Sridevi remembered: 10 iconic films by the Bollywood screen legend

It’s been three years since the shocking death of Bollywood screen icon Sridevi, who died in Dubai on February 24, 2018 due to accidental drowning. Sridevi was considered one of the finest actors to come out of India. Here’s a look at 10 of her best performances that can be watched even today.

Sadma: The 1983 film paired Sridevi opposite Kamal Haasan and earned her a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress. The actress plays Nehalata who is suffering from amnesia which regresses her to a childlike state. Sridevi mesmerised viewers with her innocent act.

Nagina: The actress would go on to make some iconic films through her career, be it 1984’s ‘Inquilaab’ or ‘Tohfa’, or the 1986 iconic film ‘Nagina’. Although, few know that ‘Nagina’ was in fact offered to actress Jaya Prada first, but due to her fear of snakes, she declined to do the film. Sridevi’s role in ‘Nagina’ continues to entice fans and even sparked a sequel a few years later, which marked the return of the actress in the lead for ‘Nigahen’. The actress plays a shape-shifting snake in the film.

Mr India: Another iconic role that defined Sridevi’s career was the role of the journalist Seema Sohni in ‘Mr India’, which released in 1987. She stars opposite Anil Kapoor, who has a bracelet that turns him invisible. Sridevi’s comic timing and the film’s memorable songs turned the film into a cult hit overnight. You can still enjoy it on Amazon Prime Video.

Chandni: Directed by Yash Chopra, this 1989 hit is still remembered today for its iconic music. Sridevi plays Chandni whose fiance, Rohit (Rishi Kapoor) is paralysed in an accident and she is forced to relocate to Mumbai where her boss, Lalit (Vinod Khanna), falls for her. However, she faces a dilemma when Rohit returns after healing and attempts to win her back. Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Chaalbaaz: Earning her a Best Actress award in 1989, ‘Chaalbaaz’ is one of Sridevi’s most iconic films. Separated at birth, twins Anju and Manju (both played by Sridevi) grow up in different circumstances and accidentally switch places. While a shy Anju starts living a rustic life, bold Manju is bent on taking revenge from their evil uncle. Watch it on Zee5.

Lamhe: Another film that saw Sridevi play two roles, ‘Lamhe’ won the Filmfare award in 1991 for Best Film and earned Sridevi another Best Actress trophy. In the film, Pallavi is the object of desire of two men, and she chooses to marry Siddharth (Deepak Malhotra) over Viren (Anil Kapoor). After a tragedy befalls, her daughter Pooja (also played by Sridevi), grows up to fall in love with Viren. Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Gumrah: Loosely based on ‘Bangkok Hilton’, Sridevi’s character Roshni is arrested during a trip to Hong Kong for possession of cocaine, which has been planted on her. She employs the help of Sanjay Dutt to escape prison and prove her innocence. The film earned Sridevi a nomination for Best Actress at the 39th Filmfare Awards in 1993 and is considered one of her finest performances. Watch it on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Judaai: The 90s also saw her winning streak continue with films such as ‘Khuda Gawah’, ‘Gumrah’, ‘Laadla, but it was 1997’s ‘Judaai’ that really stood out. Produced by Boney Kapoor, Kajal (Sridevi) is a money hungry wife who ‘sells’ her husband, played by Anil Kapoor, to Janhvi (Urmila Matondkar), the rich daughter of his boss. Watch it on Zee5.

English Vinglish: The 2012 Gauri Shinde film marked Sridevi’s comeback after a hiatus. The actress played a housewife and caterer, Shashi, who is mocked by her family for not knowing English. Her attempt to learn the language helps her rediscover herself and reassert her value as a mother and a wife. Sridevi is a class apart in the film. Watch it on Zee5.

Mom: In 2017, she followed up her success with ‘Mom’, which was released months before the actress succumbed to her death. The film would go on to win her an Indian National Film Award for Best Actress. Sridevi plays a teacher who seeks the help of a private detective to exact revenge after her stepdaughter’s rapists are acquitted by the court. Watch it on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.