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Sridevi Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth13 August 1963

Age54 (at time of death)

BirthplaceMeenampatti, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India

ProfessionActress

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseBoney Kapoor

FamilyChildren - Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor; Stepson - Arjun Kapoor

Sridevi Biography

Sridevi, born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan, was an Indian actress whose career spanned more than four decades across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannn

Early life and background

Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan, known professionally as Sridevi, was born on 13 August 1963 in Meenampatti, Sivakasi, in Tamil Nadu, India. She grew up the daughter of Ayyapan Yanger and Rajeswari Yanger and began appearing on screen as a child. Her early years in cinema included work in Tamil and other South Indian film industries, where she won recognition as a young performer.

Career

Sridevi’s screen career started when she was very young. She made her first child-artist appearance in the Tamil film Thunaivan and went on to act in films across several South Indian languages, including notable early credits in Malayalam and Telugu cinema. As she transitioned into adult roles, her first leading part came in the Tamil film Solva Sawan, and she drew strong notice for performances in movies such as Moondru Mudichu and 16 Vayathinile.

Her career crossed into Hindi films with Sadma, a Hindi remake of a Tamil film in which she had previously starred. After Sadma she became increasingly active in Bollywood. The 1980s brought her widespread stardom: she delivered memorable performances in big commercial and critical projects, earned multiple Filmfare Awards across languages, and was recognized as one of the highest-paid actresses in Hindi cinema from 1985 to 1992.

Sridevi worked with many prominent filmmakers and actors during her career. She appeared in Chandni, which helped make her a household name in Hindi-speaking markets. Her versatility included comic and dramatic turns, double roles, and dance sequences for which she earned a reputation as a leading dancer despite not having formal dance training. She acted in films across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada for more than four decades and continued to receive acclaim for complex performances, including her work in Lamhe and ChaalBaaz.

After a long hiatus from lead roles in mainstream Hindi films, Sridevi returned to the screen in 2012 with English Vinglish, a comeback that won wide critical praise and brought international attention. She followed that with the 2017 film Mom, for which she later received the National Award for Best Actress for the year 2017.

Public profile

Sridevi’s public image blended commercial stardom with critical respect. She was frequently celebrated for the expressive range she brought to her roles, and she won industry awards in multiple languages, including Filmfare honors and the civilian award Padma Shri in 2013. Her collaborations with contemporaries such as Kamal Haasan and Jeetendra were often highlighted as major creative partnerships, and she maintained a long-standing place in popular discussions about Indian cinema’s leading stars of the 1980s and 1990s.

Personal life and family

Sridevi married film producer Boney Kapoor. She was stepmother to Arjun Kapoor and mother to daughters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor. Her family ties were often covered alongside her film work in the media.

Later years and death

Sridevi resumed a prominent acting presence with English Vinglish and later roles that reaffirmed her status as a celebrated performer. On 24 February 2018 she died in Dubai; forensic reports cited accidental drowning as the cause of death. She was 54 years old. Her funeral and memorial observances in Mumbai were widely attended and covered, and she was honored posthumously in various ways, including the unveiling of a wax figure at Madame Tussauds Singapore in 2019.

Latest updates

After her passing, Sridevi’s final film appearances included a 2018 cameo appearance in Zero. In 2019 her daughters and husband participated in the unveiling of her wax figure at Madame Tussauds Singapore, a public commemoration of her career and legacy.

Legacy

Sridevi is remembered for a rare combination of commercial success and acclaimed performances across multiple Indian film industries. She is often cited for her ability to inhabit both dramatic and light-hearted roles, for memorable double-role performances, and for a long-running influence on popular Indian cinema.
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Recent Work

English Vinglish

A 2012 comeback film that brought critical acclaim and international attention.

2012
Mom

A 2017 film for which she later received the National Award for Best Actress for 2017.

2017
Zero (cameo)

A cameo appearance as herself announced as her last film appearance.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. Acted across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films for more than four decades
  2. Highest-paid actress in Bollywood from 1985 to 1992
  3. Multiple Filmfare Awards across languages and the Padma Shri (2013)
  4. Returned from a 15-year hiatus with English Vinglish (2012)
  5. National Award for Best Actress for Mom (for 2017)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sridevi born?

13 August 1963

What is Sridevi known for?

Actress

What is Sridevi’s marital status?

Married

Who is Sridevi married to?

Boney Kapoor