Sridevi: I wasn't forced to act by my parents! Sridevi refutes allegations of childhood abuse and trauma!

A few years ago, while running Sridevi’s official Facebook fan page (which is now frozen with no further updates), I got into a random argument with a girl who insisted that Sridevi had endured a traumatic childhood. She had reached this conclusion entirely on her own, without ever watching the many interviews Sridevi gave as an adult. In those interviews, Sridevi repeatedly and clearly stated that she was not abused as a child, and that her fiercely overprotective mother had been her shield against the dangers and exploitation of the film industry.

While it’s true that the most common narrative around child artists in India - especially from earlier decades - is one of physical, sexual, mental, and emotional abuse, it’s unfair to paint every artist’s past with the same brush. Thanks to the vigilant eyes and formidable strength of her mother, Rajeshwari Ayyappan - the original “momager” and Sridevi’s fierce protector - she was largely shielded from the industry’s wolves right from the beginning.

After her comeback, she reitered those points yet again in a revealing interview;
 

Sridevi as a child artist

Almost all child artistes like Daisy and Honey Irani, Naaz, Sarika, etc. recount horror stories about having been forced into earning a living for the parents who lived off them. What about you?

A: Yes, I quite agree. Though I haven’t heard the stories of the people you mentioned, I have seen and heard of many such cases in the South. In my case, I was very lucky to have parents who absolutely doted on me. Actually, my father was totally against the idea of me becoming an actress. But my mother was very ambitious for me. Only because she knew that I had a talent which was exceptional.

I was an extremely quiet and withdrawn child. But strangely I had this fascinating passion for dancing. The minute I heard any music anywhere I’d immediately start swaying and start to dance, no matter where we were. There are many instances where I had embarrassed my family thoroughly whilst dining out, when any music was put on in the restaurant. Before they knew it, I was up on the table, dancing away for all I was worth. Since my father was quite a well-to-do lawyer we were very comfortable financially. But my mother was very keen that I join films since I was getting many offers from people who had heard about me. But throughout my time as a child artiste, my parents saw to it that I had a basic education, by employing a private tutor. 

Moreover, my mother was very strict about me working only in a single shift, my meals, etc. She saw to it that I wasn’t exploited even in the smallest way. Basically, it was a lot of fun for me. I loved all the fancy wigs, costumes, jewellery. And I loved bunking school which I hated, only because I was painfully shy and was scared of sitting in a class with all unknown faces around me. In fact, the fear of crowds is something, which I haven’t shaken off, right till today. I was so attached to my mother, that my world was only complete, when she was near enough to bury my head in her lap. I’d do anything that she told me to, unlike most children who are defiant and disobedient at times.

Talking of child artistes, not all of them were as lucky as me. I clearly remember an instance, where my mother and I were appalled at the cruelty of a woman who used to slap and pinch her child into crying for a shot...

More from this revealing interview in the archives, Cine Blitz cover story from Jan 1992 here.