Hema Malini: Sridevi was born for the movies

Hema Malini talks about Sridevi, after her sudden demise on 24th February

Hema Malini

I shared a special bond with Sridevi - while our love for acting bound us, it was our role as mothers that brought us together. It was 2002; her husband Boney Kapoor was launching my daughter Esha in Bollywood. While I was a nervous mother, anxious to see my daughter set foot in Bollywood, Sridevi was an expectant mother, pregnant with her second daughter Khushi. Understanding my anxiety about Esha's debut, she would often drop in on the set to see my little girl. It was during this time that we got really close.

Sridevi was born for the movies. I can't imagine her being in any other profession. Her mother [Rajeshwari Ayanger] had moulded her like that. I remember working with her for the first time in Sunehra Sansar (1975). She was all of 13 years old, but you could see the spark in her. By the time we collaborated on our second film together, Justice Chaudhury (1983), Sridevi was already one of the rising stars of Bollywood. But I could see that she was the same girl I had met many years ago – one who was completely dedicated to her work. It was her sincerity that saw her coming from Tamil and Telugu films, and making a mark in Bollywood.

As dedicated as she was, Sridevi was also a powerhouse of talent. She was one of the best actors we had, a versatile artiste who could play any role with aplomb. To me, seeing her dance on the big screen was pure joy - she could raise the typical Bollywood film dance numbers to another level with her elegance.

I had met her last at the Padmaavat screening, a few weeks back. She was as warm, beautiful and soft-spoken as always. And to suddenly hear that she's gone! Dharamji [Dharmendra] and I were shocked when we heard about it. It's so sudden and so unfortunate. Ab bas khubsoorat yaadein hai uski hamare paas! [All that's left are beautiful memories of her.]

[Hema Malini was Sridevi's co-star in two films, Sunehra Sansar and Justice Chaudhury]

Also Read: How Sridevi's uniqueness earned her a fandom amongst gay community

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