This actress who started her career at four, established herself as a leading female star of South Indian Cinema. Then she entered Bollywood to become India’s first highest-paid actress.
Women have always been frustrated by the unfair treatment that they have received at the hands of a male-dominated film industry. Even in the entertainment industry, female actors were never equally paid as male actors in ’80s and ’90s. Only the heroes used to get a whopping amount, a fees worth crores. But there was an actress who made sure she got what she deserved. She used to charge more than the hero even in that era. The stardom of that actress was such that she openly refused to work with Amitabh Bachchan. This actress known as the “first female superstar” of Indian cinema made her debut as a child in Tamil film Kandhan Karunai (1967) at the age of four. Her first role as an on-screen adult came in 1976 at age 13. She soon established herself as a leading female star of South Indian Cinema.
In 1979, this actress started her journey in Hindi cinema with the drama film Solva Sawan, also featuring Amol Palekar. We are talking about Sridevi. She was honoured with the Padma Shri award, a National Film Award.
Why did Sridevi refuse to work with Amitabh Bachchan?
Sridevi was initially offered a role in Ajooba, starring Amitabh Bachchan, by producer and director Shashi Kapoor. While he was eager to have her in the film, Sridevi wasn’t very interested because her role didn’t meet her expectations. Additionally, it was challenging to cast both Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi in the same film due to the high costs involved. By that time, Sridevi had started rejecting films opposite Amitabh unless her role had equal or greater importance and screen time. Eventually, Dimple Kapadia replaced her in the role.
Sridevi’s old pic
Sridevi used to charge Rs 1 crore per film in ’80s and ’90s
In the ’80s and ’90s, Sridevi became the first actress to charge Rs 1 crore per film, a time when only male actors typically earned such high fees. She broke barriers by earning more than the heroes, marking a significant shift in the industry. Sridevi’s mother managed her career and was known for her strong negotiating skills.
During the making of Mr. India, she initially asked for Rs 10 lakh, but producer Boney Kapoor offered her Rs 11 lakh instead. Recalling the incident at a recent summit, Boney Kapoor shared, “Sri was the highest-paid actor among the females. I knew she had done a film for around Rs 8–8.5 lakh, and probably this was her mother’s way of negotiating. I heard her figure, and I said, ‘No, I’ll pay Rs 11 lakh.’ She thought I was a mad producer from Bombay who was offering more than what she asked for! Well, that’s how I got close to her mother.”
Even though Sridevi is no longer with us, her grace and legacy continue to live in the hearts of her fans.