From Child Star to Superstar: Priyanka Chopra Brings Sridevi’s Incredible Journey Alive in ‘Empress’

Priyanka Chopra has unveiled the cover of “Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi”, a forthcoming book chronicling the remarkable life, career and enduring influence of one of Indian cinema’s most iconic stars.

Written by Dhiraj Kumar and published by Westland Books, the biography promises an expansive look at Sridevi’s five-decade journey from a child artiste to a pan-Indian superstar who carved out a rare space for herself in an industry largely dominated by male stars.

Priyanka revealed the cover on social media on Thursday, coinciding with Sridevi’s birth anniversary. Sharing the announcement, she remembered the late actor as “the one and only” and expressed how deeply she continues to be missed.

According to the publishers, “Empress” traces Sridevi’s career across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema, covering more than 300 films and examining the performances that established her as a trailblazer for women in Indian cinema.

The book will also look beyond Sridevi’s public image, offering insights into the person behind the immense stardom while placing her career within the changing landscape of Indian cinema.

Adding to its appeal are seven forewords by prominent film personalities, along with contributions from Amitabh Bachchan and Javed Akhtar and more than 150 rare photographs.

Several celebrated names have also shared their memories of Sridevi. Bachchan describes her as the “epitome of unmitigated talent”, while Shabana Azmi recalls her extraordinary expressions, comic timing, dancing ability and screen presence. Telugu star Brahmanandam remembers her as a rare talent, while filmmaker Anees Bazmee highlights her ability to be the central force of her films.

Kumar, who personally knew Sridevi, said documenting her journey was a rare privilege. He also acknowledged the support of her husband Boney Kapoor, whose assistance helped provide access to stories and rare photographs.

Sridevi, who died in 2018 at the age of 54, left behind an extraordinary body of work, including “Himmatwala”, “Mr. India”, “Chandni”, “ChaalBaaz”, “Lamhe”, “Khuda Gawah”, “Judaai”, “English Vinglish” and “Mom”.

“Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi” is scheduled for a pan-India release in late 2026, offering audiences a closer look at the woman whose performances transformed the idea of female stardom in Indian cinema.