Sir — This refers to the report, “Sadma strikes India, Sridevi leaves at just 54” (February 26). On Sunday, India woke up to the news of Sridevi passing away. The diva, a talented actor and a dancer, who charmed her way and won millions of hearts, was suddenly no more.
Sridevi came into Bollywood at a time when there were no battalion of managers, publicists and stylists surrounding an artist in the film industry. And the Press was not as adulatory as it is today.
I understand that she was not fluent in English and spoke very little Hindi. Her first Hindi film may have been Julie in which she had a small role of the leading lady, laxmi’s sister, but it was the success of Himmatwala that made her a star in the entire Indian film industry — she was already on top in the South.
If stardom is to be judged by mass appeal, then there’s no other Indian actor who had the kind of reach that Sridevi did. From the late 1970s to the late 1990s, she was the reigning superstar of both Bollywood and Kollywood, with legions of fans across the country.
The Indian film industry will never get a combination of beauty, grace and all round talent again like hers — Sridevi was unique. Her death marks the end of a life that fought tirelessly to inspire all to believe that our actions, no matter how small — can lead to progress.