Sridevi's tell-all interview with Suhasini: Her most comfortable, comical, quote-worthy

If someone can pls send a translated transcript of this entire interview for us to post... 

Sridevi at her most comfortable - with a colleague and friend, and in a language she was fluent in... 

Sridevi Kapoor and Suhasini Maniratnam: Telugu and Tamil contemporaries

Though she was two years and two days older than Sridevi, Suhasini made her debut much later in the '80s and worked with the South Indian superstar in two Telugu films; Muddula Mogudu (1983) and Aakhari Poratam (1988). 

Legend has it Sridevi's mother Rajeshwari encouraged the lovely actress to work in front of the screen and not behind the scenes. Suhasini had said in past interviews that while they were working together she didn't feel a sense of competition as Sridevi was already a major star and they had known each other for years. After all,  Suhasini is the niece of Sridevi's frequent co-star Kamal Haasan. Sridevi even helped Suhasini when it came to pleating her sari on set, giving her tips on how to change quickly and so on. 

There was a talk show led by Suhasini where Sridevi appeared in 2012 - during the English Vinglish promotions - that I've been dying to re-watch again and hoping to get a full translation of here. Being contemporaries and friends for long, it was the most comfortable, at-ease Sridevi had ever appeared on television.  Alas, can no longer find it. 

The cast and crew of Aakhari Poratam (1988): Sridevi, Suhasini and Nagarjuna

 

The cast and crew of the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam [The final Battle] which was released back in 1988. It was produced and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao with a stellar cast of Sridevi, Suhasini and Nagarjuna. With music by maestro Ilaiyaraaja. 

TBT: 80s Superstars: Kamal Haasan, Radikaa Sarathkumar, Suhasini, Smita Patil, Sridevi

Vintage 1980s: Awesome snap 📸 of

Kamal Haasan with Suhasni Ratnam, Radika , Smita Patil and Sridevi.

@hasinimani [Suhasini]
@realradikaa [Radikaa Sarathkumar]
@sridevibkapoor 

Sridevi with Suhasini: Tamil and Telugu Leading Ladies and Icons

Above: Sridevi with Suhasini at an event. The Telugu ladies looking gorgeous in their kanjeevarams.

Below: Sridevi with Suhasini on film. One of several they did together.

Sridevi, Nagarjuna and Suhasini in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Rare pic of the Sridevi, Nagarjuna and Suhasini on the sets of Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Sridevi with Suhasini Maniratnam: Sridevi on Tamil talk show

Former colleagues, contemporaries, friends. Suhasini (wife of director Mani Ratnam) and Sridevi go a long way back. 

During the barrage of English Vinglish pre-release interviews, Sridevi did her most relaxed, informative, reflective chat with her long-time friend Suhasini, for a Tamil TV chat show. Their conversation, entirely in Tamil, was lovely and a visibly more collected and comfortable Sridevi spoke freely as never before.

As Suhasini said, "Sri, you left the Tamil industry as a princess... and have come back as a Queen."

Many have wondered why Mani Ratnam and Sridevi have never worked together - and as fans, the collaborative work between the great director and the actress would be a dream come true. 

But... as Mani Ratnam said in an interview (think it was with Filmfare), he was not a fan of Sridevi's work in Hindi films and he stated that she had done "greater work in Tamil cinema". Hmm. 

Hope he sees English Vinglish (which is truly brilliant) and reconsiders working with her in her second inning.  

PS: Anyone have access to this interview? Or a full translation and transcript of it?

Sridevi with other actresses: Sonam, Poonam Dhillon, Padmini Kolhapure, Aishwarya Rai, Neetu Singh, Suhasini, Vidya Balan, Hema Malini, Kareena Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Tina Munim, Jaya Prada, Meenakshi Seshadri

Sridevi shares the frame with other leading ladies of Bollywood; Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Poonam Dhillon, Padmini Kolhapure, Sonam, Sonam Kapoor, Hema Malini, Juhi Chawla, Kareena Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Tina Munim (now Ambani) Vidya Balan, Ramya Krishnan, Meenakshi Seshadri, and Sonam Kapoor.