time Boney and Mona had been married for several years and had two children Arjun and Anshula. Mona Kapoor stayed in Boney Kapoor's parents home for 10 years after the divorce to give her children a sense of family. Boney Kapoor and Sridevi have two daughters: Jhanvi and Khushi. Through her husband she is related to the large Surinder Kapoor film clan (see List of Bollywood film clans). Actor Anil Kapoor, her co-star in a number films, is her brother-in-law.
Her father died while she was filming Lamhe, her mother while she was making Judaai. Although it is the Hindu custom that the son lights the funeral pyre, Sridevi lit the pyre for her mother's last rites.
Career
Sridevi started her career as a child artist in the Tamil movie Kandhan Karunai playing the role of Lord Muruga (1967) and acted in many Tamil and Telugu movies. During her early adult career, she acted in a number of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies. Many of her Malayalam movies were directed by I. V. Sasi. Some examples of her notable Malayalam movies are: Aadhyapaadam, Aalinganam, Kuttavum Sikshaiyum, Aa Nimisham.
In 1976, she got her first big break as a heroine in K. Balachander's Moondru Mudichu, where she starred opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth. After Moondru Mudhchu, Sridevi had a succession of films with both Haasan and Rajnikanth. With Haasan, she acted in movies such as Guru, Sankarlal,Sigappu Rojakkal, Thaayillamal Naanillai, Meendum Kokila, Vaazhve Maayam, Varumaiyin Niram Sigappu, Neela Malargal, Moondram Pirai, 16 Vayathinile. With Rajnikanth, she acted in movies such as Dharmayuddham, Priya, Pokkiri Raja, Thanikattu Raja, 'Adutha Varisu, Nan Adimai Illai.
During the same time, Sridevi made Telugu language movies. A number of her Telugu movies were made by K. Raghavendra Rao. With N. T. Rama Rao, she acted in movies such as Konda Veeti Simham,Vetagadu, Sardar Paparayudu and Bobbili Puli. With A. Nageswara Rao, she acted in movies such as Mudulla Koduku, Premabhishekham, Bangaru Kanku, Premakanuka etc. With Krishna she acted in movies such as Kanchu Kagada, Kalavari Samsaram, Krishnavatharam, Borripellum Bolludu, Khaidi Rudrayya etc. Towards the tail end of her Telugu career, she started acting in Hindi movies. Many of her initial Hindi movies starred Jeetendra and were remakes of her Telugu movies, mostly directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, and K. Bappaiah.
In 1978, she starred in her first Hindi film, Solva Saawan. Her second movie was Himmatwala with Jeetendra, a major blockbuster, it made her the household name in India. In the 80's she acted in many hits like Tohfa, 'Mawaali , Justice Chaudhry, Jaani Dost, Maqsad, Karma, Aakhree Raasta, Jaanbaaz,Ghar Sansar, Waqt Ki Aawaz, Watan Ke Rakhwale, Nagina & Mr India. Apart from these commercial hits, she did some performance oriented roles like Aulad, Jaag Utha Insaan, Suhagaan & Sadma, which earned her her first hindi Filmfare nomination.
In 1988's Chaalbaaz, she played a double-role as twin sisters which won her the first Hindi Filmfare Best Actress Award. The same year also received an nomination for Yash Chopra's Chandni. Chopra again directed her in Lamhe (1991), where Sridevi plays a double-role act as mother and daughter won her a second Hindi Filmfare Best Actress Award.
She followed it with Khuda Gawah (1992), where her double role performance as a pining Afghan wife, opposite Amitabh Bachchan won her her fifth Filmfare nomination. The Telugu film Kshana Kshanam was released in the same year and afforded her a fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award and a Nandi Awards. These nominations were followed by another performance as an innocent victim trapped in a Hong Kong prison in Mahesh Bhatt's Gumrah & a negative role in Laadla. For her performance in the drama Judaai (1997), she got her eighth Filmfare nomination after which she left the industry to marry filmmaker Boney Kapoor and raise her two daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi. Following the release of Judaai, two films of Sridevi were released following severe delays; Kaun Sacha Kaun Jhootha saw her paired for the final time with Rishi Kapoor and Meri Biwi Kaa Jawab Nahin opposite Akshay Kumar. Sridevi is currently retired from acting.
After a six-year hiatus, Sridevi returned to the small screen, briefly, in the Sahara sitcom Malini Iyer (2004-2005). She also appeared on Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai for Karishma Kapoor (2004) and as a judge in the TV show Kaboom (2005). She performed a medley of some of her music at the 52nd Filmfare Awards 2007.
She is a member of the Board of Directors at the Asian Academy of Film and Television.
