Sridevi talks about working with Soni Razdan in Gumrah (1993)

Released in 1993, Gumrah garnered critical acclaim for Sridevi (and her n'th nomination) and as the seventh biggest hit of the year, was a box-office smash.

At the time, the media pointed out at the power of Sanjay Dutt to pull in the crowds (despite a volatile year he had in her personal life) and the leading lady's nuanced performance as Sridevi fully transitioned from dancing doll in Jeetendra movies, to the definitive powerhouse leading lady in Hindi Films. 

MOVIE magazine's editors wrote, "A now-thrilling, now-tepid takeoff on Bangkok Hilton, the only thing consistently good about the film is Sridevi. Watch her silent crumbling as Soni Razdan, a prisoner friend, is sent to the gallows - she acts with finely nuanced precision even in those scenes that are a cry straight from the heart."
 

While she was doing press at the time of the film's release, Sridevi herself shed light on her co-star, Soni Razdan's scene stealing moments. 

Known for her non-commercial, distinctly un-Bollywooden performances in critically acclaimed films such as 36 Chowringhee Lane, Mandi, Saaransh - when Hindi cinema was clearly demarcated between "commercial films" and "art films" - Soni Razdan had firmly entrenched herself into character roles, always in fine form, shining in abridged roles in stellar turn. 

As Sridevi said, "The scene when the prison door is jolted open to take away Soni Razdan, when she is to be hanged gives me goose-flesh. I think Soni walked extremely well, in this scene."  

When asked which was her favourite scene, Sridevi continued. "It's difficult to say, but I like my scene with the mother just before she is going to die and also my expression when they take Soni out of the prison. The whole sequence is something one has not seen on the Indian screen."

More from Sridevi's interview in the archives here.