Sridevi's 8th Death Anniversary: Lesser-known facts about Hawa Hawai actress

Sridevi's 8th Death Anniversary: Lesser-known facts about Hawa Hawai actress

• Sridevi began acting at age four in Tamil cinema
• She turned down a role in Jurassic Park offered by Spielberg
• Sridevi was one of India's highest-paid actresses

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Her real name was Shree Amma Yanger AyyappanSridevi was born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyappan in Tamil Nadu. She later adopted the screen name Sridevi, which went on to become one of the most celebrated names in Indian cinema.

Began acting at the age of fourSridevi entered films as a child artist in Tamil cinema at just four years old. Over the years, she seamlessly transitioned from child roles to leading lady status across Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada films.

Turned down Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic ParkThe actress was reportedly offered a small role in Jurassic Park by Steven Spielberg. However, she declined the offer as she wasn’t keen on playing a brief part.

Once shot a song with a 103-degree feverSridevi filmed the popular song “Na Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai” from ChaalBaaz despite running high fever, showcasing her unmatched professionalism.

Refused the film BetaShe turned down Beta opposite Anil Kapoor as she felt they had already worked together extensively and wanted to avoid repetition.

Rekha once dubbed for herIn her early Hindi films, Sridevi wasn’t fluent in the language. Veteran actress Rekha reportedly dubbed for her until Sridevi mastered Hindi herself.

Lent her voice to songsApart from acting, Sridevi tried playback singing in films like Sadma and Chandni, proving her artistic versatility.

Played Rajinikanth’s stepmother at 13In an unusual casting choice, she played stepmother to Rajinikanth in a Tamil film while still a teenager, a testament to her acting range at a young age.

Highest-paid actresses of her timeAt the peak of her career, Sridevi was one of the highest-paid actresses in India, commanding fees comparable to male superstars and delivering box-office hits consistently.

A poignant coincidence with Divya BhartiAfter Divya Bharti passed away in 1993, Sridevi stepped in to replace her in Laadla. Years later, fate created a heartbreaking parallel when Sridevi passed away on February 24, 2018 — just a day before Divya Bharti’s birthday on February 25. The coincidence remains one of Bollywood’s most discussed emotional connections.