Jackie Shroff, Sridevi and Nana Patekar in the poster of Yugpurush: Rare publicity shots

Jackie Shroff, Sridevi and Nana Patekar in the poster of Yugpurush, shot by Rakesh Shreshta. Rare find!

The only film that would have Sridevi and Nana Patekar together, Sridevi opted out of the film after its announcement. 

Sridevi addressed the issue in several interviews, eg in Stardust July 1996;

However, she obviously wasn't motivated enough by her role in Yugpurush. A dream role in a prestigious film opposite Nana Patekar and Jackie Shroff. A move that has triggered a debate on how she doesn't take her career seriously any more.

"The character I was supposed to play in Yugpurush," she explained "Is a very good character. There was only one thorn in the flesh, I was supposed to be playing a prostitute. Somewhere I think I have developed a mental block against playing a prostitute. I get uncomfortable and so I guess I won't be able to do full justice to the character."

That isn't all. In her apathy towards the character Sri has definitely ruffled a few feathers. Nana for one is reportedly cut up with her refusal, since he was very keen to work with her. "Why are you mentioning only his side of the story?" she goes on like a petulant child, "Even I wanted to work with him. I think he is a very convincing actor, unfortunately I didn't get a chance to work with him in Yugpurush, but I am hoping to work with him in the near future."

In spite of this mutual respect, it is rather strange that she didn't even acknowledge him when they came face to face, "Aisa to kuch nahin (Nothing like that). I am not suffering from myopia or any other eye sight problem. The moment I saw him, I wished him and he also wished me. And he asked about my mom's health, that was a gesture that really touched me. It was as if he relating to me as a person not just as an actress."

Filmfare, May 1996:

So why did you opt out of Yugpurush?

Sridevi: There you go again. Let me just say I wasn’t too happy with my role. So I spoke to the producer and we decided to part.

But you did sign Yugpurush after being told about your role.

Sridevi: Yes, I did. But I wasn’t completely convinced about the role…it’s the role of a streetwalker. I have a mental block about playing a... err… prostitute. I know, as an actress, one must try and do as many different roles as possible… phir bhi [but still], I have a block about this. I know actresses have won National Awards by playing such a role…still I couldn’t get myself to do it.

Is it because Nana Patekar and Boney Kapoor don’t get along?

Sridevi: Why drag poor Boneyji into all this?

• Sridevi with Nana Patekar here
• Sridevi's full interview with Filmfare in the archive here.
• Sridevi's full interview with Stardust in the archive here.