Some stars leave behind films. Others leave behind an entire era. On Sridevi’s birth anniversary, Priyanka Chopra took to Instagram Stories to remember the legendary actress while giving fans a first glimpse at an upcoming biography that promises to revisit the life and legacy of one of Indian cinema’s most influential stars.
Born on August 13, 1963, Sridevi would have turned 63 this year. Priyanka shared the cover of Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi, writing, “The one and only. You are so missed. Happy heavenly birthday.” She also added that the book was “coming soon.”
The post gave fans more than a moment of remembrance. It also offered an update on a long-awaited project that has been in the works for several years.
Introducing Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi
Authored by Dhiraj U. Kumarr and published by Westland Books, Empress is positioned as a definitive biography of Sridevi, exploring the actress’s extraordinary career, personal journey and lasting impact on Indian cinema.
The project was first announced by Westland in 2023, with the book expected to document the many chapters of Sridevi’s life, from her beginnings as a child artiste to her emergence as one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. It is currently listed as coming soon.
The choice of title feels particularly fitting. Sridevi was not simply one of the most successful actresses of her generation. At the peak of her career, she became one of the rare female performers who could carry the commercial weight of a film herself, challenging an industry where male stars traditionally dominated the box office.
“The Epitome of Unmitigated Talent”
Adding another layer of significance to the announcement is the endorsement printed on the cover. Amitabh Bachchan describes Sridevi as “the epitome of unmitigated talent”, a striking assessment from another towering figure of Indian cinema.
The phrase captures something fundamental about Sridevi’s appeal. She could be effortlessly comic in ChaalBaaz, vulnerable in Sadma, romantic in Chandni, commanding in Mr. India and deeply restrained in her later work. Her ability to move between comedy, drama, romance and tragedy without losing the individuality of her performances became one of the defining characteristics of her career.
A Career That Began at Four
Sridevi’s journey was extraordinary partly because it began extraordinarily early. She entered cinema as a child artiste at just four years old, appearing in the 1967 Tamil film Kandhan Karunai. She subsequently worked across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema before becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable stars.
Her Hindi-film breakthrough opened the door to a remarkable run during the 1980s and 1990s, when films such as Himmatwala, Mr. India, Chandni, Nagina, Sadma, ChaalBaaz and Lamhe established her as a performer who could command both critical attention and enormous popular appeal.
She later returned to the screen after a long hiatus with English Vinglish (2012), delivering a widely celebrated comeback that introduced her work to another generation. Her final full-fledged film appearance was Mom in 2017, for which she was posthumously awarded the National Film Award for Best Actress.
She was also honoured with the Padma Shri in 2013.
A Legacy That Refuses to Fade
Sridevi died in Dubai on February 24, 2018, at the age of 54. Yet the years since her death have done little to diminish her presence in Indian popular culture.
If anything, her legacy has continued to grow. Her films are revisited. Her performances are analysed. Her fashion remains influential. And actors who grew up watching her continue to speak about the impact she had on their understanding of what a female screen performer could be.
That is perhaps why Empress arrives with such anticipation. A biography of Sridevi is not merely a chronicle of an actress’s career. It is an opportunity to examine a period when Indian cinema was changing, when regional industries were increasingly influencing one another, and when Sridevi herself was moving effortlessly across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Priyanka’s Tribute Adds Another Generational Link
Priyanka Chopra’s tribute feels significant in that context. Chopra belongs to a generation of Indian actors who inherited an industry that had already been transformed by performers like Sridevi. By sharing the first look at Empress on Sridevi’s birth anniversary, she is not simply remembering a former colleague or cinematic icon, she is helping keep that connection between generations alive.
Sridevi’s husband, filmmaker Boney Kapoor, also reshared Priyanka’s post on his Instagram Stories. And while the book’s release date has not yet been announced, the first look has already renewed curiosity around what promises to be one of the most detailed attempts yet to document Sridevi’s extraordinary journey.
The Empress Still Reigns
Sridevi’s career lasted five decades. She began as a child artiste and became a pan-Indian superstar. She crossed languages, genres and generations. She could dominate a commercial entertainer one year and deliver an emotionally devastating performance the next.
Perhaps that is why the word “Empress” feels less like a promotional title and more like a description of the cultural space she continues to occupy.
Years after her passing, Sridevi is still being celebrated, remembered and written about. And on what would have been her 63rd birthday, Priyanka Chopra’s simple tribute has once again reminded audiences of a truth Indian cinema has never quite moved past:
There was only one Sridevi.
