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."

Sridevi: On Guard: To Queen Bee or not to be? Can she still keep the box-office humming? The Roop Ki Rani answers…

Archival interview with Sridevi for April 1994 issue of Filmfare magazine by Meera Joshi. Main picture from the launch of Anil Kapoor-Sridevi starrer Bus Conductor - (which got shelved).

Portraits by Rakesh Shreshta
Outfit: Manish Malhotra
Make-up: Ifte
Hair: Rashida

Has the Queen Bee lost her sting?

For nearly a decade, Sridevi was voted the numero uno heroine by the trade pundits and the media alike. Among the heroines, she demanded and received the highest pay-packet. Sure, there has been tough competition from Madhuri Dixit but after estimating both their box office bonanzas and calamities, it was clearly a tie-up between the twosome.

Sridevi called the shots in one studio and Madhuri in the other. They had their loyal producers and directors, they had their distinct fan following and to an extent, still have their faithful backers. In other words, there was room at the top for both the actresses. If Sridevi has her buoyant and bubbly style of acting, Madhuri can be sizzling and scintillating in her own special way.

And now there is Juhi Chawla, basking in the glory of hits like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Darr, but quite sensibly refusing to be drawn into the number harum-scarum.

While film-makers of every stripe concede that Sridevi is a consummate artiste, of late the trade has been abuzz with the talk that the queen’s days are numbered. Some of her producers as well as heroes have switched to Juhi, and some have even stated (off-the-record of course) that Madame should come off her high horse. Or that she should reduce her price.

It’s also being said that films with Salman Khan – Chaand Kaa Tukdaa – being made by Sawan Kumar Tak, isn’t as red hot a proposition as it was when it was flagged off a couple of years ago. However, it goes without saying that if Madame was to hit another boundary or sixer, the same carping Cassandras would be whistling another tune.

For trade watchers and fans, the questions of the day are: Will Sridevi come out triumphant? Or is she fighting a losing battle? The answers hinge, as they always do, on those things called luck and chance. Yet when you meet her at the Mehboob studio in the midst of a shooting schedule, the actress who will always be remembered for her wide range of performances, seems to be unfazed. Evidently, she’s a fighter and intends to tackle the downturn in her career. Without much more ado then, you ask:

At present you have only four films in hand. How come?
Sridevi: Believe me, it’s out of choice. I don’t know why some directors are going around claiming that I’m doing their films. I can’t understand how this industry functions. How can they talk like that? I’ve turned down 15 offers because I’ve understood the need to be selective. Earlier, I’d take on a film only on the basis of the character I was asked to play but now I know that the entire project is important – the producer, the director, the story and the script. I may have been a little careless earlier. But I’ve never ever signed on each and every film offered to me. I have a very unusual role in Laadla which will be my next release.

Is it true that Boney Kapoor persuaded producer Nitin Manmohan to sign you for Laadla after Divya Bharati’s death?
Sridevi: Really? Who told you that? All I can say is that I was first approached for the film’s Telugu version Gharana Mugudu but I turned it down because I was confused about the character they wanted me to portray. Again I was Nitin Manmohan’s first choice for the Hindi version, I couldn’t say “Yes” because of dates. So Divya was signed. After her tragic death, I was approached again. Since I was the original choice anyway, I don’t think anyone did any kind of lobbying on my behalf. It’s true that the producer brought Boneyji along when he came to request me to reconsider his offer.

Why did you reconsider a project in which you had found your character confusing?
Sridevi: Because the character has been much more sharply defined in the Hindi version. I play a tough and arrogant woman. It’s a role with plenty of potential.

Something on the lines of the role of the no-nonsense sister in Chaalbaaz?
Sridevi: That was a fun-loving character who starts drinking the minute she’s upset. In Laadla I’m very disciplined.

Do you have high expectations of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin?
Sridevi: Of course, I do. I play a housewife. There are many touching as well as comic scenes. I speak in the Bhojpuri dialect throughout the film. Just two more schedules and it should be complete.

You are working with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. Do you feel comfortable working with these heroes?
Sridevi: What are you implying? That we’re mismatched? Hardly! I can’t help it if I’ve been working since I was a child… I just happen to have more experience than them. There could have been objections only if they were younger than me… Moreover, I haven’t gone out of my way to make producers pair them with me.

Whatever happened to cameraman-director Manmohan Singh’s Teerandaaz in which you’ve been cast opposite Sunny Deol?
Sridevi: None of us was quite happy with the subject, so we’re trying to improve on it. That’ll perhaps take another couple of months and only then will the project get going.

Why have you been replaced by Juhi Chawla in Rakesh Roshan’s Koi Jeeta Koi Haara?
Sridevi: The subject didn’t appeal to me.

I believe you refused to wear a swimming costume for the film.
Sridevi: That’s only one of the reasons for turning down the film, I’m not comfortable in a swimming costume; when I feel awkward it’s bound to be captured by the camera. I wouldn’t be able to do justice to such a scene. But the director was adamant about the scene – the hero visualizing the heroine in a swimming costume. Instead of creating problems for the director later, I declined right away. Who knows he may have required other such scenes as well. I will never make such compromises.

But you’ve worn swimsuits earlier…
Sridevi: In Himmatwala I merely stood around in a swimsuit and in Karma I immediately put on my robe. I felt uneasy doing those scenes…In fact, I’d like to make one point clear – I am not desperate for roles. If I was, I wouldn’t be turning down offers. I’m not interested in light inconsequential roles, surely I can do much more than sing and dance.

What news about Sapnon Ka Saudagar with Anil Kapoor?
Sridevi: They’re thinking of changing the title. The film was supposed to start in January but it will now begin in March.

Tradewallahs say that Juhi has replaced you in the film.
Sridevi: Why should she? I haven’t been asked to wear a swimming costume in that film. (tongue-in-cheek).

What do you have to say about Yash Chopra giving Juhi the Sridevi look in Darr?
Sridevi: Is that right? I’m surprised. I’m happy for Yashji since the film is doing well. I haven’t seen Darr but Juhi looks very pretty in the excerpts I’ve seen on television. If Yashji has given her…as you call it… the Sridevi look, I don’t see anything wrong in that.

Any negative reactions from your fans lately?
Sridevi: Yes, they didn’t react well to Chandramukhi. I’ve received so much flak for it. Everyone wants to know why I did that project, they say I was wasted.

Do they also say that your performances are getting monotonous… that you’re repeating yourself?
Sridevi: That’s unfair! My performances in Lamhe, Khuda Gawah and Gumrah were all very different and I was appreciated by the audience as well as the critics.

Have you recovered from the debacle of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja?
Sridevi: I admit I played the typical Hindi film heroine in Roop Ki Rani… what else could I do when there was no scope for anything else? It was four years in the making – when a film stretches things are bound to go haywire. No single person can be blamed for it.

Why have you returned in a big way to Telugu films?
Sridevi: I’ve seen headlines screaming, “Sridevi’s comeback to Telugu films!” What comeback, I’d like to ask. I’ve been doing a Telugu film annually for the last six years. Since it’s my mother tongue I like to keep in touch.

Even when your South films aren’t doing too well there?
Sridevi: Says who? My last release – Govinda Govinda with Nagarjuna – is doing well in the cities. Since the subject didn’t have mass appeal, it failed in the rural areas. Such things happen.

Wouldn’t it be prudent to reduce your price at this juncture?
Sridevi: But I’ve never given too much importance to price. My fee has always varied according to the set-up and I’ll continue to work like that. If my price had been a sore point with producers, they would have stopped approaching me.

Why did you have tiff with Saroj Khan who’s choreographed some of your best dances?
Sridevi: We never had any problems. Saawan Kumarji was upset when she couldn’t make it for an entire dance schedule. I did try to persuade him to take her on again but he was reluctant. I didn’t think it would be wise on my part to keep insisting beyond a point. Sarojji and I will probably be working together in Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin.

Weren’t you upset with her because you felt she was working harder on Madhuri Dixit’s dances?
Sridevi: Don’t be absurd.

What if the dance masters asked you to do some specially provocative movements?
Sridevi: They wouldn’t dare. When they’re working out the steps, they keep watching my reaction, and they know exactly what I’ll do and what I won’t.

Do you regret doing any roles?
Sridevi: Even if I do, do you think I’d name them? Seriously, sometimes a role doesn’t come up to your expectations. That’s it, you’re helpless.

What’s your dream role?
Sridevi: I do have one dream role but I’ll never have the guts to do it. It’s the role Julia Roberts played in Pretty Woman, which was cute. Pankuj Parashar wanted to do a remake but when I backed out, the project was dropped.

Who’s your favourite actress?
Sridevi: Meryl Streep. She was so good in She-Devil, Heartburn and Death Becomes Her. She stands out even in an average film.

Do you every research your roles?
Sridevi: No, I’m absolutely spontaneous! If the director asks me to repeat something in a second take it’s just not possible. I can try to imitate the first take but it won’t be the same. I rarely need rehearsals. The crying and screaming scenes in Khuda Gawah and Gumrah were all straight takes. We even improvised on the sets for Chaalbaaz and Gumrah.

What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?
Sridevi: What’s the time just now?

It’s almost noon.
Sridevi: I see myself packing lunch to send to my children at school.

When are planning to get married?
Sridevi: The day I find the right man. The bechara fellow still has to come my way. He has no idea of what’s in store for him because I’m very possessive.

What’s your ideal man like?
Sridevi: Simple, down to earth. He shouldn’t be talkative at all. Looks are important but I don’t like Greek gods who can be heartless. A pleasant-looking man, a loving guy will be just fine. And he must be tall so that I can wear my high heels. I’ve asked my mother to be on the look-out for someone but she’s fed up of trying. She pesters me to go out and meet people more often. I guess I’ll just wait for the right man to materialize. Like magic.

How do you spend your second Sundays – the one off-day in show-town?
Sridevi: I sleep late, loaf around in the house. Sometimes my family comes from Madras and we make plans to live it up but somehow things just don’t happen. At most, I go to the health club.

Is that the secret of your trim figure?
Sridevi: Right now I’ve put on weight. But I’m lucky… my body’s very flexible. I love sweets, I can’t do without ice-creams and milk shakes everyday. So when I find my face rounder than it should be, I only eat boiled food and I’m back to normal in four days. In the rain song in Lamhe, Megha re megha, I was fat and paunchy but in the jazz song, Moments of Rage, which we shot four days later, I was slim.

There were rumours that you went in for liposuction.
Sridevi: Even if I wanted to, my mother would never allow it. Forget surgery, I’m scared of injections! See this small selling on my lips? Though it doesn’t show in films, it’s very prominent in photographs. I got it when I fainted in the bathroom after a hectic work schedule. Doctors say it can be cured through surgery but I keep putting if off. If I can carry this on my face for so long, how can I even think of liposuction?

Who starts these rumours? They make me feel funny and sad… I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Her chances are…

Sridevi with Bharat Shah

Bharat Shah,
Distributor
She may be going through a bad phase but her market position is still strong. If she has had a row of flops, it’s because she chose some wrong films and was paired some wrong heroes like Salman Khan in Chandramukhi.

If you ask me Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla are in the same slot today. If some people are saying that there have been too many films of Sridevi, then that’s true of the other two actresses as well. There is little doubt that Sridevi is a marvelous actress; if she gets the right director, story and of course, a hero who doesn’t look awkward with her, then she will certainly outclass the competition.

At the audio launch of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja; Sridevi Anil Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, ? and Baba Azmi

Baba Azmi,
Cinematographer
She’s still the best. Flops can’t take away any artiste’s talent. Like the caliber of Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan can never be in doubt even though some of their films may not have been box-office successes. Today, we remember Madhubala and Meena Kumari with great affection. Twenty to thirty years from now, the new generation will hold Sridevi in high regard as well. She’s a professional who takes care of details – like her make-up and costumes. She can be fanatically dedicated. I remember we were shooting the rain-dance, Kaate nahin Katte for Mr India. She had high temperature but refused to call of the shooting that day.

Yash Chopra with Sridevi 

Yash Chopra,
Director
She is one of the finest actresses, a tremendous dancer and a pucca professional. I had tried to present her differently in Chandni – in white and with very little jewellery. Even in Lamhe, she was so striking in the double role of a woman from Rajasthani backdrop and her boisterous daughter. I am asked why I cast Juhi instead of Sri in Darr. That’s because the role wouldn’t have suited Sri – the girl had to look frightened and weak. Darr was a hero-oriented subject. I’m told that I have given Juhi the Sridevi look. I don’t quite agree. I gave Juhi the Chandni look, the look of North Indian girl. Will I work with Sri in the future? I admire her… so why shouldn’t I? But where will I find a suitable subject for her?

Jeetendra and Sridevi

Jeetendra,
Co-star
I have done 15 films with Sri. Her sincerity and her inborn gift for acting brought her forward. She has carried herself very well and to this day, one cannot guess how old she is though she has been playing the heroine for the last 12 years. It could be a case of overexposure but somehow she has changed her look and dress-sense to keep pace with the times. Her films like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Chandramukhi may have come in for a lot of criticism but no one had a bad word to say about Sri’s performances.










Filmfare April 1994

Sridevi: Gung Ho! The one-woman army fields a fusillade of questions

The one-woman army fields a fusillade of questions.

Filmfare interview with Sridevi, October 1996.

Pics by Gautam Rajadhyaksha, written by Meera Joshi, makeup and creative styling by Mickey Contractor.

She excused herself for five minutes.

Multi-hued fabrics and accessories are strewn all over the drawing room of her Versova apartment. Sridevi's in the throes of finalising her costumes in consultation with her dress designer.

That chore over, she sits pretty, among a pile of cushions and asks for a Samson-strong mugga coffee to squelch those monsoon shivers. Right at this moment, she's wary of interviews, what with the ongoing speculation - is she or isn't she married to Boney Kapoor?

A zari shop's bag next to her makes me wonder too. After all, the shop is famous for its bridal finery. Catching me eyeing the bag, she quickly explains, "Oh, that's a dress I'd given for alteration. I've had it for a year, but I haven't worn it because the embroidery was too heavy."

A Q and A session is exactly what she's trying to avoid. "No controversies, please!" was her first request when I'd called her up for a freewheeling interview.

When I tell her that I want to ask her some odd questions, an eyebrow goes up. "Like?" she quizzes. I throw her a couple of samples.

She relaxes. And so, I dart some random posers to find out how much contact she has maintained with mundane reality... and how much she is steeped in the fantasy world of the movies.

Which has been your worst movie experience?
Sridevi: I was doing a guest appearance. Now don't ask me to name the film because I can’t remember it. They make you feel special when you are only doing a teeny-weeny role and so you tend to get carried away. I was supposed to jump onto a glass topped table. I jumped so hard that I went right through the glass. I got up and started saying quite bravely "nothing, nothing, I’m okay" it was only when I saw the frightened look on the faces of the unit members that I realized I was injured seriously. My thighs were covered with blood.

Which has been your most difficult stunt?
I hate doing stunts. I feel very uncomfortable when I'm asked to take on big built fighters. And it's all so unrealistic. I have refused films in which I was just asked to fight from the first reel to the last.

What was your first job?
I was a child artist of four. I vaguely remember playing Lord Muruga, which is somewhat similar to playing Lord Krishna. It was a small film made by Chinappa Devar who had quite a few mythologicals to his credit. For Thunaivan, we went to shoot in a village. I can't recall much more but I do remember that my parents were very proud of me.

Describe yourself at the age of 10.
I became a heroine when I was 10. I was already an established child star when some producers came home and told my mother they wanted to see me in a sari. She thought this was for some film which I was already doing and so she agreed. My mother has always been particular about the kind of films I take on. Even as a child, I only acted in films in which I played a pivotal role. The producers were quite mysterious about the film they wanted me to do. They told my mother "Trust us, you'll be happy with what we have in mind for you."

The Tamil film Masterji in which I played N.T.Rama Rao's granddaughter had just become a super hit. Now they wanted me to play a grown-up girl's role opposite newcomer Ravi Kumar. My mother didn't know how to react. And I didn't have a clue about what was going on. Luckily there were no romantic scenes. I played a blind girl who's very attached to a small child. The film was a big flop! Around the same time, I played a double role of a mother and daughter in a Malayalam film. I had a great time doing the film I didn't know what was happening throughout.

Now tell me, after all these years can you walk into a shop and buy your own groceries today?
In Madras? Impossible but in Mumbai it's possible. Just the other day, I walked into a neighborhood shop and bought some soap and a toothbrush. I zipped in and out so fast that no one could react even if they recognised me. Even when I'm abroad, I can't enjoy the pleasure of browsing through stores like Harrods or Selfridges. There are Indians in every corner of the world. Perhaps I could shop around if I disguised myself. but then I'll miss the high of being recognized as a star. ah well, I guess one can't have everything.

When was the last time you worried about money?
Perhaps not too often but money does put me in a flap at times. Should I be cribbing? No, I shouldn't. God has been very kind. I've never had income tax problems. I've never faced a crisis as far as money is concerned.

What is the most expensive thing you've bought?
My mother has done all the buying for me. our first big purchase was a house in Madras. We still have it but we've moved into a smaller house now. It's more practical.

Do you know how much a liter of milk costs?
(Stunned) Huh? I don't know.



The price of LGP has gone up alarmingly.
(Laughs) Has it? I have no idea.

What's the one thing that is always in your refrigerator?
Vanilla ice cream. I used to have it every day. Not anymore though, I have to keep track of my calories.

Can you cook or are you a disaster in the kitchen?
I enjoy cooking. I can cook chicken without oil which tastes yummy. But since I don't have much time to spend in the kitchen, I haven't yet become an expert chef.

Isn't the way to a man's heart through his stomach?
I certainly hope not. I'm not a very good cook, so if my husband were to depend on my cooking it would be nothing short of a disaster. However, I'll ensure that he eats well. We could get a good cook, you know.

What's your idea of romance?
Thinking and dreaming about the man I want to spend my life with.

How do you know when you're in love?
(Straight-faced) It must be a great feeling. I'll tell you the details when I do fall in love.

What would a man have to do to woo you?
He should be honest, good looking and tall. And he must love me more than anyone else in the world.

How would you ideally like to spend an evening?
By going out for dinner. I've always longed to do that but there haven't been too many opportunities. Since I'm quite shy, I wouldn't be able to handle the people who'd come over to our table. When I'm conscious of the fact that I'm being watched I can't eat a morsel. Dinning out has been possible occasionally when I've been abroad for shows or shootings. I love Thai and Chinese food. I start missing Indian food after a while though.

What do you love eating most?
Rasam and rice.

What do you enjoy reading?
Frankly, I'm no bookworm. I like flipping through a magazine whenever I have the time. I just don't have the patience to read books. The thicker the book, the more it puts me off. I think I have a problem; I can't concentrate for very long. For example, I take ten days to see a film on video. I fall asleep after every two - three reels. There are so many films of mine which I haven't seen completely. it's not that I'm restless. I just don't know how to put this... it's not as if I don't like films either. That's not possible. After all, whatever I am today is because of films.

What is the most demanding thing about being a star?
There is no such thing. A star is a normal human being; she can do anything she likes. Being in the public eye is a big kick, there's nothing intimidating about it. I love being a star and I thank God for making me one.

What do you fear most?
I'm not exactly scared but lizards give me the creeps. If there's one in my bedroom I run off to sleep on the sofa in the living room.

Have you ever wanted to punch a co-star or a director?
(Alarmed) No, never, but there must have been times when one of them must have wanted to punch me. No, no actually I don't believe that either. I've been a thorough professional besides keeping my temper in check.

When do you lose your temper?
When I realize that unless I hurry up I'm going to be late for my shooting. Quite often, it's my fault. I love to sleep. I keep saying, "just five more minutes" every time my aunt tries to wake me up in the morning. Obviously once I'm up on my feet, I'm in a tearing hurry to get ready. That's when I'm irritable, really irritable.

What's the worst piece of gossip you've heard about yourself?
That I'm married. God knows how many times I've heard that. Terrible! How can the magazines concoct such rubbish?

What do you complain about most in a hotel?
For 10 years, I lived in a hotel in Mumbai. And believe me living in a hotel is a real pain. Don't get me wrong though, there was nothing wrong with the hotel I stayed in. In fact, they took very good care of me. There's something so impersonal about a hotel. It's a strange place, it's not home. And the walk across the lobby after doing double or triple shifts is just too much. Besides there's no privacy. I like having my own people around me. I would also miss home cooked food, I used to yearn for piping hot chapattis.

Do you feel you've missed out on a normal education?
I don't think so. I was a good student. For a while my parents did make me cope with school and films simultaneously. When we'd go on outdoor shoots, a teacher would accompany us. But after a point, this wasn't practical. I had to choose between studies and films. I chose films.

Did your parents pressurize you to act?
They never pushed me into doing anything I didn't want to. But yes, they did encourage me to act in films. My father was a lawyer. We shifted from Madurai to Madras so I could go to a better school. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I joined the movies. My father's brother was a congress MLA. He was ill and couldn't attend a meeting, so he requested my father to go instead. I was very attached to my father and insisted on tagging along. There I was spotted by poet Kannadasa who asked me whether I wanted to act. I remember murmuring, "ask my father" he then introduced us to Chinappa Devar. That's how it all began.

Which films have done wonders for you?
Sadma, Mr India, Tohfa, Nagina, Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Kartika Deepam (Telugu), Vetagadu (Telugu), and of course my first film Thunaivan (Tamil).

Which color dominates your wardrobe?
White, I love white.

What do you do to stay thin?
Since I'm too lazy to exercise, I stick to a rigid diet. No rice or milk products and that includes ice cream.

Any tips for those who copy you?
Just be yourself.

Do you have a computer?
(Suspiciously) I do. I even started to learn how to use it. but I've given up now because I don't have enough time to practice on the keyboard all day long.

Which god do you worship?
That depends on what I'm praying for. If it's something related to my profession, then I pray to Lord Balaji. When I'm praying for something personal, Goddess Karumariyamma has to listen to all my pleas.

If you went up to heaven and met God, what would you ask for?
I would say, "God, now please let me meet my father...".

Filmfare,
October 1996

Sridevi: ''I'm a good mimic'': Sridevi picks her Top Five Favourite performances for Filmfare: Nov, 2004

Writer Meera Joshi interviewed Sridevi for the Nov 2004 issue of Filmfare. Sridevi speaks at length about acting in five of her most memorable films; Sadma, Nagina, Mr India, Chaalbaaz and Gumrah. 

As she had already spoken at length about Chandni and Lamhe in the past, these two Yash Chopra ventures were not discussed. A great read for new and aspiring actors - on how legends get the job done! 

I'm a good mimic, confides Sridevi.

There's no method to my acting madness. Whatever you see on screen is completely spontaneous. They call me a switch on-switch off actress and it's true. I don't think for hours about my character and how I'm going to play the role. I just stand in front of the camera and let it flow. In fact, you shouldn't spend too much time rehearsing or preparing because you then lose your spontaneity.

Also, I'm a director's actress. I never went to any acting school. Since I started off as a child artiste in Kandan Karunai way back in 1967, whatever I know of acting has been learnt on the sets. My directors have been my teachers. They told me what to do and I just went on the sets and delivered. It made things easier when the director enacted the scenes because I can copy expressions very well. I am a good mimic.

Of course, there have been times when I've argued a point with a director. Whether he agreed or not, I always had my say. Once that's done, I would do whatever the director told me and do it with conviction because I respect the director's decision. I think it's up to the director to extract good work from his artistes. Which is why I say I owe my success to my directors. 

Three directors I've enjoyed working with are Shekhar Kapur, Satish Kaushik (even if Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja didn't do well) and Mahesh Bhatt. With them, I feel I'm in safe hands.

Earlier I had a bindaas approach to work, and I was game to do any crazy thing on screen. Today, I stop to think how my daughters may react to what I do. I've become more careful now!

GIMME FIVE

Sadma (1983)

This was totally director Balu Mahendra's movie. The way he narrated the movie was amazing - it was complete with dialogue, background music and songs, and I felt as if I was watching the movie instead of just listening to a narration. And when we shot the film, Laxmi behaved exactly the way the director had enacted the scenes during the narration.

Balu Mahendra is a great director who is very clear about what he wants, so there's no time wasted in discussions on the sets. It's great to work with people who know exactly what they want.

Nagina (1986)

I've worked with many directors but director Harmesh Malhotra is one of a kind. He's so sweet and understanding. If I as much as said I wasn't feeling well, he'd promptly cancel the shooting.

The credit for the success of Rajni's dances in the film goes to Sarojji (Saroj Khan). She gave me excellent dance steps to execute and I'm 100 per cent sure that the film would not have been a hit without her dances.

Incidentally, everyone thinks I'm a good dancer but aisa kuch nahin hai. I've never undergone any formal training in dance and whatever I know, I've learnt on the sets. It was Sarojji who gave me my dance style and taught me how to emote while dancing. All those expressions you saw in Nagina were hers - I just copied them."

Mr India (1987)

Again, a director's film. Seema Sohni turned out exactly the way Shekhar Kapur had envisaged. And Shekhar has the ability to make even the most mundane scene look interesting on screen.

You know, the Charlie Chaplin episode was supposed to be just one shot when we started out. But it gained footage because it worked so well and Shekhar decided to turn it into an entire episode. He obviously knows what will click!

The producer also contributed to making this a good film. And I'm not saying that because my husband (Boney Kapoor) produced it! The concept of making a film about an invisible man was really novel those days. It took guts to make a big-budget commercial film of it. Not only was it a gamble, it was also a challenge for the producer and I appreciate that.

Chaalbaaz (1989)

The film wasn't so much a story as a bunch of gags strung together. And that's what all of us worked on. The atmosphere on the sets was always full of fun and laughter and that was essential to ensure that the scenes looked natural and effortless.

Though this may sound hard to believe, the way Anju and Manju dressed or behaved wasn't thought out at all. In fact, nothing was planned. Everything was spontaneous, including some of the dialogue!

Gumrah (1993)

After Boney Kapoor, if there was one producer I enjoyed working with, it was Yash Johar. He was a wonderful man and an excellent producer. Much as I liked Yashji, however, I was in two minds about working in a film directed by Mahesh Bhatt at that point because he was doing five films simultaneously. I wondered how he'd concentrate on my film, whether he'd be able to devote enough time to it. But I was wrong. He was fully involved with Gumrah.

Roshni was the only character I really worked on. I was fully involved in deciding her look and characteristics because the story called for many different moods. When Roshni goes through the customs, is caught and lands up in jail, there had to be a vulnerable quality about her. Then there was the traumatic scene in the hospital when her mother dies. Mahesh Bhatt guided me through it all. I can't recall going through any heavy-duty discussions ont he sets but I do remember that my performance was all thanks to the director.



Sridevi spoke to MEERA JOSHI