Cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran, now a director, had an extraordinary devotion to the late actress Sridevi. This admiration went so far that he created a "Sridevi room" in his college hostel.
Chandran's fascination with Sridevi began during his college years. He religiously collected her pictures from newspapers, magazines, and film posters. He would then adorn the walls of his hostel room with these cutouts. As he told the Indian Express, he even stole a life-size cutout of Sridevi from a theater, bringing it back to his room, which then became known as the "Sridevi room". The walls were completely covered with images of the actress.
His admiration wasn't just limited to collecting images. Chandran and his friends would visit the room to "see her or offer prayers". During exam seasons, they would encourage each other to seek "ashirwad" (blessings) from Sridevi. For Chandran, Sridevi was more than just an actress; she was an idol.
Despite his success in Bollywood, Chandran didn't get the opportunity to meet Sridevi for a long time. However, a chance encounter orchestrated by Anil Kapoor led to a surreal moment. Chandran was meeting with director Rajkumar Santoshi when they decided to watch a late-night showing of The Hangover. Kapoor joined them and invited Sridevi along.
Chandran found himself in the back seat of a car between Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. He was "completely speechless". Later, he sat next to her in the theatre and couldn't help but glance at her. Chandran shared the story of his "Sridevi room" with her. Sridevi responded graciously, saying that she had seen all of his films. This acknowledgment was a dream come true for Chandran.
Sridevi, often called the "first female superstar" of Indian cinema, had a career spanning five decades. She was known for her versatility and ability to portray both intense emotions and humor. Her work spanned multiple languages, and she remains beloved by audiences and film industry figures.
Ravi K. Chandran is known for his cinematography in films like Black, Saawariya, Ghajini, My Name Is Khan, and Dil Chahta Hai. He recently worked on They Call Him OG, starring Pawan Kalyan.
Karan Johar, another prominent figure in Bollywood, has also spoken about Sridevi's significant influence on his love for Hindi cinema. He described her as having a "magical quality of connecting with you" and admitted to placing her on a pedestal.
Sridevi passed away on February 24, 2018, at the age of 54. Her legacy continues to inspire many, as evident in Ravi K. Chandran's story and the memories shared by colleagues like Shekhar Kapur. Kapur, who directed Sridevi in Mr. India, has described her as "fiercely loyal" and praised her "innocence" and "vulnerability". He recounted how she would protect him during difficult times during filming.
