Sridevi
She ascended from child star to become Indian cinema's first true female superstar, commanding the screen for five decades with electrifying versatility.
1963–2018 (age 55)·Indian actress·Birthday: August 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Sridevi began performing almost as soon as she could walk, a child actor in South Indian films who possessed a preternatural comfort before the camera. By her teens, she was a leading lady, and her transition to Hindi cinema in the late 1970s ignited a stardom that would redefine the industry. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she carried films on her own star power, a rarity for actresses at the time. From the comedic chaos of 'Mr. India' to the dramatic intensity of 'Sadma' and the glamorous vengeance of 'Chandni,' she displayed a breathtaking range. After a long hiatus, her triumphant return in 2012's 'English Vinglish' proved her appeal was timeless, showcasing a nuanced performance that resonated with a new generation before her untimely death in 2018.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Sridevi was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sridevi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Sridevi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2018Died at 55
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- Widely regarded as the first female superstar of Indian cinema, headlining major commercial successes across multiple film industries.
- Received a National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the 2017 film 'Mom'.
- Her career spanned over 300 films in five different languages: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada.
Did You Know?
She made her acting debut at the age of four in the Tamil film 'Kandhan Karunai' (1967).
Sridevi was known for being extremely shy and soft-spoken in real life, a stark contrast to her vibrant on-screen personas.
She posthumously received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2013.
“I never thought of myself as a star; I was just an actress doing my job.”
