MUMBAI â A year has gone by since Indian film industry lost its first female superstar, Sridevi and on her first death anniversary daughter, actor Janhvi Kapoor says her heart still feels heavy.
Janhvi, who made her acting debut last year in July with Dhadak, says her mother will always be there in her heart.
Sridevi passed away, aged 54, due to accidental drowning in a Dubai hotel on February 24, 2018. Her sudden death left family, friends and thousands of fans in a state of shock.
âMy heart will always be heavy. But Iâll always be smiling because it has you in it,â Janhvi wrote on Instagram, alongside a picture of her sitting in her motherâs lap holding hands.
Srideviâs sister-in-law, designer Maheep Kapoor shared a series of pictures with the actor on Instagram and wrote, âWill always remember the good times.â
In an impressive career, spanning five decades, Sridevi dominated the commercial space in cinema in the â80s and â90s. She reversed the trend of the male-dominated film industry by her acting prowess. Her name guaranteed a filmâs success.
She started acting at the age of four and made her debut in 1969 with M A Thirumughamâs Tamil film Thunaivan. She continued working in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada movies but became a national film icon courtesy her Bollywood films.
Sridevi made her Hindi film debut as a child artiste in 1975 hit Julie and continued ruling the South Indian film industry where she established herself as a leading heroine with films such as 16 Vayathinile, Sigappu Rojakkal, Meendum Kokila and Moondram Pirai.
In Bollywood, she made her debut as a lead actor in 1978â˛s Solva Sawan and followed it up with a number of commercial hits such as Himmatwala, Mawaali, Tohfa, Mr India, Chandni, Lamhe, Nagina and Khuda Gawah among several others.
Mr India director Shekhar Kapur said he still finds it difficult to come to terms with Srideviâs sudden demise.
âStill canât get over that this bundle of life, of energy, of love, left us when she has so much much more to give,â he wrote.
Sridevi took a break from acting after 1997 film Judaai to focus on her marriage with producer Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi.
She made a successful comeback 15 years later with Gauri Shindeâs âEnglish Vinglishâ.
The actor also had a starring role in 2015 Tamil film Puli and followed English Vinglish with another successful outing 2018â˛s Mom, which was her last film. She also won a National Award posthumously for her performance in the movie.
Shinde remembered Sridevi as the âbiggest talentâ on earth.
âI miss her laughter, miss her saying my name âGauuuurrriâ only she said it in this unique way. I miss her calls, our dinners, her warm hug. (I) Miss the biggest talent that there was on this earth,â the director told PTI.
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi took to Twitter and wrote, âA year already. #Sridevi. You will live on through your work.â
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also remembered the actor.
âFondly remembering Sridevi, legendary actress, on her death anniversary. She is gone too soon,â Banerjee wrote on Twitter.
Choreographer-turned-filmmaker Farah Khan said Sridevi has been her source of motivation from the beginning of her career.
âShe was so supportive, so encouraging, getting to choreograph a Sridevi show or a song for her was like a dream. No wonder I never got awed or starstruck with any other star in my entire career because I started from the TOP! There never was and never will be anyone like SRIDEVI... Love her always,â she wrote alongside a picture from a early â90s world tour with the actor.
In her Instagram Story, Shilpa Shetty shared a picture with Sridevi and wrote, âYou are in our thoughts. RIP.â