RIP Sridevi! Sadma, Chandni, Mr India - 7 Brilliant Movie Performances To Remember This Screen Goddess Forever

As I write this article, I really haven't come to terms that one of my favourite actresses, whose movies I have grown up watching, is no more. Sridevi, our very own Hawa Hawaii, is no longer among us mortals. She had passed away to her heavenly abode after suffering a massive cardiac arrest while attending the wedding of Mohit Marwah in UAE, who happens to be the nephew of her husband producer Boney Kapoor. While her death is tragic, what adds to the irony is that her elder daughter Janhvi Kapoor is making her Bollywood debut in a few months, and she won't be there to see that proud moment.

There are only a few few actresses in Indian cinema, who can brag of being successful in more than three industries. Not just Bollywood, Sridevi had her successful innings in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and even Kannada industries. She actually began her career down South, before making her debut in Julie, as the lead actress Lakshmi's younger sister. It was Solva Sawaan that gave her the break as the lead actress, and Himmatwala that established her as the popular star. Sridevi went on to act in quite many movies and delivered many hits. Together with Madhuri Dixit, she ruled the late '80s and the early '90s as the reigning divas. He formed popular jodis with actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor (who later become her brother-in-law) Sunny Deol, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna. After taking a break to care of her family, she returned to cinema earlier this decade in the lovely English Vinglish. Her last screen appearance was in last year's Mom.

Though she had done many roles that endeared to many is us, we are narrowing it down to seven of our favourite roles of Sridevi's that we thank her for giving us.

Sadma

In this classic Balu Mahendra movie with one of the most tragic climaxes ever, Sridevi plays a woman who loses her memory and acts like a child under the care of an innocent stranger (played by Kamal Haasan). This is one of her most endearing acts layered with currents of tragedy and pity.

Chandni

Many might claim that this is a typical Yash Chopra heroine role. But this was a role were Sridevi had to go through an array of emotional transformations - from a innocent girl in love to a women betrayed by ignorance to finally a lady who chose to forget her setbacks in dawn of a promising future. And Sridevi never looked so beautiful and sensual like she was here!

Mr India

Come on, that whole Charlie Chaplin sequence is something not many actresses can pull off. That one scene (and quite a few like that in this epically awesome movie) proves that it is difficult to beat Sridevi when it comes to tickling your funny bone. Speaking of which...

Chaalbaaz

...if there is one more that I can for Sridevi any number of times, it would be this terrific and ageless comedy of mistaken identities. As the meek Anju and the rebellious Manju, Sridevi manage to create separate and convincing characters, both winning out hearts. Which also speaks aeons of her amazing talent!

Gumrah

The gritty prison thriller might be a failure at the box office, but it definitely was one of Sridevi's most anguished and underrated performances. You can feel her pain as the woman wrongly incarcerated in a jail in a foreign country for a crime she didn't commit. If you haven't' watched this one, do yourself a favour and do so right now!

Laadla

It is not easy to play a negative role and yet not antagonise us enough to not cheer for you. Sridevi pulls of this difficult task with immaculate ease in Bollywood's take on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. 'Understand...You Better Understand!' had became quite a popular catchphrase after the release of the movie.

English Vinglish

If I had to pick up any of her second innings movies, it would definitely be this sweet Gauri Shinde film that was perfect for Sridevi's comeback. As a mother and wife who is often taunted for lack of English language skills, Sridevi brings in the require pathos to her character while hiding it behind a strong, innocent and yet cheery demeanor.

RIP Sridevi ji! Thank you again for giving us these awesome movies to watch and rewatch and keep your memory forever preserved in our hearts!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 25, 2018 04:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).