English Vinglish: Talking the talk

Sridevi recalls her experiences shooting for English Vinglish and her comeback to the screen after nearly 14 years.



What Sridevi remembers about shooting English Vinglish in New York is the city's vibrancy, the friendly people and her director, the debutant Gauri Shinde and producer R. Balki making sure that the month long shooting schedule was a picnic. “I will never forget my stay there because it was so much fun and a great working experience. Gauri and Balki are such friendly people and they made sure that it was like a holiday for all (actors) giving us the best of food and free time to go sight-seeing. I remember hundreds of Indian people would gather there to watch us shoot and try to click photographs. But Gauri, who did not want my look to be revealed would shield me with four reflectors from all four sides,” says the actress who is making her comeback on the big screen after nearly 14 years.

The plot of the film is pretty unusual, Sridevi a simple woman has a problem understanding and speaking the English language. She goes across the globe with her broken English but eventually gains mastery over the language. Ask her what was the most challenging part of playing her character, and the actress says that she was never had to work or prepare for her part. “I was so involved in playing my character which was scripted so brilliantly by Gauri, that I never felt that I had to work on anything. Despite being her debut film she would be laughing on the sets all the time, even when we were shooting very serious scenes. That’s because she was very self confident,” says Sridevi.

As for working with Amitabh Bachchan after a gap of almost two decades, she replies, “He shot for only two-three days, but there’s been no change in his style of working. Like before he brings so much positivity and energy on the sets.”

English Vinglish releases on September 21.

From Screen Correspondent
Posted: Jun 29, 2012 at 1051 hrs IST


I will never forget my stay in New York. It was so much fun and a great experience. Gauri and Balki made sure that the shooting was like a picnic — Sridevi