Sridevi in Dior

From the final shots she took for Filmfare magazine, beaming Sridevi in the iconic Dior top. Shot just before the release of Mom, the film back in 2017. 

Stardust: Return of the Goddess: Sridevi: October 2012

"At one point, The Industry assumed that I had retired for Good."
-- Sridevi

Sridevi is nothing less than a Goddess. Whatever she touched in her heydays turned into gold, if not a gold mine. Producers and directors made bee-lines, and every actor wanted to work with her. The actress, who ruled the industry for almost a decade from the 1980s to the late 1990s, took a sabbatical from cinema following her marriage to producer Boney Kapoor. Today, she is a proud mother of two beautiful daughters. After spending almost two decades away form the studio lights and vanity vans, 'Ms Hawa Hawai' is back with a bang!

We catch Sridevi in her plush Lokhandwala bungalow, over a cup of filer 'kaafi' and some homemade snacks. In a free-wheeling chat, she speaks about her film English Vinglish, unchallenged stardom, trials, inhibitions about daughters joining the industry, and her equation with brother-in-law Anil Kapoor. Read on...

Hiten J Trivedi: After the thumping success of Judaai in 1997, you took a break that lasted 15 years. What took you so long to return to the studios?
Sridevi: (Smiles) Nothing was planned, I would ahve done this movie (English Vinglish) at any given point of time, if I was offered this film 10 years ago, I would've done it. Gauri Shinde's subject was so intriguing. I fell in love with the idea instantly. I grabbed it with both my hands, I'm in love with the character. I also felt that everyone can relate with Shashi (her character in the film). She is simple, strong yet extremely sensitive and believable woman. At one point, the industry assumed that I had retired for good. And I had never planned to come back to films. And even if I did, I didn't know if I could put a date to my re-entry.

Considering you're working with Balki's wife didn't he offer you any of his other films like Paa or Cheeni Kum?

Sridevi: No, he didn't.

Boney has successfully produced a lot of films after Judaai. Why didn't you work in any of his recent productions?
Sridevi: You won't believe it but, whenever I attended a music session, for one of his films or even watched rushes, the actor in me would get restless to perform a scene or a song. And I would even tell him that I wanted to do that song but he wouldn't take me seriously. Maybe because he knew that the mood of the song wouldn't suit me or probably, my personality didn't work for a song. I can't challenge his vision as a filmmaker. But I enjoyed hanging around on the sets; it made me nostalgic.

The promos of the film have made a section of the audience believe that your character in English Vinglish is similar to your character in Judaai, especially in terms of looks.
Honestly, it humbles me to know that even 15 years after Judaai, people still remember my character so vividly. The look might be a little similar because in both these films, I play a middle-class housewife, and that's how she is bound to look - simple and homely. Apart from that, I can promise that there is no similarity between my characters. in fact, they are diametrically different. Kaajal (in Judaai) is a selfish, money-minded woman, and Shashi (in English Vinglish) is a true blue Bharatiya nari with a lot of self-respect.

You shared screen with Amitabh Bachan in English Vinglish many years after Khuda Gawah. He said that he agreed to the cameo for you. I'm sure you loved the experience...
It was nice of him to say that. When I was told that he would be doing a cameo in the film, I was elated, and I was looking forward to working with him again. We teamed up for a few films even before Khuda Gawah. His passion for work, commitment, dedication and professionalism hasn't changed. Age is yet to catch on with his working style and energy.

Is it true that Madhuri Dixit and you never got along? A segment of the media reported that you were upset with her because she took over your position after your marriage and subsequent sabbatical from films?
I was never upset with Madhuri. This is a figment of imagination that a few writers then had. In fact, I didn't have any  problem with anyone. Why should I? Everyone was doing well for themselves, and we co-existed happily.

A few years ago, you had stated in one of your interviews that no one could ever replace you. Do you still stand by that statement?
Did I really say that? I can assure you that I mustn't have said it because I don't say such things. It's not me! But yes, I would love to hear others saying that about me! I don't think anyone can replace anyone because every actor has his or her own style.

Among the current crop, which actress do you feel is the next potential Sridevi?
Ask a filmmaker or the audience that question. All the girls have their own charm, it's tough to pick the better one, from Rani Mukherji and Kareena Kapoor or Vidya Balan and Priyanka Chopra, or Katrina Kaif and Sonam Kapoor. I adore Sonam as an actress though.

Between Jhanvi and Khushi, who is more like you?
Jhanvi! Khushi is more like her father. Jhanvi dresses like me; her eating habits are completely like me. We go for swimming and even play tennis together. She is a health conscious like me. Khushi is a Punjabi at heart like her father. Her eating habits are also like a true blue Punjabi. Food has to be dunked in butter and ghee, has to be spicy! I am sure she will kill me when she reads this (laughs).

Plenty of actors keep the femal emembers of their families away form showbiz. As an ctress, you're fully aware of the hardships that one has to go through. Would you support your daughters if they decided to take up acting as a profession?
If I had to answer this as a mother, I would say I want my daughters to get married once they are old enough for it. That's my only concern. Boneyji [husband Boney Kapoor] often tells me that it's not fair, and I should let them do what they like to do. I don't look down upon acting as a profession because it has made me who I am today. Who doesn't want to become an actor or an actress today? If Jhanvi or Khushi or both of them decided to become actresses, I will help them, guide them and make sure they get a head-start. Har koi actor nahi ban sakta (not everybody can became an actor). It's a demanding profession. Apne bacche sab ko pyaare hote hain (everyone loves their own children) but one should be practical while evaluating their children's potential... If my daughters are talented enough, and I can see potential heroines in them, then I can't say much.

Do you intended to be super selective about the films you work in now?
Definitely! There is no tearing hurry to work in a slew of films. Anyway, I can't do too many films now. I'd do  a few films, but only with people I am comfortable working with, and films that would give me creative satisfaction as an actor.

Lastly, what is the status of the sequel to Mr. India? Will the audience get to see Miss Hawa Hawaii's magic once again?
This is one thing I can confirm without even asking Boneyji - Mr India 2 is definitely happening, it is at the scripting stage, but nothing has been finalised as far as the star cast is concerned. But the film will happen for sure. Fingers crossed!


TBC

Interview by Hiten J Trivedi
page 66-71
October 2012, Stardust 

Photographs: Vicky Idnaani
Makeup: Chetan Nayak
Hair: Kanta Motwane of Kromakay
Styling: Tanya Ghavri

Outfit: Anamika Khanna, Jewellery: Aquamarine

Outfit: Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Jewellery: Aquamarie

Photography Vickky Idnaani

Styling: Tanya Ghavri

Outfit: Christian Dior

Jewellery: Aquamarien

Make-up Chetan Nayak

Hair: Kanta Motwane of Kromakay

Sridevi's stunning shoot for Stardust, 2012. Working that Dior!

Hmm. No offense to Piggy Chops but they should have switched the pic sizes. The return of a Goddess requires more real estate on the cover. 

After a 15-year sabbatical, Sridevi is back: India Today cover story with a screen Queen

The diners at a restaurant in a suburban Mumbai hotel are pretending to eat their food. They chew and swallow but their eyes, like searchlights, are trained on the face of a woman who is standing in a far corner of the glass-panelled lobby. A low murmur runs through the room. And then someone whispers loudly, a one-word confirmation of what everyone else is thinking. Sridevi.

As hotel staff look on nervously, a few guests stroll by (a little too casually) to get a better look. But the lady who has caused such a commotion appears to have noticed nothing. Leaning against a wall, perched on a marble staircase, she has eyes only for the camera. Striking poses so practised they appear almost organic, Sridevi wraps up the photoshoot in record time.

Hours earlier, accompanied by a stylist bearing bags of clothes and accessories, I had arrived at Sridevi's Lokhandwala bungalow expecting to be ushered into the presence of a star. Instead we are greeted by a simple mother of two teenagers. Unlike her bubbly onscreen persona, in the flesh Sridevi is a woman of a few words.

Dressed in a pair of track pants and t-shirt, her face devoid of makeup, she looks almost fragile as she sits in a corner of her pristine living room. Photographs of her daughters Jhanvi, 15, and Khushi, 12, occupy pride of place as do two giant abstract paintings (made by Sridevi herself, we were informed).

Within minutes, her affable husband Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor enters the room and, after exchanging pleasantries, begins talking enthusiastically about his wife's comeback film English Vinglish, which sees her return to the big screen after a gap of 15 years.

"This is a subject everyone can identify with," Kapoor says of Sridevi's role as Shashi Godbole an Indian homemaker and her struggles with the English language. "There are so many housewives in the US who can't speak proper English but still manage somehow." Already the theatrical promos of the film are out and have generated a huge buzz, going viral on YouTube and becoming a top trending topic on Twitter.

So one would expect Sridevi to be a bundle of nerves. But she is remarkably relaxed, calling for a pot of coffee and getting down to the business of shortlisting clothes for the photoshoot. If there were any doubts about why Sridevi was once Bollywood's Queen Sri they completely vanish over the course of the next five hours. Exceedingly polite yet extremely decisive-that's Sridevi, the consummate professional in a nutshell.

But first, a history lesson for those who came in late or were born in the 90s. For more than three decades the mononymous Sridevi, 49, dominated the silver screen like a colossus, starring in a series of blockbuster films that set cash registers ringing and spawned an army of devoted fans from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Kandan Karunai (1969), Julie (1975), Moondru Mudichu (1976), Meendum Kokila (1981), Moondram Pirai (1982) and Kshana Kshanam (1991) established her as a star in South Indian cinema before she moved to the Hindi film industry. Her performances in films like Sadma (1983), Nagina (1986), Mr India (1987), Chandni and Chaalbaaz (1989), Lamhe (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992) and Judaai (1997) catapulted her straight to the top.

"Sridevi's effortless acting and spontaneity are the hallmark of her performances. She will be remembered for her dances, her iconic films and her ability to connect with audiences. When you think of cinema of the 80s, you think of Sridevi," says adman and social commentator Santosh Desai. "She was an extremely natural, versatile performer who brought a combination of factors-mischief, earthiness and spontaneity to her roles," he adds.

Stories of her stardom and fan following are legendary. While in Mumbai, we are introduced to someone who calls himself Sridevi's No 1 fan. He proudly informs us that he can remember every date, down to the day, of each of the almost 300 films she has starred in.

"I can't really explain what made Sridevi such a huge star but I haven't come across any female actor with such a huge fan base. Such kind of stardom can't be rationalized," says film critic Mayank Shekhar.

He goes on to add, "There is a certain dispensability in the case of female actors today as most of their roles are frivolous. Their stardom is more about their looks or celebrity status. But Sridevi had a fan base similar to say an Aamir or Salman Khan."

After the photoshoot is complete, Sridevi sits down for a freewheeling chat. She calls her 15-year sabbatical from Bollywood "beautiful". "It has been a wonderful experience being a mother and bringing up two daughters and spending time with my husband," she says.


So what prompted her return? The script of English Vinglish, she replies. "When I met Gauri (Shinde, the director of the film) we clicked instantly. The script really appealed to me. I could relate to the character of Shashi and I am sure everyone will see something of their mother or an aunt in her," she says.

Sridevi admits that the Bollywood she left 15 years ago is now almost unrecognisable. "The film industry has changed a lot. Bollywood is now an exciting place to be," she smiles. "In terms of technology, we now have better equipment, lights, cameras and recording equipment. The reflectors that used to almost blind us during shoots are no longer in use and, of course, stars today have their own vanity vans."

And its not just the level of technological advancement that's left her amazed. "I am really glad that audiences have started appreciating good scripts. Films with good stories and strong female characters such as Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture and Kahaani are proof that audiences are willing to embrace change. Today the script is the real hero."

Many credit this change to the emergence of the multiplex and the availability of better scripts. "You need a decent script to engage audiences today as they are willing to spend money on movies that are not necessarily masala entertainers. Now it is possible to cast someone in their 40s in substantial roles. So it makes sense for experienced actors to make a comeback with scripts that allow them more elbow room in terms of their craft," says Shekhar.

All these possibilities were only the stuff of imagination when Sridevi made her acting debut as a child artiste at the age of four in with the Tamil movie Kandan Karunai (1967). As a teenager she acted in a number of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films but her big break arrived with K Balachander's Moondru Mudichu (1976) opposite Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan.

Though she debuted in Hindi cinema with a short cameo in Julie (1975), it was her star turn opposite Jeetendra in Himmatwala (1983) that made everyone sit up and take notice. She followed this up with Sadma (a remake of her Tamil hit Moondram Pirai) opposite Kamal Hassan. Most critics consider this her career-best performance and so it comes as a surprise when Sridevi admits she didn't really enjoy filming the movie.

"My first Hindi movies were just re-makes of regional films I had acted in (Solva Saal, Sadma, Mawaali). So for me it was like doing the same movie all over again." She says Mr India is another favourite "because it was the first time I was recognised for my acting skills instead of just being considered glamorous."

Anupam Kher, an actor who co-starred with her in several films, says Sridevi in real life is nothing like the larger-than-life characters she played onscreen. "She is a shy person. But it was mesmerising to watch her transform into a completely different person once the cameras rolled. I once asked her "how do you manage to do it?" And she replied "I don't know." Besides that she was very hard working. Actors like her don't exist anymore. No build up, no media mileage....Sridevi is a pure and complete actress."

Another actor Rishi Kapoor, who played her leading man in several superhit films of the 1980s, remembers Sridevi as "a natural" and a great dancer. "She was very hard working and never took her work for granted. During the time we were filming Nagina she was a very shy person who did not converse much on set. It was only much later, when she became successful, that she grew confident," he says.

Apart from being considered an acting machine, Sridevi also managed to command money, star billing (and respect) on par with the leading male actors of the day. This is perhaps why an entire generation of female actresses, many of whom like Kajol and Kareena, have gone on record to credit her as an inspiration.

Sridevi chooses to be diplomatic when asked to pick a favourite from among the current crop of actresses. "It is so difficult to choose because everyone has their own charm. Vidya Balan was outstanding in Kahaani while Deepika, Rani and Priyanka are all so good. Sonam too is beautiful and versatile." But she reserves an extra dose of praise for Katrina Kaif. "Her achievements are all the more remarkable considering she did not know Hindi or indeed any Indian language when she started her career. I at least knew Tamil and Telugu when I arrived in Bollywood."

During her long sabbatical away from the arclights Sridevi says she enjoyed being able to focus completely on her family and home and was thrilled to rediscover a long-neglected passion-painting. She also, for the first time in several decades, found time for herself. Her hour-glass figure and glowing skin are testimony to the disciplined lifestyle she leads.

"I follow a fixed routine. I do power yoga, eat right and play tennis with my daughters regularly. And come what may, I exercise every day. I completely avoid fried and junk food. I also enjoy walking; I just put on my headphones and walk," she says.

"Above all, it is important to enjoy whatever you are doing. If you're happy, it shows on your face. I believe 80 per cent of good health is due to one's state of mind and 20 per cent is down to the lifestyle one chooses to follow," she adds.

Would she ever consider plastic surgery or botox? "No way," she says. "I don't believe in shortcuts as they are temporary and very noticeable. I am 100 per cent sure they must have some side effects. It's smarter to be a little disciplined and work out on a daily basis instead of looking for shortcuts."

And a happy personal life plays a big role as well. When Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, already a married man, tied the knot in 1996, it sent shockwaves through the film industry and beyond. Although Sridevi quit Bollywood soon after to be a full-time mom it took a long time for their extended family and Bollywood to accept the status quo. But today all that is history.

"Love, trust and respect are the three essential qualities that sustain and strengthen a relationship and see it through the rocky patches. Every relationship goes through highs and lows, which we went through as well. But if you respect each other and stand by each other, nothing can tear you apart," she says.

Being wife to a successful Bollywood producer and 24/7 mom means having to watch the clock, but Sridevi says she makes it a point to take out 'alone time' for herself everyday.

"Your children and husband are definitely a priority, but it is just as important for every wife and mother to take care of herself. You have to be healthy and look good for them too. It is a great feeling when your children feel proud of you."

When she talks about her children, Sridevi's usual reserve melts and she becomes warm and animated. "When I was young, my parents used to wait for me to come back from the studios. Now I wait for my children to return from school. No matter what time I go to sleep, I must get up at 6.30am to see them off," she says.

While her elder daughter Jhanvi has been in the news for quite sometime, with reports stating that she will soon make her Bollywood debut, little is known about Khushi.

"Well, it's high time I talk about my younger one," laughs Sridevi. "Khushi is a typical Punjabi like her father and loves Punjabi food. And my elder one is just like me, very health conscious. Like me Khushi loves animals, especially dogs. She is a sensible child and very mature for her age. She is doing extremely well in studies as well as in sports and I am very proud of her."

Sridevi says she plays both the good cop and bad cop when it comes to raising her kids. "Balance works. You can't just be strict or the children will ask you to get lost," she laughs. "I treat my daughters like my friends but I'm still firm about certain issues." For fun the trio like to spend time together shopping and exploring new restaurants in town. "I love shopping in Paris and Milan. And I simply love Delhi, especially the Emporio Mall in Vasant Kunj."

Sridevi adds that there may be room for another movie or two in the future and will make up her mind depending upon the quality of scripts she is offered in the future and the reception English Vinglish receives.

These days she prefers to accompany her husband to film sets around the world. "I often travel with my husband for shoots across the world. It is fun and I really enjoy being behind the camera for a change."

Perhaps she likes to sit in a corner and witness the ambition and maneuverings of other actors before the camera, all these legions of young, confident girls who grew up watching videotapes of her movies at home, rewinding, absorbing her inimitable mannerisms, and later practising them in the privacy of their bedrooms and bathrooms. She may find such adoration amusing or touching, or maybe she just enjoys soaking in the atmosphere of the one place in the world she feels most at home.

But she can't have escaped having reached a quiet understanding of what a long road she has travelled-all those hundreds of films, characters, challenges, locations, lessons, languages, people, paradigm shifts. And now here she is in 2012 an acknowledged film legend, a doting wife, a mother consumed by homework, squabbles, errands.

In the end Sridevi the woman, much like Sridevi the actor, will navigate the world with her own unique brand of humour and common sense that guarantees that by the time the credits roll everything will be picture perfect.

By Supriya Sharma  
October 12, 2012 | UPDATED 11:24 IST

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sridevi-boney-kapoor-english-vinglish-gauri-shinde-chandni-chaal-baaz/1/224413.html

Read more at: India Today

 

Sridevi: Back where She Belongs

Sridevi is all set to create magic on the big screen again. Filmfare meets the actress who's all set to rock.

Written By Meera Joshi
Managing Editor

Post her marriage to Boney Kapoor and two kids later everyone wondered what next? Amidst many speculative projects hinted at in the tabloids, Sri finally took the plunge with English Vinglish, a Hindi-Tamil-Telugu trilingual directed by Gauri Shinde, wife of R Balki. It’s time to rejoice again. She’s back in the movies. The perfect time to catch up with her on old times.



Q. Fifteen years is a long coffee break. Was English Vinglish a planned move?
Sridevi: Not at all. It’s not as if I sat down and made up my mind about making a comeback. Boneyji (Kapoor) and Balki are friends and Balki told him about the two scripts he wanted me to check out. I loved Balki’s Cheeni Kum as well as Paa and so agreed to go through them. One film was with Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) for the Hindi version and Rajni in Tamil but it didn’t happen as Rajni fell ill. It’s a very interesting subject. Though English Vinglish just happened, it’s something I would have taken up at any given time.

Q. Which films did you enjoy doing more — Hindi ones or those down South?
I have always enjoyed my work no matter which language I worked in. But Tamil films gave me more challenging roles. But today Tamil films wouldn’t be a priority as they would entail leaving my children in Mumbai and staying away from them. It wouldn’t work.

Q. The audience goes to see a Sridevi film not only because you’re one of our most beautiful and versatile actresses but also because of your dance moves. Is there another Kaate nahin katte in the offing?
(Laughs) I don’t think that will ever happen again. It turned out to be special at that point of time. Today I think my children will kick me out of the house if I even attempted something similar. Besides, I don’t think I’d be comfortable doing such a dance today. No way. It wasn’t vulgar but I don’t think it would suit my personality today.

Q. Would you have opted for a comeback behind the camera? 
That’s not my cup of tea at all. I was asked this earlier too and my answer remains the same. It’s not easy to direct a film. It entails tremendous responsibilities. But I do sit in at the scripting stage and now so does Jhanvi.

Q. When you stopped working, was it a relief that you no longer had to rush to the studio and apply make-up?
Nothing like that. Because I enjoyed my work. It was a different life. Playing different characters was a challenge. For me, films were a job. Something like a regular 9-5 routine. My mom had set a rule that come what may, I should stop working at 6 pm. It was like a school bell and on the dot I would run and sit in my car. But I enjoyed my work, otherwise it would have been sheer torture. But then the last 15 years have been another beautiful journey. It was a pleasure watching my daughters grow up. I believe every woman must experience this else your life isn’t complete.

Q. You didn’t miss the limelight?
Not one bit.

Q. When did you take up painting?
That’s something I’ve always been interested in. Even when I was an extremely busy actress I indulged in it as a hobby. Whenever I returned from shooting I would sit and draw but I didn’t take it seriously. Then I completely forgot about it till my children started going to school and needed help with their art classes. I would help them and the teachers even called me to help them with their art section. Jhanvi one day told me the teachers said I was very good. With encouragement, I slowly started picking up my hobby again. One of my paintings, called Thoughts, was auctioned at Christie’s for charity and fetched US$50,000.

Q. Any plans to hold an exhibition? 
Where’s the time? You need a minimum of 35-40 paintings for an exhibition. Subhash Awchat, a family friend, keeps asking me to paint more and says he’ll organise everything but I’ve never taken seriously. We travel a lot. Painting is not something you can do a couple of hours a day. You need to devote your full attention and time to it.

Q. Is it true Salman Khan has gifted you one of his paintings?
(Laughs) Not just one, lots. I’ve kept them in my other home. They’re all beautiful and I cherish them. I too gifted him one of my paintings when he was released from Jaipur jail. We form a mutual admiration society. When he was shooting for Wanted, he used to paint with the children.

Q. You started out at the age of three. Did you resent that?
I believe that to gain something you have to lose something. I’m grateful to God and my fans for whatever I am today. True, I lost out on childhood, school and college but I gained something much more in whatever little I have achieved. I want Janu (Jhanvi) to experience normal life. There’s no urgency for her to start working.

Q. Lamhe didn’t work at the box-office.
A lot of people loved the film but I always had doubts. It was too bold a subject two decades ago and even today — the daughter falling in love with the man who loved her mother. Of course, the film was very well made and the music was good. I used to have arguments with Yashji (Chopra) during the making of the film but he was firm. Ultimately the director is the master on the set.

Q. On what basis did you choose a film?
The character and the director are all that mattered as I am totally a director’s actress. My main concern was that I should be comfortable working with the director. Who the hero was never mattered to me. Of course the hero is important to the film and gives it weight.

Q. Is it tiresome to have to look your best all the time?
Why just celebrities, I think everyone should always look their best. You feel good and who doesn’t like receiving compliments?

Q. What’s the secret of your slim figure?
Be positive, as Anilji keeps saying in No Entry, ‘Be positive’. Diet definitely makes a difference. I keep fried foods away from my life, in fact away from my house. Drink lots of water. And exercise, be it yoga or any exercise you prefer. You have to be health conscious. Whatever you may do, the most important is inner peace and happiness. That reflects on your face. I enjoy every moment of taking my children out or shopping together or going on a family holiday. We go to malls on weekdays when they aren’t too crowded.

Q. Does the thought of ageing scare you?
Not at all. It might when you’re young yet look old.

Q. Would you indulge in artificial methods to look young?
I don’t believe in them because they aren’t permanent. It’s a temporary remedy and very noticeable. After undergoing treatment the only facial expression you can give is a startled one. It’s not worth putting your face and body through it. And I’m 100 per cent sure they must have side effects. Nothing like being natural. Make your life systematic rather than look for short cuts.

Q. Do you go vegetable shopping?
I used to when the children were small. I used to be finicky that the servant wouldn’t get proper fish or fresh vegetables. So I insisted on choosing them myself but my husband and friends told me to stop saying they couldn’t see me doing such things. I don’t understand what the big deal is. I enjoyed shopping.

Q. Would you like to do TV again? We haven’t seen you since Malini Iyer (2004).
I don’t think so. I didn’t enjoy myself. My children were very young at the time and the schedules were too hectic. I don’t like being away from my family.

Q. Do you ever get lonely?
No because I’m never alone. I like to have my people with me. Even when we were shooting in New York for three months, my niece was with me. Boneyji came to drop me and stayed for a week and when it was time to return he brought the children to pick me up. Someone is always with me; I’m not used to being alone.

Q. Are you a better wife or mother?
I’m a great mother and a devoted wife. And I’d like to add that Boneyji is the best father, husband, son and brother ever.

Q. How dependent are you on Boney?
I’m not the only one who’s dependent; he’s equally dependent on me. We are companions. It’s good that we still want to be with each other after 16 years of marriage.

Q. Is your relationship with your daughters similar to what you shared with your mother?
With my mother there was a lot of respect. I never had the guts to tell my mother whatever I wanted. In fact, all my heroes would be scared of my mother. This generation is different. Jhanvi treats me like a friend and confides in me. She’s a normal teenager and very interested in fashion.

Q. Is Jhanvi inclined towards films?
It’s too early, she’s just 15. I’ve never asked her mainly because I don’t want to divert her mind or put ideas in her head. Both my daughters are good at studies and Boneyji and I would like them to have a strong foundation before they decide what they want to do. Jhanvi is in the 9th, which is a crucial year and Khushi is in the 6th. Actually, which child isn’t interested in films? When Janu (Jhanvi) was five years old, she told Boneyji, “Papa I want to be an actress.” Boneyji said, “Beta, I want you to be a doctor” and she promptly piped up with, “Okay Papa you make a film and I’ll play a doctor in it!”

Q. Your mother’s illness was a traumatic time for you. Did Boney and you get close during that phase?
Not only did he travel with us but he was with us in New York for three months. We took her there for the best treatment but everything went wrong. I still remember, once when my mother and I were travelling in a car with Boneyji and his friend, she pointed at Boneyji and said, “He’s such a nice man. If you ever do another film with him, you will not ask for a single penny.” Boneyji and I didn’t get close during those three months. I realised how supportive and caring he had been and our relationship grew over 10 years.

Q. At one point there was friction between your younger sister Latha and you. Have you patched up?
That was a long time ago and we’ve been close again for years. Boneyji and I are the only family she has from her side and she’s very fond of my daughters. This evening we leave for Chennai to take part in the celebrations for her mother-in-law’s 60th wedding anniversary and her 80th birthday.

Q. You’ve changed over the years, you appear more confident, in control now.
I don’t know if I’ve changed. Earlier I used to refrain from commenting perhaps because I didn’t want to hurt people. Not that I want to hurt anyone now. Perhaps I was holding back because I’d been misguided a couple of times and so chose not to say anything. As a person I think I’m still the same.

Q. An entirely new generation that has so far only watched your films on TV will be your new audience.
True. Everything depends on the audience, whether or not they want to see more of me. And their reaction will decide if I sign any more films.


From Filmfare.com
Posted Tue, Jul 31, 2012

PS: Pics courtesy of fashioncirqle. I know international and NRI fans are deeply grateful to see the first shoot Sridevi's done in years. Looking more gorgeous than ever!












































Filmfare, August 2012

We - and I speak for the collective audience of Sridevi fanatics - have died and gone to heaven.

Sridevi on the latest cover of Filmfare is beyond brilliant. All Sridevi fans, head out and buy the mag asap!!

Wardrobe and accessories to knock your fashion-luvin' socks off; Christian Dior, Prada, Herve Leger, Fendi, Ellie Saab, as well as Asian/Indian designers, Shahab Durazi, Suhani Pitte, Alpana & Neeraj, Anmol Jewels.

Sridevi, "I can only attribute my success to my ability to make the best of my talent, looks and luck. I don't think sheer hard work helps. So many people work hard, but all of them don't make it to the top."