Karisma Kapoor on Sridevi: 'I based my career on watching her'
Synopsis
Karisma Kapoor once admitted she built her entire career by watching Sridevi — and in a rare on-screen moment, Sridevi returned the compliment, calling Karisma's sincerity 'really amazing.' The exchange on 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai' is a window into how one legend quietly shaped another.
Key Takeaways
Karisma Kapoor called Sridevi her 'complete role model' on the talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai' , saying she based her career on watching her.
Karisma described working under Sridevi Productions as her greatest professional achievement.
Sridevi appeared on the same episode and praised Karisma's sincerity, talent, and professionalism.
Father Randhir Kapoor recalled that a young Karisma danced to Sridevi's songs from 'Himmatwala' dressed in her mother's clothes.
The two actresses collaborated in 'Shakti: The Power' (2002) and shared a cameo in 'Zero' , which marked Sridevi's final on-screen appearance before her passing in February 2018 .
Actress Karisma Kapoor once revealed in a candid interview that the late legendary star Sridevi was her complete role model — and that her entire approach to acting and stardom was shaped by watching and learning from her. The disclosure came during an early appearance on the talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai', where Karisma spoke with rare emotional openness about the icon who defined a generation of Hindi cinema.
Karisma's Tribute to Sridevi
The 'Raja Hindustani' actress did not hold back when describing Sridevi's influence. “Sridevi has been my role model. My complete role model. And I think I based my career on everything by watching her and learning from her. Oh God, I'm shaking. Her professionalism, the way she's groomed herself, everything about her,” Karisma said on the show.
She also revealed a milestone that held deep personal significance: “I don't know if everybody is aware, but it's my greatest achievement that I'm working in a movie under her banner called Sridevi Productions. It has been the most wonderful thing for me.”
Sridevi's Words for Karisma
In a remarkable moment, Sridevi herself appeared on the same episode and returned the admiration. “To be honest, I used to consider myself to be one of the most hardworking heroines. But looking at her, the way she conducts herself, the way she is being so sincere to her work, it's really amazing. She has a real perfect combination, like she is beautiful, talented, and sincere,” Sridevi stated.
The exchange stands as one of the more memorable on-screen moments between two of Bollywood's most celebrated actresses — a mutual acknowledgment across generations.
Randhir Kapoor's Childhood Memories
The episode also featured a video call appearance by Karisma's father, veteran actor Randhir Kapoor, who recalled that his daughter had harboured a passion for films from a very young age. He shared that as a child, Karisma would dress up in her mother's housecoats, gowns, and heels and dance to Sridevi's songs from films like 'Himmatwala' — a detail that underscores just how early the influence took root.
Their On-Screen Collaborations
Karisma Kapoor and Sridevi shared screen space in the 2002 film 'Shakti: The Power', produced by Sridevi and her husband Boney Kapoor. The two actresses also made brief cameo appearances in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Zero', alongside stars including Alia Bhatt, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji.
Notably, Sridevi had filmed her portion for 'Zero' before her untimely passing in February 2018 in Dubai, where she had travelled to attend a family wedding. That cameo became her final on-screen appearance, lending the film an added emotional weight for audiences who watched it.
A Legacy That Shaped an Era
Sridevi's influence on contemporaries and successors alike remains a recurring theme in Bollywood's cultural memory. That Karisma — herself a National Award-winning actress — credits her so openly speaks to the depth of Sridevi's impact, not just as a performer but as a professional benchmark. Karisma's career, spanning decades and multiple acclaimed roles, carries within it, by her own account, a thread that leads directly back to the star she grew up watching.
Point of View
In some ways, the range Sridevi herself demonstrated. What is often missed in mainstream coverage is that Sridevi's mentorship was not just inspirational but structural: she literally produced a film starring Karisma. The 'Zero' cameo footnote also deserves more attention — it means Sridevi's last artistic act was a collaborative one, a gesture toward the broader Bollywood family she had long anchored.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karisma Kapoor say about Sridevi on 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai'?
Karisma Kapoor said Sridevi was her 'complete role model' and that she based her entire career on watching and learning from her. She also called working under Sridevi Productions her greatest professional achievement.
How did Sridevi respond to Karisma Kapoor's admiration?
Sridevi appeared on the same episode of 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai' and praised Karisma, saying she had a 'perfect combination' of beauty, talent, and sincerity. Sridevi noted that Karisma's work ethic even surpassed her own self-image as one of Bollywood's hardest-working actresses.
Which films did Karisma Kapoor and Sridevi work on together?
The two collaborated on 'Shakti: The Power' (2002), produced by Sridevi and Boney Kapoor. They also shared a brief cameo in Shah Rukh Khan's 'Zero,' which became Sridevi's final on-screen appearance before her death in February 2018.
When did Sridevi pass away and where?
Sridevi passed away in February 2018 in Dubai, where she had travelled to attend a family wedding. Her cameo in 'Zero' had already been filmed and became her last on-screen role.
What childhood memory did Randhir Kapoor share about Karisma and Sridevi?
Randhir Kapoor recalled that a young Karisma would dress in her mother's housecoats, gowns, and heels and dance to Sridevi's songs from films like 'Himmatwala,' reflecting how early Sridevi's influence had taken hold.
