An Ode to THE 'Roop Ki Rani'
If you are an Indian born in the eighties and have no clue about who the 'Roop Ki Rani' was; stop, read no further.
It's a gloomy Sunday morning! I haven't yet digested the fact that she was probably the only celebrity that I haven't come across or seen off-screen in all my tenure in my previous job at the airport. And now, I am never going to be able to see her off-screen. I am sure there are thousands of fans going through the same inexplicable feeling.
I was in not-such-a-comfortable-place when I heard about the news. I read the message twice - Sridevi passed away. I struggled to Google the news and felt an aching lump in my throat with what news was confirmed by different websites. I don't remember the last time, or any time that I have shed tears upon a celebrity's demise. Nostalgia blurred my vision. The numerous times - when I had bought a Filmfare or a Stardust only to get the cuttings of her images; hunted through old newspapers for the same and spent most of my pocket money to get my hands on every postcard that had her snap on (from the small shop right outside my school, before anyone else could buy the postcard) - ran across my mind making me further cranky.
I may have lost count of how many times I have watched some of her movies - Mr. India, Nagina, RKRCKR, Lamhe, Laadla, Chalbaaz, Chandni, Gurudev, Banjaran, Chandramukhi, Chand Ka Tukda, Khuda Gawah, English Vinglish and Mom - her name was enough for anyone to crowd the theaters. In my early teens, I may have danced (in my lone-space) to 'Morni Baaga Ma' and 'Meri Bindiya Teri Nindiya' numerous times. Not to forget the million times I may have stared into the mirror and hoped to grow up and look like Sridevi some day.
A part of my existence feels dead today.
RIP Sridevi - there never was and never will be another Hawa Hawaii as spectacular as you!
