English Vinglish, Still part of the conversation

Dia Mirza:- Sridevi’s ENGLISH VINGLISH was a profound, beautiful and endearing film. Her choice of role and faith in Gauri gave her a triumphant comeback. ENGLISH VINGLISH shows Sridevi’s maturity as a person and performer post motherhood.

Sudhir Mishra:- Sridevi gave a nuanced and spectacular performance in ENGLISH VINGLISH. She took a gamble with her super-stardom and came out a winner with ENGLISH VINGLISH.


Milap Zaveri ‏@zmilap

'English Vinglish' has zoomed ahead in people's fav film of the year on my timeline at least! Must say I'm not surprised! LOVED it too! 

-- Milap is a screenplay writer. 

shekhar ravjiani ‏@5hekhar

Spectacular film. One of the best I ve seen in recent times. Congratulations!!“@gauris: 50 days of @EnglishVinglish @SrideviBKapoor

-- Shekhar is a music director

Rajeev Ravindranathan talks about working with Sridevi in English Vinglish

Rajeev Ravindranathan with Sridevi at Gauri Shinde's house

As the one-liner machine in English Vinglish, "Rama bhai", aka actor Rajeev Ravindranathan stole many a scene in the Bollywood movie of the year. No mean feat, considering he shared the frame with so many incredible actors.

If ever a film deserved an award for an ensemble cast, it was this.

Like many of his co-stars, it took a moment to wrap their brains around the fact they'd be sharing screen-space with actress, the legend... Sridevi.

After all, EV is Sridevi's 218th film! And newcomer Rajeev had appeared in 3 idiots (look for the scene of him as the ragging senior!) and then... on set with the doyenne of Indian cinema.

On behalf of millions of fans of both the film and Sridevi, we had many questions and he's kindly indulged us here. So over to RR:

Q. What was your first day like working with Sridevi on the film English Vinglish?
The first day of shooting was at the theatre where all of us watch the Elizabeth Taylor classic. The LSE gang were called to set about an hour earlier than Sri Ma'am [Sridevi] so by then I still hadn't met her. The anticipation was killing me and I'd just moved to my toe nails after having bitten off all my fingernails when Gauri [Shinde, writer/director] got us into position and I realised I'd be sitting next to her. I'm sure I'd have passed out had it not been for a glass of really strong coffee. Or three.
Sri Ma'am arrived and in an instant disarmed me in a completely anticlimactic moment. A polite hello and she was in position ready to film.

I spoke in an unintelligible language for a few seconds before regaining my composure. The first shot was called and understandably I was looking like a star struck fan boy on the monitor, not someone playing her classmate. A wake-up call from Gauri later, more unexpected warmth from Sri Ma'am later, the shot was canned.

The scene is made up of a few shots which gave me enough time in between them to try and break the ice. I didn't have to try. She was warm and friendly. A few hours later, just like that, I had completed the first day of filming with a childhood hero. The next few weeks were going to be, quite simply, magic.

Q. Did you guys rehearse anything in advance?
We did read the script together a few times but Gauri had so much faith in her script and characters that she was cool with improvisations. A lot of things you see in the film are improvisations sparked off by sheer positive energy and camaraderie that we all shared. And the applause for this goes to Gauri who let us wield a paint brush on this sharply etched canvas she'd created and to Sri Ma'am too who put us all at ease. She'd spend so much time with us in between shots and we'd make up stuff without letting Gauri know and even though she saw it for the first time on the monitor, she'd let us keep at it. That's the sign of a really self-assured director who trusts in her cast. As an actor you really can't ask for more.

I got along with Sri Ma'am like a house on fire because, well, apart from being a generally jovial and charming sort of chap, I'm also South Indian with a fair grasp of all the languages she's good at. Once I figured she's a stickler for jokes, I never let her rest. Every moment in between the camera rolling was full of nonsensical jokes that she'd crack up on.

The joke featured on the Making Of video is actually something a friend (who plays Father Francis) narrates as part of his stand-up routine about a popular but late Tamil superstar playing father and son in a scene where the son reveals he is gay.

Sri Ma'am would crack up instantly at my nonsense which gave her make-up person very little time to rest since he'd have to touch her up and undo the damage her tears of laughter did to his hard labour.

Rajeev with Sridevi on set

Q. What's the number one question your friends ask about "the" Sridevi? 
Everyone's stock question is what is she like? And my stock answer is she's lovely. She truly is a warm, down-to-earth simple human being with a heart of gold. She's a generous actor always concerned about everyone else in the scene and always making sure everyone's got something to do. She's also got this funny and mischievous streak that's a great source of laughter and madness for the people around her. You'll see enough and more glimpses of this in the Making Of video.

We still talk on the phone every few weeks or so; her younger daughter is a big fan of Rama. I helped her negotiate the first few weeks of getting on and staying on twitter, sort of learning her the ropes.

She [Sridevi] deeply acknowledges the love of her fans, at times she seems overwhelmed by it – if you ask me that's true humility. After all these years of creating celluloid magic and touching so many lives, she's still taken aback almost about all the adulation she receives. All through the filming and later closer to release, she'd keep saying how she hopes like hell that her fans like the film.

Sridevi with Rajeev Ravindranathan on the sets of English Vinglish

I can't be pompous and say she's my friend for life or anything. But she is definitely someone I know I will be in touch with for long. I have immense respect for her abilities as an actor and her warmth and humility are infectious.

Q. And of course, what's in future for you - more films? TV? Stand-up?! 
Well, let me put it this way. I'm not really looking for new work.

The immediate future for me is about exploring a new path English Vinglish opened up. That of acting in a film and helping promote it. My firm handled the facebook page and twitter handle for EV for two months prior to the release. And that taught me a lot of things about the process. I've already promised Balki that I'll have a much more detailed plan in place for his film from when he's got a title for it till when it releases.

Acting will continue to remain a passionate hobby for me. I don't think I can live in Mumbai. I don't mind working there for days on end. My motivation remains to entertain people and English Vinglish satisfied me immensely in that sense. I didn't expect to connect with so many people but it's happened now and I hope I get more such opportunities to make people laugh or cry as the case may be.
 
I'm getting back to theatre with a play next Feb. In fact a play I've been in the last few years will be on at NCPA, Mumbai on Dec 14.

So to answer the question, I'm putting my future in the hands of storytellers everywhere. I'm an ever willing puppet, a piece of clay that's ready to be moulded into whatever shape needed. If you and I can make minds meet, I'll give you my heart and soul and help you tell your story to the world.




Pics below: Sridevi with the supporting cast of English Vinglish at the Mumbai premiere of the film. 

Sridevi with the cast and crew of English Vinglish at the premiere of the movie in Mumbai

Adil Hussain: Sridevi is extremely professional

Adil Hussain, who played the role of Sridevi's husband in the recent movie 'English Vinglish', says the actress was extremely professional in terms of delivering on the film sets.

"She (Sridevi) is extremely professional. She knows to deliver. She does work with the highest ability. It was a learning experience for me," said Hussain, who has also worked in films like Ishqiya and Ang Lee's Life of Pi.

Hussain said the actress "who took a self imposed journey behind the clouds", has now made a comeback as a star, as she always was.

"I was apprehensive because she is a star. I watched her during her earlier films. She is a great actress with a fantastic sense of understanding of acting," he said.

Hussain says that Sridevi is reserved on the sets but cracks jokes at the same time. "She was reserved on the sets but cracks jokes. She will come up with some word and we will crack up," he said.

Sridevi played the role of a housewife, who struggles to learn English, in the comedy-drama directed by Gauri Shinde. The film received a positive response and Sridevi's comeback was hailed by the audience.

From Business Standard
Press Trust of India / Panaji 
November 28, 2012, 15:15

Sunidhi Chauhan fans out at Sridevi: "I want to sing for Sridevi!"

Sunidhi Chauhan, pic by Douglas Pieterse

Let's hear it for the power of positive thinking.

Around two years ago, in an interview, the gifted singer Sunidhi Chauhan had remarked that she feels great to have sung for all the leading ladies in contemporary Bollywood. Be it Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor or Priyanka Chopra, she was the voice behind the actresses of today in Bollywood. 

"But I'm so blessed that I even got to sing for Rekhaji (Kaisi Paheli from Parineeta) and Madhuri Dixit (Aaja Nachle's fabulous title song)."

Indeed, but is there anyone left?

"Well, I've heard Srideviji's planning to do a film, and I hope I get the chance to sing for her too," she said wistfully as English Vinglish, at the time, was a distant flick in the horizon. "I just love her comedy."

As the writer Paulo Coelho wrote in The Alchemist, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." 

And by some divine conspiracy indeed, Sunidhi sang for Sridevi in the melodious finale track of English Vinglish, Navrai Maajhi. 

Watch a brief clip of the amazing song (and lovely littl' dance) by Sridevi in English Vinglish here.
 

If you will it, it will come true.


More of our conversation with Sunidhi Chauhan here.

UPDATE: After the sudden demise of Sridevi, the singer spoke to the press again. Excerpts;

"... Sunidhi feels lucky as she got the chance to sing for her movie. She said, "At that point in my childhood, I never thought that I would get a chance to sing for her. But surprisingly it happened, when she made her comeback with English Vinglish, I sang the song Navrai Majhi for her. And then when I saw her performing to it with my voice, in the theatre, I became emotional."

 The singer is still in shock after getting the news. She said, "I still do not want to believe that Srideviji is gone. I will always be in shock. I don't think I will ever believe she is gone."

The whole world is in grief. Sridevi's mortal remains will be brought to India today and the funeral will be conducted afterwards. Fans and celebs are paying their condolences to the family. 

For more log on to Bollywood Life here.

Covergirl of Prevention magazine: Sridevi: Dabboo Ratnani captures an Indian Queen and Legend

Ending 2012 with a bang, Sridevi graces yet another cover, for the magazine Prevention, Dec 2012.

Sridevi: Winning Hearts and feeling on top

Love the sub-heading inside,

"Matinee Mom
A master performer and an inspiration to younger actors, the Queen of Bollywood is back. This time around, she is fitter, healthier and even more gorgeous."

Credits:
Photographs by: Daboo Ratnani;
Clothes Co-ordination & Styling by: Nisha Kundani;
Hair & Make Up by: Ojas Rajani;
Clothes Courtesy: KAZO;
Earings: Silverstreak
Bracelet: Ayesha;
 
Denims and Footwear: Sridevi's own 

 

Amar Singh with Sridevi and Gauri Shinde

Actress Sridevi with director Gauri Shinde (R) during the special screening of Hindi film English Vinglish, hosted by Amar Singh at a multiplex in South Delhi on October 02, 2012.

Sridevi in a print sari was the talk of fashion blogs - its a hideous sari but my God Sridevi looks amazing!! She's so beautiful, she can pull anything off.

Crossing all regional divides: Sridevi conquers

Hindi cinema’s first memory of Sridevi is as actor Lakshmi’s younger sister in Julie (1975) where even as part of the backdrop most of the time, you noticed in her a restless wiggle to outperform her tiny role. Acting for her is an instinctive, internal thing, not flashy or overt. Something affirmed by her latest co-star (in Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish) and French superstar, Mehdi Nebbou, in an interview. Born in a Tamil family, she became a star at the age of six, was a leading South Indian superstar in her teens before going on to conquer the Hindi film industry and rule it for more than a decade. Still, you do not see in her today any trace of a jaded actor who has seen it all and done it all.

In English Vinglish, she plays a submissive housewife without a sense of self and right from the first moment when she faces the camera, you forget the star who once was as much of a box-office draw as the top heroes. You forget because Sridevi blurs into Shashi and her awkward silences, her fumbling attempts to speak her mind and find her voice after years of self-denial. You don’t even see the process of the actor as she interprets a character she has never played. You see no seams, no edges, no false notes. Just a performer who knows her craft inside out and can play anyone, right from an irresistible baby Muruga in Kandan Karunai (her first film), the child woman of Moondram Pirai (or Sadma in Hindi), the snake woman of Nagina, the ingenue of Lamhe or the dream girl of Chandni.

In English Vinglish, even without raising her voice, or turning on the glamour faucet even once, she vanishes into the narrative and into the lives of millions of Indian women who are mothers and wives and have forgotten to be individuals.

Hers has been a long journey. She got her first breakthrough role in  K Balachander’s film Moondru Mudichu in 1976 and by the early ’80s, she had starred in a slew of super hit films as she held her own against superstars like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. She is also perhaps the only female actor to became a leading light in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and the Hindi film industries. Her debut in Hindi films, Solva Sawan (1976), flopped however and it was only with the 1983 blockbuster Himmatwala that she arrived, never to leave. Even before the film released, the buzz about her was electric. Stills from the shoot of Himmatwala warned the trade watchers of a storm that was headed from the South to Mumbai. The welcome was rapturous because she was a box office dream. She could dance, emote, and look glamorous. Her voice and diction were an issue and Rekha dubbed for her in a film or two but then Sridevi unapologetically embraced her flaw and so did we and put up with her even when she childishly warbled the title song of Chandni.

The one thing that marked her career was her ability to reinvent herself. From playing one dimensional roles in masala potboilers like Tohfa, Mawaali and Justice Chowdhry, all inspired by her regional successes, she morphed into a leading lady with pan Indian appeal who lent her sparkling, Chaplinesque comic talent to Shekhar Kapoor’s cult hit Mr India, who could be meek or mercurial, a victim or a bully in the hugely entertaining Chaalbaaz and then embody ethereal romance in Yash Chopra’s cinema. She erased regional divides and became one of Indian cinema’s iconic faces. A female actor who signed films on her own terms and did not need a male superstar to augment her box-office appeal. Someone who combined super-stardom with critical acclaim and became an inspiration for generations of aspirants.

In English Vinglish, you cannot miss the enormity of her achievement as a woman whose mother tongue is Tamil but who still plays a Maharashtrian housewife in a Hindi film without a trace of discomfort. And when she bursts unwillingly into a dance, you smile and understand just what real actors are made of. Believability. And a touch of inexplicable magic.

From Indian Express
By Reema Moudgil
15th October 2012
(Reema Moudgil is the author of Perfect Eight, editor of unboxedwriters.com and an RJ)

Writer and director Reema Kagti on English Vinglish

"...I will make distinctions like ‘good film’ and ‘bad film’. You know, nowadays what happens is that films are judged by the amount of money they make – I mean, all these films nowadays that make RS 100 or 150 crores. But rarely do you meet a person who has seen the film and liked it. At the same time there are films like English Vinglish that made just Rs 60 crores. I personally have not seen it, but kudos to the filmmaker, as whoever I have met has loved the film. So you cannot just take numbers and use that as a way to judge films. Accountants function like that!"

-- Reema Kagti at Bollywoodlife

Sridevi strides in New York, in the film English Vinglish

Choreographera and Director Farah Khan fans out at Sridevi in English Vinglish

Farah Khan
@TheFarahKhan

Just saw English Vinglish on dvd!! Whatta a lovely film.N sridevi is a Goddess!!

Farah Khan ‏@TheFarahKhan

@SrideviBKapoor Sri u brought tears 2 my eyes in so many scenes,such simple moments but sooooo good u were.LOVED u. 

  Farah Khan ‏@TheFarahKhan

@SrideviBKapoor n pls give my biggg hugg 2 gauri shinde..she's made a lovely lovely film.♥

Rajeev Ravindranathan trends on tumblr: Aiyooo Rama:

Sridevi with her funny co-star Rajeev Ravindranathan.

UPDATE: We found this funny littl' pic on tumblr.

50 days of English Vinglish!

Even the harshest critic (and there have been very few of those!) can't deny the success of the lyrical perfection that is English Vinglish. A hit with the critics, classes and masses, this week, the film's had a run for 50 days.

Sridevi shines, yet again. As the expression goes, "Chaar din ki nahin, sadda Chandni..."


Sridevi's English Vinglish completes 50 days     Nov 23, 2012

Sridevi’s comeback vehicle, English Vinglish, has completed a 50 day run at the box-office across the country. This film, directed by Gauri Shinde and produced by Balki, was received with glowing reviews by the critics and the paying public. The Hindi version has netted close to 39 crores at the Indian box-office. In the overseas markets, the Hindi version of English Vinglish has collected more than 20 crores thereby emerging as a big success.

The film released in Telugu and Tamil as well and met with success in Tamil Nadu too. Ajith appeared in a cameo in the Tamil and Telugu versions while Amitabh Bachchan wowed audiences in a similar cameo in the Hindi version.

We wish Sridevi, Gauri and the team on their successful landmark. All eyes are on Sridevi’s next moves in the tinsel town.

From Behind Woods.

Sridevi and family in Thailand in 2012

As English Vinglish celebrates 50 days of a continuous, successful run at the box-office, it finally premieres in Thailand.

Sridevi and her husband, producer Boney Kapoor, attended and the iconic Indian actress was festooned with flowers. 

Nov, 2012

Grateful: Sridevi "I'd rather not talk about the controversy"

It is not often that comebacks rank among an actor’s finest films. In the flood of actresses returning to the screen after different periods of absence, Sridevi Kapoor is perhaps the luckiest.

Not only is her comeback film English Vinglish equally loved by masses, classes and critics, but the role as well as performance and the film itself rank among her finest. As Shashi Godbole, she has proved that her 15-year break from the big screen has not made her lose even a spark from her histrionic fire (she was last seen in Judaai, the serial Malini Iyer discounting her delayed “Mere Biwi Ka Jawaab Nahin” that came and vamoosed in 2004). Between 2002 and 2005 she also produced three films – Shakti – The Power, Run and Bewafaa starring other actresses.

Sridevi, who first faced the camera at the age of seven, is full of beans when India-West has a ‘phoner with her. 

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: How does it feel to be the luckiest in a whole range of actresses coming back to films?

A: Yes, I need to say a big thank you to my fans and the audiences, and to God. When Gauri narrated the subject to me, in a chance meeting for something else between Boney-ji and Balki-ji, he told my husband that his wife was planning such a story. Boney-ji suggested my name. When we meet we just clicked as people apart from my loving the script.

Q: Isn’t this your first-ever film with a woman director? Or have you had any in the South?

A: Never! Though the gender did not matter by itself, I admit there was a greater comfort level, because you can talk about almost anything with a woman. And I enjoyed every moment of working on this film, especially because Boney-ji was there throughout the ten-week schedule of the film in New York. It was like a free holiday for him! (Laughs)

Q: What does he think of your performance?

A: You will have to ask him! (Chuckles)

Q: All your co-stars were new to you. How were they to work with?

A: I loved working with the small boy, Sagar, who was so unusually sharp and good as an actor and so cute. My French co-star Mehdi Nebbou was so enthusiastic and quite a perfectionist. Adil Hussain and everyone else were good too.

Q: Which is the best compliment you have received for this role?

A: Well, I never planned any comeback. But I feel so lucky and grateful at what is happening. Such praise leads to a great responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. The compliments – the sms-es and the calls - have never stopped. Strangers call me, stop me and there are ladies who call up or hug me and say how the film changed their lives. I am amazed that so many people have told me that English Vinglish is exactly their story - not just wives, but even husbands and kids have come and told me that they have apologized to their wives and mothers after watching this film! Daughters have called from abroad to tell us how they have called their mothers in India to say sorry for behaving the way they did with them.

Q: How much has all this motivated you to do more films, or maybe become choosier? 

A: I will look for quality films, because I will have to be away from my family during shooting. Before we shot this film, my husband took my daughters Jhanvi and Khushi, and me for a month-long holiday to Las Vegas because I was going to be away from my kids.

Q: Which have been your past favorites from your films?

A: All my films are close to me! But among those in Hindi, Yash Chopra-ji really made me look beautiful in Chandni and Lamhe and Sadma, Mr. India and Chaalbaaz are also special.

Q: Your music was a great asset to your career, especially in the films of Bappi Lahiri at first and then Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

A: I am very grateful to these stalwarts. They really gave me such great songs. I had lovely songs in Yash-ji’s films too.

Q: Recently Tusshar Kapoor expressed his anger at a statement you had made about Himmatwala being no Mughal-E-Azam. 

A: I would rather not speak about that.

Q: What is the truth behind all the conflicting media reports about your daughter Jhanvi doing films, your grooming her, and then her not doing films and so on?

A: I am quite disturbed by whatever the newspapers keep writing because it is all untrue. Jhanvi’s just 15 and she is doing very well in her studies. We do not even discuss a career in films.

Q: Will it be okay if she decides on a film career later? 

A: We will see about that if the time comes. Why should I break my head on it now?

Q: What is the status of the sequel to “Mr. India?”

A: That is again something that my husband knows better!

    From IndiaWest
    By R. M. Vijayakar, Special to India-West
    Oct 28, 2012

    MUMBAI, India
 

The English Vinglish Intro...: Remembering Sridevi's Return

A mere head tilt. That's all it took and a collective audience of hundreds of Bollywood fans (potentially millions around the world) burst into applause in the cinema. The ambidextrous lot brought their fingers to their lips and whistled loudly, as the devanagari script of 'vi' appeared, converting India's premier actress's moniker into a multilingual confection of, well, English Vinglish. 

The actor's actor, Sridevi's last memorable performance was a good decade and a half ago, Judaai (1997), screened similarly around the Bollywood-viewing world. Consistently recognised for her acting chops, dancing skills and classic Indian beauty, the audience that filled the halls were conspicuously of a slightly older generation. The youngsters were, initially, notably absent until word-of-mouth, the greatest publicity that money cannot buy, spread. Then they came trickling in, generation next, and left a little awed by 'the great Sridevi.' 

This wasn't a fashion parade in the guise of a film. This wasn't a rom-com with musical interludes for the Hallmark card lot. Nor was it mindless comedy nor a scene of senseless violence. Entertaining and dare we say it, enlightening. While there were speeches in the end, there was little preaching.

And then there's Sridevi.
 
Those who grew-up watching Sridevi dance between pots-and-pans, wear the risible, absurd feather and sequins studded outfits and pull it off with regal panache, knew that, "Sridevi can deliver the goods" (as famously said by co-star of her many films, Kamal Haasan). Can she ever.

Walking on the precipice of great comedy and heart-breaking tragedy, Sridevi's pitch perfect performance in the gentle 'dramedy' of manners and misdemeanors (a newly-wed wife in New Jersey sent us a note saying she wanted to smack the daughter and husband in equal measure!), English Vinglish, is the finest balancing act of the year. 

While she substituted her famous chiffon saris for the ethnic chic of Sabyasachi, she's retained acting skills that's been honed to perfection since she started at the age of four-five. "Born to act," said R Balki, the producer of her latest film, and in all honestly, there are very few able-minded who can disagree.

In a career studded with superlative performances (and we risk the cliché of listing the usual suspects; Sadma, Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Lamhe and so on), in her third act, Sridevi's a fully polished performer, and truly India's penultimate actress. A complete actress. Give her any role and challenge, and she will "go beyond expectation" (writer/director Gauri Shinde).

There's a section in the Sridevi fan blog dedicated to her "famous fans", i.e. a collection of quotes from notable names in the industry who state that Sridevi is their favourite actress of all time. And the roster includes, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee, Vidya Balan, Priyanka Chopra... names in a list we're bound to see early next year as the award ceremonies are belted out to various television channels. A list with the addendum of Sridevi.

If Sridevi walks up the dais to pick up the award which they were also nominated for, you'll see the best performance by the audience for a change, as they smile for the camera.

As producer/director Karan Johar said, for contemporary actresses, it's easy to quote Sridevi as their favourite, as in her semi-retired state, Sridevi doesn't pose as a threat. But, he's only half right. In her heyday, Sridevi had her contemporaries and co-stars regularly praise her. Albeit reluctantly sometimes, as Sunny Deol, a co-star of many, was rather ambivalent, yet couldn't fail to acknowledge Sri's skills. While her Telugu predecessor Jaya Prada remained tight-lipped on saying anything complimentary, Madhuri Dixit's appearance at the premiere of English Vinglish and her encouraging, positive sound-bytes, were consistently respectful. 

Despite a deeply political, sycophantic, nepotistic, ratings-craved craven lot that run the slew of award ceremonies in India, we have an inkling, the words '"...And the award goes to... Sridevi, for English Vinglish..." is about to reverberate. 

The echolocation of which shall ring in every fan's heart.

Famous fan Sudha Murthy, "Sridevi was a delight to watch."

Sudha Murthy, wife of Narayana Murthy says...

"But you like going out for movies, and he's certainly not one for that...I take my sister with me. But recently, and it took some doing (the fact that the hall was very close to home helped), I made him watch English Vinglish with me. He liked it. I think it was a brilliant movie, and many middle-class women in India will be able to relate to the subject. Sridevi was a delight to watch."

From TOI

Left: Sudha Murthy. 

Anil Kapoor hails Sridevi as a complete actress

Anil Kapoor hails his sister-in-law and co-star Sridevi as one of the best actresses of recent times and adds that he won`t mind teaming up with her again for a good film, as per IANS reports.

"Well, she is a complete actress. I have done a lot of films with her and in the last many, many years, I think she is the best," the 52-year-old said here Sunday at the GQ Men Of The Year awards.

Anil and Sridevi gave hits lke "Mr. India", "Laadla" and "Judaai".

Sridevi is married to Anil`s elder brother Boney Kapoor who is planning a sequel to his 1987 hit production venture "Mr. India".

Anil, who is expected to be a part of "Mr. India" sequel, is open to working with Sridevi again.

He said: "It depends on script, if there is anything interesting, why not. Well, `Mr. India` sequel is definitely on. So, that`s definitely there."

Right now Sridevi is in the news for "English Vinglish" that marks her comeback on big screen after 15 years.

Anil has high hopes from "English Vinglish", which is releasing Friday. It is produced by R. Balki and directed by his wife Gauri Shinde.

"I expect a great performance. I expect a very good film because you know, Balki and Gauri are on-board and I am sure it`s going to be a good film," Anil said.



Posted by News Desk 
on 2012-10-01 18:00:34      

Jeetendra and Sridevi: Cine Blitz Dec 1983

Jeetendra and Sridevi star in their first Cine Blitz cover ever - December 1983!! 

The 'it' couple on screen in Bollywood brought, fun and froth to film. For many, these two are the reason to watch Bollywood with their unprecedented run of box-office success throughout the decade.

This is a rare gem of an issue; a Cine Blitz cover story where they interviewed each other. A fun chat - wish we had the issue so we could type up the entire conversation!

This was the cover story for Cine Blitz December 1983 - capping a phenomenal year for the two stars. Of the Top Ten movies of the 1983, Sridevi and Jeetendra reigned supreme with Himmatwala, Justice Chowdhary and Mawali - three films that rocked the box-office.

Cover story tagline: "Jeetu Corners Sridevi".

All photos by Jagdish Mali