Happy Birthday Sridevi!

Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan to Tamil lawyer, Ayyapan and Telugu mother, Rajeswari, Sridevi has a sister and two step brothers. Not much is known about her education or personal life, other than the fact that she is married to one of Bollywood's most successful producers, Boney Kapoor, and has two daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi, with him. Sridevi started as a child artist in M.A. Thirumugham's devotional hit movie, Thunaivan (1967); and continued to act in various southern films before she made her debut in Bollywood at the age of 12 in the super successful Julie (1975).

Her first role as an adult came in the form of Tamil movie Moondru Mudichu in1976. This beauty later took on many critically acclaimed projects in the southern industry such as 16 Vayathinile (1977), Sigappu Roakkal (1978), Varumayin Niram Sivappu (1980), Premabhishekam (1981), Meendum Kokila (1981), Moondram Pirai (1982), Aakhari Poratam (1988), Jadadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari (1990) and Kshana Kshanam (1991). She made a fairytale debut in Bollywood as a lead actress with Solva Sawan (1978). But it was only with K. Raghavendra Rao's Himmatwala (1983) alongside Jeetendra, that she gained recognition with the masses.  Her success streak continued with movies like Mawaali (1983), Tohfa (1984), Masterji (1985), Karma (1986), Mr.India (1987), Waqt Ki Awaz (1988), Chandni (1989), Chaalbaaz (1989), Lamhe (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), Gumrah (1993), Laadla (1994) and Judaai (1997).

After Judaai (1997), Sridevi took a six year break from the silver screen and returned to television with 'Malini Iyer' on Sahara. She went on to judge a TV show called 'Kaboom' in 2005 and 2007. She later dazzled everyone with her performances at the 52^nd Filmfare Awards. In 2012, Sridevi made an appearance on Aamir Khan's 'Satyamev Jayte' and signed a letter to the government extending her support in passing a law criminalizing child abuse. Sridevi announced her comeback to Bollywood at the IIFA Awards 2011 with Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish (2012). Critics lauded Sridevi for her performance in the film, which subsequently led to her being nominated for most of the Best Actress awards, including the prestigious Filmfare awards. It marked her ninth nomination for Best Actress for the Filmfare awards. She has received a total of five Filmfare awards for her work in Hindi, Telugu & Tamil cinema.

Apart from films and television, this ethereal beauty has walked the ramp for the Lakme Fashion Week in 2008 and 2010. Sridevi also has a passion for painting and some of her paintings were sold by an international art house to raise money for charity. She was the showstopper at the HDIL Couture Week 2009 as she walked the ramp for many famous and successful designers like Neeta Lulla, Queenie Dhody and Pria-Chintan. Sridevi is also a board member (Director) at the Asian Academy of Film & Television. In 2013, she was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India, the Padma Shri. This timeless beauty is the recipient of many other awards as well.

On this occasion, we bring to you a playlist of Sridevi's evergreen chartbusters :

Author : Nisha M.

Editor(s) : Tanisha N. & Gunia M.

Graphics : Virina R.