Priyanka Chopra Unveils First Look of Sridevi Biography ‘Empress’

Global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas has unveiled the first-look cover of Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi on the birth anniversary of legendary actress Sridevi, bringing renewed attention to a long-awaited book on the life and legacy of one of Indian cinema’s most iconic stars.

Chopra shared the cover on her Instagram Stories, remembering Sridevi as an “unparalleled actress” and expressing how deeply she continues to be missed. Filmmaker and Sridevi’s husband Boney Kapoor also shared Chopra’s post, adding to the tribute marking the late actor’s birth anniversary.

Written by Dhiraj U. Kumarr and published by Westland Books, Empress carries a notable tribute from Amitabh Bachchan on its cover. The Bollywood veteran describes Sridevi as the “epitome of unmitigated talent,” underlining the extraordinary stature she achieved during her career.

Westland Books had announced the biography in 2023, initially under the title Sridevi: The Life of a Legend. The book is expected to explore the actress’s professional journey as well as her personal life, achievements, influence on audiences and the lasting legacy she left behind.

Sridevi’s connection with cinema began remarkably early. She entered the industry as a child artiste at the age of four, making her screen debut in the 1967 Tamil film Kandan Karunai. She later made her Hindi-film debut with Rani Mera Naam in 1972.

Over the following decades, Sridevi established herself as a formidable presence across South Indian cinema and Bollywood. Her versatility, screen presence and ability to move effortlessly between drama, comedy and dance made her one of the most commercially successful female stars of her era. Films such as Mr. India, Chandni and Mom further cemented her place in Indian film history.

Sridevi married filmmaker Boney Kapoor in 1996. The couple have two daughters, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor, both of whom have entered the film industry as actresses.

In recognition of her contribution to Indian cinema, Sridevi was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013. She died unexpectedly in Dubai in February 2018, aged 54, leaving behind a career spanning several decades and multiple Indian film industries.

With Empress, readers can expect a deeper account of the woman behind the superstar persona, tracing Sridevi’s remarkable rise from child artiste to India’s first female superstar and examining the influence she continues to have on generations of performers and audiences. The biography is expected to be released soon.