Sonam Khan recalls Sridevi: 'A queen and a child behind the legend'
Synopsis
Sonam Khan's Instagram tribute to Sridevi peels back the legend to reveal something quieter — a childlike, warm woman who giggled like a schoolgirl and talked for hours on a 1990 transatlantic flight. A single bouquet sent after the Chandni premiere was all it took to break the ice, and Sonam says she got to know both the queen and the child behind the icon.
Key Takeaways
Sonam Khan posted a heartfelt tribute to Sridevi on Instagram on Monday, 15 June , sharing rare personal memories.
Their friendship began when Sonam sent flowers to Sridevi the morning after the Chandni premiere, with a note reading 'A queen will be a queen.' Sridevi told filmmaker Yash Chopra that Sonam was the only actress who sent her flowers after the premiere.
Sonam recalled a memorable New York to Bombay flight in 1990 after performing at Amitabh Bachchan's concert, where Sridevi spoke openly for hours.
Sridevi passed away on 24 February 2018 in Dubai after accidentally drowning.
Former actress Sonam Khan on Monday, 15 June shared a deeply personal tribute to the late Sridevi, offering rare glimpses into a friendship that began with a bouquet of roses and blossomed into a bond the veteran actress says she will cherish forever. The post, published on Instagram, accompanied a rare black-and-white throwback photograph featuring Sonam alongside Sridevi, Chunky Panday, and Amrish Puri.
How the Friendship Began
Sonam recalled first meeting Sridevi at the mahurat of Nakabandi, where the legendary actress was so reserved that, by Sonam's account, she 'barely got a hello.' The turning point came at the premiere of Chandni, when industry reaction was, in Sonam's words, 'mostly a mixed bag' with 'doubt everywhere.' Choosing to go against the tide, Sonam sent Sridevi flowers the very next morning with a handwritten note reading, 'A queen will be a queen.'
The gesture apparently moved Sridevi deeply. She reportedly told filmmaker Yash Chopra that 'Sonam has sent me flowers which are touching my ceiling,' and later told him that Sonam was the only actress who had sent her flowers. 'It was a fan moment for me. Like, Sridevi ma'am even knows my name,' Sonam wrote.
The Ice Broke: A Simple Gesture, a Lasting Bond
When the two met again for patchwork on Nakabandi, Sridevi personally thanked Sonam for the roses. 'That was it. The ice broke,' Sonam recalled. 'A simple gesture with no agenda made me her friend, and God, I was so proud of that.' She noted that their shared experience of entering the film industry at a very young age created an unspoken understanding between them — 'That comes with honesty and zero malice,' she wrote.
The Childlike Side of a Screen Legend
Sonam described a transformation in how Sridevi behaved around her once the initial reserve melted away. 'The legend fell away. She'd tug at my sleeve, eyes sparkling, giggling like we were back in school,' she wrote. Among her most vivid memories is a long flight from New York to Bombay in 1990, following a joint performance at Amitabh Bachchan's concert. 'For hours she talked. No walls, no silences. Just her — soft, funny, real. Sometimes heartbreakingly honest,' Sonam recalled.
Concluding her tribute, Sonam wrote: 'I got to know both of her: the queen everyone worshipped, and the child who just wanted to laugh. It was a privilege and an honour to have known her. A queen can be replaced but not Sridevi... till eternity.'
Remembering Sridevi
Veteran actress Sridevi passed away on 24 February 2018 in Dubai after accidentally drowning. She remains one of the most celebrated performers in Indian cinema, widely regarded as the first female superstar of Bollywood. Tributes from colleagues and fans continue to pour in years after her passing, a testament to the enduring impact she left on the industry and audiences alike.
Point of View
She humanises her — the giggling, sleeve-tugging woman on a long-haul flight is far more vivid than any award citation. What is quietly notable is the detail that Sonam was, by Sridevi's own account to Yash Chopra, the only actress who sent flowers after Chandni's mixed premiere-night reception. That says as much about Bollywood's internal politics of the era as it does about Sonam's warmth. Seven years after her passing, Sridevi's hold on collective memory remains remarkably undimmed — each personal account that surfaces only deepens the sense of how much was lost in February 2018.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sonam Khan share about Sridevi on Instagram?
Sonam Khan posted a personal tribute recounting her friendship with Sridevi, from their first meeting at the mahurat of Nakabandi to a long conversation on a New York-to-Bombay flight in 1990. She described Sridevi as both 'the queen everyone worshipped' and 'the child who just wanted to laugh.'
How did Sonam Khan and Sridevi become close friends?
Their bond began when Sonam sent Sridevi flowers and a handwritten note — 'A queen will be a queen' — the morning after the Chandni premiere in 1989, when industry reaction to the film was mixed. Sridevi reportedly told filmmaker Yash Chopra that Sonam was the only actress who sent her flowers, and personally thanked her when they met again for Nakabandi's patchwork shoot.
What was Sridevi's reaction to Sonam Khan's flowers?
According to Sonam, Sridevi told filmmaker Yash Chopra that 'Sonam has sent me flowers which are touching my ceiling.' She also told him Sonam was the only actress who had sent her flowers after the Chandni premiere, and later thanked Sonam personally when they met on set.
When did Sridevi pass away?
Sridevi passed away on 24 February 2018 in Dubai after accidentally drowning. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actresses in Indian cinema history.
What photograph did Sonam Khan share with her tribute?
Sonam shared a rare black-and-white throwback photograph featuring herself alongside Sridevi, Chunky Panday, and Amrish Puri. In the image, Sridevi is seen dressed in a suit, posing for the camera.
