Subash Ghai on working with Sridevi in their only joint venture: Karma, the biggest blockbuster of 1986!

Above: Rare pic of Sridevi and film producer/director Subash Ghai on the sets of Karma in Kashmir back in 1986. 

Veteran film writer, producer and director Subhash Ghai recalls the late Sridevi in an exclusive interview with Filmfare.com. Excerpt;

Subash Ghai, "Sridevi was never a business conscious person. Her focus was her work. She didn't have a publicist or a manager. Her mother handled the money part. Sridevi was never concerned with the box-office. Rather she'd ask whether her scenes or dance were appreciated by the audience or not.

She was a private person and avoided socialising, except if it was work-related. She was an introvert. She would d save her energy keeping quiet on the set only to explode in front of the camera. She worked for 15 years non-stop. Sundays would be kept for costume trials and photo shoots. Her priority was feature films rather than commercials or other revenue generating activities.

She would just smile even when you explained serious stuff to her. Her silence would intimidate you. And then she would go and surprise her directors and co-actors by performing above their expectations. She was a master in reacting.

I had to change Anupam Kher's reaction shots to match her magical dance and expressions in the climax of Karma (1986). As a person, she was an enigma. At times, she would look like an innocent child with lots of insecurities. She feared failure as an actor.

She was arrested by her stardom as every star is. She knew only three things acting, acting and acting. She was a super actor indeed."

Originally published in Filmfare Feb 2018. 

• Sridevi in the Hindi film Karma here. 
• Sridevi with Subash Ghai over the years here. 
• Sridevi with Jackie Shroff over the years here.