There’s something about Sridevi. Maybe it’s the eyes. Maybe the laugh. Or that unmistakable screen presence that refused to be ignored, no matter who stood beside her. From the late ’70s to her unforgettable comeback decades later, Sridevi wasn’t just acting; she was shaping what Indian cinema could be. Here’s a look at five of her most unforgettable films. Not just hits, but moments that shaped how we remember her.
1. Mr. India (1987) – When the Invisible Man Took a Backseat
In Mr. India, Anil Kapoor wore the watch. He went invisible. But somehow, all anyone could see was Sridevi. As the feisty journalist Seema, she turned a superhero film into her playground. One moment she was all business, the next—slipping into a Charlie Chaplin act like she was born for it. And then came Kaate Nahi Katte. That red sari, the rain, the unspoken longing—it became legend. No visual effects could match the electricity she brought to that scene. Sridevi wasn’t playing the role; she was the spectacle.
2. Chandni (1989) – Romance Redefined in Chiffon
You think of Chandni, and what comes to mind? That soft swirl of white fabric, maybe. Or Shiv-Hari’s music echoing through Alpine landscapes. But more than anything, it’s Sridevi’s face. She played the part with elegance but also with steel. Her Chandni wasn’t just waiting around to be chosen—she held her ground, shaped her fate. It was Yash Chopra’s canvas, sure. But it was Sridevi who painted the emotions.
3. Sadma (1983) – Pure Pain in Its Most Innocent Form
If there’s a film that silences you long after the credits roll, it’s Sadma. As a young woman with memory loss, caught in a child’s mind, Sridevi was heartbreaking. She didn’t overplay it. No cheap tears. Just pure, unaffected innocence. Kamal Haasan was brilliant too. But in that final scene, when she walks away without recognising the man who loved her, you’re not looking at him. You’re watching her. And you’re broken.
4. Lamhe (1991) – A Gamble Turned Gold Over Time
When Lamhe was released, people weren’t quite ready for it. A man falling for the daughter of his former flame? That was bold stuff. But it was Sridevi who made it believable. She played both roles, the mother and later the daughter, with such grace and distinction that you never confused the two. At times playful, other times deeply emotional, she walked the line beautifully. Years later, people finally caught up with what the film dared to do. And realised it only worked because of her.
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5. English Vinglish (2012) – Comeback? More Like Commanding Return
Fifteen years off-screen, and still, she walked into English Vinglish like she never left. As Shashi, a homemaker learning English in New York, Sridevi stripped away every trace of stardom. She let the vulnerability show. There was no big breakdown, no over-the-top drama. Just small moments, a look, a pause, a quiet triumph. And it was those moments that made this film hit home for so many. It wasn’t a comeback. It was a reminder. Sridevi never needed the spotlight. The spotlight needed her.
More Than a Star
Trying to sum up Sridevi in five films is like catching moonlight in a jar. It doesn’t quite fit. She did slapstick and tragedy, danced like a dream, and spoke with just her eyes. And whether she was in a saree or a salwar, onscreen or off, one thing stayed constant: your eyes were always on her. Even now, when the industry is full of talent and technology, very few carry that kind of magic. The kind that makes you pause mid-scroll when an old scene plays. The kind that lingers. That’s Sridevi.
Writer- Subham Choudhary