Shabana Azmi remembers Sridevi on her 63rd birthday: 'Nothing you couldn't do'
Synopsis
Seven years after her passing, Sridevi's 63rd birthday drew tributes from Shabana Azmi and Priyanka Chopra — the latter unveiling the first look of an upcoming biography 'Empress', with a foreword note from Amitabh Bachchan calling her 'the epitome of unmitigated talent.' The outpouring underscores how thoroughly Sridevi redefined what a female lead could be in Indian cinema.
Key Takeaways
Shabana Azmi paid tribute to Sridevi on her 63rd birth anniversary on 13 August , sharing a photograph and a heartfelt message on social media.
Boney Kapoor , Sridevi's husband, responded to Shabana's post with 'Love you Shabanaji.' Priyanka Chopra revealed the first look of 'Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi' , authored by Dhiraj U Kumarr and published by Westland Books .
The biography's cover carries a special note from Amitabh Bachchan , describing Sridevi as 'the epitome of unmitigated talent.' Sridevi passed away on 24 February 2018 in Dubai after a cardiac arrest; her career spanned nearly five decades.
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi paid an emotional tribute to the late screen legend Sridevi on her birth anniversary, celebrating the icon's unmatched range and enduring legacy in Indian cinema. Sridevi, who would have turned 63 on 13 August, is widely regarded as the country's first female superstar, with a career spanning nearly five decades across multiple Indian film industries.
Shabana Azmi's Tribute
The Umrao Jaan actress took to social media to share a photograph of Sridevi — seen seated and poised in a graceful white saree — alongside a heartfelt message. Shabana wrote: 'There will never be another Sridevi .. but we remain indebted for the varied characters we watched you play. Now comic, now serious, impish, dramatic, glamorous, fab dancer...there was nothing you couldn't do...remembering you on your birthday.'
Filmmaker and Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor responded warmly in the comments, writing: 'Love you Shabanaji.'
Priyanka Chopra Unveils Sridevi Biography
Actor Priyanka Chopra marked the occasion by revealing the first look of an upcoming biography titled 'Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi', authored by Dhiraj U Kumarr and set to be published by Westland Books. Chopra shared the cover on X, describing the book as a long-awaited tribute to the actress's remarkable life, career, and lasting influence on Indian cinema.
Notably, the cover carries a special note from megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who describes Sridevi as 'the epitome of unmitigated talent' — a phrase that captures the near-universal reverence she commanded across generations of filmmakers and fans.
A Legacy That Endures
Sridevi, a National Film Award winner, passed away on 24 February 2018 in Dubai after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 54 at the time of her passing. Her films — from Sadma and Chandni to English Vinglish and Mom — continue to be revisited by new audiences, cementing her place as a singular force in the history of Indian cinema.
This is the 63rd birth anniversary of the actress, and tributes from across the film industry reflect how deeply her absence continues to be felt, even seven years after her death. The forthcoming biography and the outpouring of remembrances suggest that her cultural footprint remains very much alive.
Point of View
Endorsed by Amitabh Bachchan and unveiled by Priyanka Chopra, signals that Indian cinema is beginning to formally document its female icons with the same seriousness it long reserved for male stars. Sridevi's career, which crossed language barriers and genre lines for nearly five decades, was never fully captured in a single authoritative account — until now. Whether the biography matches the scale of her legacy remains to be seen, but the industry's sustained engagement with her memory, seven years on, is itself a statement.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shabana Azmi write about Sridevi on her birthday?
Shabana Azmi shared a photograph of Sridevi on social media and wrote: 'There will never be another Sridevi .. but we remain indebted for the varied characters we watched you play. Now comic, now serious, impish, dramatic, glamorous, fab dancer...there was nothing you couldn't do...remembering you on your birthday.' The tribute highlighted Sridevi's extraordinary versatility as a performer.
What is 'Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi'?
It is an upcoming biography of Sridevi authored by Dhiraj U Kumarr and set to be published by Westland Books. Priyanka Chopra unveiled its first look on X on Sridevi's 63rd birth anniversary, and the cover carries a note from Amitabh Bachchan describing Sridevi as 'the epitome of unmitigated talent.'
When was Sridevi born and when did she pass away?
Sridevi was born on 13 August 1963 and would have turned 63 in 2025. She passed away on 24 February 2018 in Dubai after suffering a cardiac arrest, at the age of 54.
Why is Sridevi considered India's first female superstar?
Sridevi is widely regarded as India's first female superstar because of her nearly five-decade career spanning multiple Indian film industries, her ability to headline films as the primary draw, and her extraordinary range across comedy, drama, and dance. She was also a National Film Award winner.
How did Boney Kapoor react to Shabana Azmi's tribute?
Filmmaker Boney Kapoor, Sridevi's husband, commented on Shabana Azmi's social media post with the words 'Love you Shabanaji,' acknowledging the tribute warmly.
