TBT: Sridevi, "My kids do not let me be strict with them"

 

TBT: Sridevi, "My kids do not let me be strict with them"

TBT: Sridevi at Chiranjeevi's Birthday Celebrations back in 2006

 

Sridevi at Chiranjeevi's birthday celebrations hosted by the Telugu Film Industry at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad. Sridevi was warmly greeted by the crowds as the stunning actress looked as gorgeou as ever. Sridevi arrived with her film producer husband Boney Kapoor, greeted her Telugu film colleagues and met up with her erstwhile co-star of superhit films, Amitabh Bachchan, who flew in to celebrate Chiranjeevi as well.  

-- April 23, 2006

The call from the dream factory came... And then I met 'the great' Sridevi

This day, that year... Running the blog for years finally paid off! 

Got a call/e-mail from hope productions about English Vinglish. I chatted with two people before talking to this new gal in the industry... who went on to be one of the most decorated directors in Indian cinema Gauri-take-a-bow-you-gentle-genius- Shinde. 

Weeks later, I flew down to Mumbai, met Gauri Shinde, met Sridevi... had an existential moment of all my dreams coming true all at once. 

I rethink a million things now, I wish I had asked Sridevi... so many things. Instead of standing there like a bumbling blithering idiot. Ah. coulda woulda shoulda... so many things rework in my mind, especially now that her sudden gut-punch passing has left me bereft in ways I can't express. There were visions that we'd meet again (we did - in Macau). 

I dreamed and had mood-board goals that we would collaborate on a cover shoot, we'd chat longer, speak in Tamil (I'd learn!) and ya know, replace Manish Malhotra as her new best friend. Sanity was a stranger after meeting Sri... 

English Vinglish surpassed so many of my expectations. Meeting Sridevi was... surreal. 

Having dedicated a chunk of my free time to ensure the factual legacy of an iconic Indian actress lives on, that the erosion of her memory with falsehoods and myth, does not occur, this page is entering its 24th year of existence. Every year, every few months a false report, image, newsbyte - with zero-fact checking, veracity or editing - goes viral. It's unfair and deceptive to do that to the enduring memory of a legend who gave 50 of her 54 years on earth to Indian cinema.  

The face! Sridevi in Chaalbaaz (1989): Peak confidence and superpower of Sridevi

 The face! Sridevi in Chaalbaaz (1989): Peak confidence and superpower of Sridevi 

Sridevi on the sets of Mr.India

Sridevi on the sets of Mr.India 

Subash Ghai on working with Sridevi in their only joint venture: Karma, the biggest blockbuster of 1986!

Above: Rare pic of Sridevi and film producer/director Subash Ghai on the sets of Karma in Kashmir back in 1986. 

Veteran film writer, producer and director Subhash Ghai recalls the late Sridevi in an exclusive interview with Filmfare.com. Excerpt;

Subash Ghai, "Sridevi was never a business conscious person. Her focus was her work. She didn't have a publicist or a manager. Her mother handled the money part. Sridevi was never concerned with the box-office. Rather she'd ask whether her scenes or dance were appreciated by the audience or not.

She was a private person and avoided socialising, except if it was work-related. She was an introvert. She would d save her energy keeping quiet on the set only to explode in front of the camera. She worked for 15 years non-stop. Sundays would be kept for costume trials and photo shoots. Her priority was feature films rather than commercials or other revenue generating activities.

She would just smile even when you explained serious stuff to her. Her silence would intimidate you. And then she would go and surprise her directors and co-actors by performing above their expectations. She was a master in reacting.

I had to change Anupam Kher's reaction shots to match her magical dance and expressions in the climax of Karma (1986). As a person, she was an enigma. At times, she would look like an innocent child with lots of insecurities. She feared failure as an actor.

She was arrested by her stardom as every star is. She knew only three things acting, acting and acting. She was a super actor indeed."

Originally published in Filmfare Feb 2018. 

Sridevi's off-shoulder shoot in 1984

 Pic by Haresh Daltary