Mumbai: Priyanka Chopra has unveiled the cover of Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi, a forthcoming book documenting the extraordinary career and enduring influence of the late Indian cinema icon Sridevi.
Written by Dhiraj Kumar and published by Westland Books, the biography traces Sridevi’s journey from child actor to one of Indian cinema’s most influential female stars. The cover was revealed on social media on Sridevi’s birth anniversary, with Priyanka sharing a heartfelt tribute to the actor.
“The one and only. You are so missed. Happy heavenly birthday #Sridevi #Empress… coming soon,” Chopra wrote.
The book is scheduled for a pan-India release later in 2026.
Priyanka Chopra pays tribute to Sridevi
Priyanka’s cover reveal coincided with Sridevi’s birth anniversary, adding a personal note to the announcement of the upcoming biography.
Sridevi, who died in 2018 at the age of 54, remains one of the most celebrated actors in the history of Indian cinema. Her career extended across multiple Indian film industries and languages, helping establish her as a rare pan-Indian female superstar at a time when commercial cinema was largely driven by male leads.
Empress aims to document that journey while also examining the person behind the enormous public image.
What is Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi about?
According to the book’s description, Empress follows Sridevi’s career across roughly five decades and more than 300 films.
She began performing as a child and went on to establish herself across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema. Her career was notable not only for its longevity but also for the range of characters she played and the commercial influence she wielded.
The biography explores her rise within an industry where female performers were often positioned around male protagonists. It examines how Sridevi became a central force in several of her films and helped redefine expectations surrounding the leading woman in Indian cinema.
The book also looks beyond her public career, placing her personal life and professional journey within the changing landscape of Indian film.
Empress features rare photographs and industry tributes
Westland Books says the biography includes seven forewords from prominent members of the Indian film industry, along with contributions from personalities including Amitabh Bachchan and Javed Akhtar.
More than 150 rare photographs are also featured in the book, offering readers visual material spanning different periods of Sridevi’s career.
The book includes memories and reflections from people who worked with or knew the actor, creating a collection of perspectives on her artistry and personality.
Amitabh Bachchan reportedly described Sridevi as the “epitome of unmitigated talent”, while Shabana Azmi highlighted her expressive face and extraordinary screen presence.
Telugu actor Brahmanandam referred to her as a “rarest of rare actor”, while writer-director Anees Bazmee described her as the hero and leading force of her films.
These recollections underline the unusual position Sridevi occupied within Indian cinema: she was not simply one of its most successful female performers but also an actor whose presence could drive an entire film.
Dhiraj Kumar recalls the privilege of documenting Sridevi’s story
Author Dhiraj Kumar had a personal association with Sridevi and has described the opportunity to document her life and career as a rare privilege.
The biography draws on contributions from figures across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema, reflecting the breadth of Sridevi’s career.
Kumar also acknowledged Sridevi’s husband, filmmaker Boney Kapoor, for his support and for helping provide access to personal stories and rare photographs.
The involvement of people from different film industries is particularly significant given the scale of Sridevi’s career. Her stardom was not confined to a single regional industry or language.
Westland Books calls the biography comprehensive
Karthika V K, Publisher at Westland Books, expressed the publishing house’s enthusiasm about bringing the biography to readers.
She described Kumar’s account as comprehensive and said it contains stories and details that offer a deeper perspective on Sridevi’s life.
The book’s promise of combining personal memories, industry perspectives and archival photographs could make it an important addition to the literature surrounding one of Indian cinema’s most influential stars.
Sridevi’s enduring film legacy
Sridevi’s filmography spans several decades and languages, with performances that remain closely associated with different eras of Indian popular cinema.
Among her best-known Hindi films are Himmatwala, Mr. India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz, Lamhe, Khuda Gawah, Judaai, English Vinglish and Mom.
Her work in regional cinema was equally significant, particularly during the early stages of her career.
After a lengthy break from acting, Sridevi returned to the big screen with English Vinglish in 2012, earning widespread acclaim for her performance. She subsequently appeared in Mom, which became her final film role.
Her ability to move between commercial entertainers and performance-led films helped establish a legacy that continues to influence actors and filmmakers.
Why Empress matters to Sridevi’s legacy
Sridevi’s career offers a unique lens through which to understand the evolution of Indian cinema itself.
She entered the industry as a child performer and eventually became a superstar whose appeal crossed linguistic and regional boundaries. Her success demonstrated that a female-led film could command significant attention and that a woman could occupy the centre of a mainstream commercial narrative.
Empress seeks to capture that journey while bringing together memories, photographs and perspectives from people who witnessed different stages of her career.
With its planned pan-India release later in 2026, the biography is positioned as both a tribute to Sridevi and a record of the extraordinary career that made her one of the most enduring names in Indian cinema.
