Sri Devi

In 1976, Sridevi got her first big break as heroine in the Tamil industry with K. Balachander's film Moondru Mudichu, where she starred opposite rising stars, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. The film became a huge hit and Sridevi followed with a succession of blockbuster films with both Haasan and Rajnikanth in the Tamil industry.
Sridevi's first release of 1977 was Gayathri followed by Kavikkuyil and the superhit 16 Vayathinile starring opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth. She played the role of a young girl who is caught between her two lovers. The movie was a huge success earning $1 million at the box office.

The movie proved to be a major breakthrough in her career. Sridevi starred opposite Chandra Mohan in the movie's Telugu remake Padaharella Vayasu in 1978.

Sridevi continued to rise as a leading actress of the Tamil industry with Bharathi Raja's Sigappu Rojakkal opposite Kamal Haasan. She next starred in SP. Muthuraman's Priya opposite Rajnikanth. In 1979, Sridevi debuted as an adult in Bollywood with Solva Sawan opposite Amol Palekar. The film was a remake to Tamil hit 16 Vayathinile (Padhinaaru Vayathinile)(1977) which starred Kamal Hassan and Sridevi. The movie was also remade in Telugu, again starring Sridevi as 16 Vayasu or Padaharella Vayasu (1978).

In 1979, Sridevi had only one successful release with Karthika Deepam. In 1980, Sridevi appeared in the hit movie Johnny opposite Rajnikanth. Later that year, she was paired with Kamal Haasan in K. Balachander's Varumayin Niram Sivappu, which turned out to be a hit at the box office. With her string of successful movies at the box office, Sridevi established herself as the top actress in the Tamil industry as well as also making a name in Telugu films.

In 1981, Sridevi continued to rise as an actress with Aakali Rajyam opposite Kamal Haasan. Aakali Rajyam became a super hit movie at the box office. It was the Telugu remake of Varumayin Niram Sivappu. Later that year, she starred opposite Kamal Haasan in the Tamil film Meendum Kokila, for which she earned critical acclaim and won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.

In 1982, Sridevi starred in the superhit Moondram Pirai opposite Kamal Haasan. She received critical acclaim for her performance as a mentally deranged childlike woman from a brothel who is rescued by a schoolteacher and is looked after by him in his hillside home.

After a six-year hiatus, Sridevi briefly returned to the small screen in the Sahara sitcom Malini Iyer (2004–2005). She also appeared on Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai (2004) and as a judge in the TV show Kaboom (2005). She performed a medley of some of her musical numbers at the 52nd Filmfare Awards 2007. She is also a member of the Board of Directors at the Asian Academy of Film & Television.

On 19 September 2009, Sridevi appeared on the Sony TV show 10 Ka Dum hosted by Salman Khan. On the episode, she and her husband, Boney Kapoor, were guests, along with actor-director Prabhu Deva, actress Ayesha Takia and the musical duo Sajid-Wajid, all of whom had come to promote their film Wanted.

Sridevi has also appeared on ramps in Lakme Fashion Weeks 2008 and 2010 and the HDIL Couture Week 2009 as Showstopper for prestigious designers like Neeta Lulla, Queenie Dhody and Priya-Chintan.

Sridevi also developed passion for painting which has since brought her foreign attention. In March 2010, her paintings were chosen by an international art auction house. The auction started in April 2010, and the money raised was donated.