Three directors on working with the great Sridevi: Mukul Anand, Mahesh Bhatt and Shekhar Kapur

The men behind the scenes talk about working with 'the' screen queen, Sridevi; directors Mukul Anand, Mahesh Bhatt and Shekhar Kapoor. She was much younger than all but commanded respect as her experience and blazing talent was perhaps greater than theirs combined! 

Well, we think so. Just quotes from the past of all three who worked with Sri in major films.  

Mukul Anand, who directed Sridevi in Sultanat, Khuda Gawah and produced Army, ""...Sridevi...in Khuda Gawah is a self-assured person, conscious of every move that she makes in front of the camera. She's watching Amitabh step by step. It's fascinating the way the two keep watching each other perform. I think it's a tribute to Sridevi that Amitabh would sit and watch her work. For me it's a unique experience. I don't think there's been anyone quite like her in our films. She can do just about anything. And brilliantly."
- Mukul Anand, Filmfare, August 1990 

Director Mukul Anand with Sridevi 

Mahesh Bhatt, who directed Sridevi only in Gumrah: "I first met Sridevi in the dark auditorium of a cinema hall. She was up there on the silver screen, the film was Balu Mahendra's Sadma, in which she was paired opposite Kamal Haasan. What hit me about her persona was her earthiness. That undefinable native charm which was the unique attribute of this enigma. Made her stand apart from the other leading ladies of those times. 

The leading ladies who rose to the top in Mumbai had, because of Westernisation, lost their feminine mystique. Most of the m were modeling themselves on teh Western icons who appeared on international magazines or in Hollywood. Monkeying the West, the core Indian audience was feeling deeply unfulfilled. Sridevi brought India back into Indian movies. This 'India'ness became her spring board to superstardom. For me, her best performance was in her husband Boney Kapoor's Mr.India, which was directed by Shekhar Kapur. 

Let's take Sridevi for the role, she is not only a star, but an actor of your kind," said the late Yash Johar, the founder of Dharma Productions. After Naam, Aashiqui, Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin and Sadak, I too had become a bit of a star director. The reputation that I am an actor's director became a bridge for Sridevi and me to meet and work in the early 90s, in Gumrah. Working with Sridevi was a memorable experience.  

The character of Roshni from Gumrah was a lot like Sridevi herself. All great performances are drawn out from the body of an actor. A good director is a lot like a good gardener, he brings out the beauty of a plant from the DNA of the seed, by merely watering it and protecting it. I did not force-feed my ideas into this acting machine. I merely created an environment for her to bloom, which she did. Gumrah was a mediocre success, but if at all people remember that film, it's because of her heartfelt performance. 

You should learn what trusting a director means from Sridevi. Never did she question me for presenting her in the most de-glamourised way in the jail portions of Gumrah. I said to an actress in the 90s, when she was giving me a hard time to my assistants by refusing to wear a 'non glamorous' costume, which the film demanded. 

When I look back on her glorious inning in the movie world, I cannot help but conclude that long, successful career arcs do not happen by chance. They are fueled by courage and discipline. And the ability to take risks. Not taking risks is a bigger risk Madam," I remember telling her when she was not voicing her concern about some producers, for shedding her glamorous persona in Gumrah. My conviction was the lone star which saw her all through the making of Gumrah. 

How can I forget what she said during the shooting of the climax of Gumrah? "She has got very high fever Mahesh. I think we will have to cancel the shooting and break down the set," said Yash Johar. As soon as I entered the massive prison set where a fight sequence was to be shot. Inside a water-tank. Yashji's apprehensions were right.

There was no way I could ask this star to step into a water tank and participate in a fight sequence with Sanjay Dutt and Bob Christo. But the idea of re-erecting that massive set which cost a fortune was also weighing us down. But there was no way out. 

"There is a way out. I am calling for my doctor. I will take an injection, get my fever down and shoot. Period. Just make sure that we keep the fans far away from me, " said Sridevi, with a dead-pan face. 

Tales of such a magnanimity of film stars seldom reach the world. Demonising superstars is a profitable business. 

For me, the memory of Sridevi presenting Alia Bhatt with her first award would have been an idea image of a happy ending of our association. The body posture of Alia, awe-struck to see this diva bestow her with the prestigious award is so life-affirming, but life makes you live on its own terms. 

I had first met her in Centaur Hotel in a room full of roses. When Yashji and I had gone to sign her for Gumrah. It was her birthday. Little did I know then, I would one day see an image of Sridevi, on a cold TV screen, lying dead, in a sea of flowers. 

Movies have a happy ending. This is real life."

Shekhar Kapur, "  It’s Sridevi’s Birthday today’ Said the journalist .. ‘Can you give us a bite?.. ‘How long do you have?’ I asked ‘However long you need?’ ‘A lifetime’ I said. 

Whenever we met, we promised to work together again after #MrIndia .. Sri got so busy and I left for Hollywood. Happy Birthday Sri, wherever you are, know that you will never be forgotten, and I’m sorry we never worked again. My absolute loss. True Sri Devi is irreplaceable .. can’t imagine that Mr India would have been the same without her. 

From Shabana Azmi in Masoom, to SriDevi in Mr India... Been blessed with the opportunity to work with smartest, most talented, brilliant actresses in the world. She defined a generation of heroines. Certainly #MrIndia would not have been same film without #SarojKhan. You had to see her dance as she rehearsed with SriDevi. She was mesmerizing. And what energy! You could shoot all night, yet she smiled and danced constantly fresh. Well.. there was just one #sridevi that was capable of creating that magic. 

Celebrating the timeless effervescence of Sridevi in Mr. India... She was showing SriDevi the expression for the song. The scene became so convincing that all the other kids in the film were sobbing when they had to kiss little Tina in the coffin. Then I teared up .. and so did SriDevi.”

Sridevi... "You were the most exciting actress I ever worked with. Your energy on camera was scintillating. There was not a moment on screen that you did not have the audience in your grip. Be it an emotion, a comic moment, a dance. You were so innovative. You always did far, far more than I asked of you. You were never less than surprising. As a human being, you were incredibly supportive of those you were close to. I remember when everyone was going at me for a film that was threatening to fall apart .. you fought for me like a tigress. You were so loyal to your Directors. 

It's unbelievable that you passed. Unexpected, sudden and shocking. It shook us all. We were waiting for Mr India 2! Honestly .. that film should have been made by now. It's devastating for Boney, your daughters and your family .. I know up there you will still be looking forward to your daughters debut .. we will never get over Sri Devi!" 

“Mr. India is her. It's actually Sridevi... I remember the days we were filming this iconic song [Kaate Nahin Katte], the iconic image of ‘I Love you'... you hid from me that you were running a high fever… and you were in numbing pain... That everyone advised you to rest, and certainly not allow yourself to get wet... I only found out from our choreographer Saroj Khan after we had finished shooting. You made her swear she wouldn't tell me... You would come up to me after every shot...‘It's ok na ?... you sure ... pucca? Shall we do it again? I can see in your eyes you are not fully satisfied'. And all the time you were burning with fever and in a lot of pain…That's what you did throughout Mr India …you had that instinct of knowing whether I was completely happy with your shot or not…even with a flick of my eyes… You would search in my eyes to see if there was a hint of a doubt... so no wonder your performance in Mr India still stands out as one of the most iconic performances in Hindi films of all time…We miss you, Sri… Yet behind her stardom .. behind her incredible talent .. lay such innocence .. such vulnerability… 

Sridevi's probably the best actor I've ever worked with. Just see Mr India - it was born out of joy. Mogambo is gone, Miss Hawa Hawaii has gone... I’ll cry.”

All quotes collated from interviews past and social media present! 

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Sridevi with her favourite photographer: Rakesh Shreshta

Sridevi, Rakesh Shreshta and director Mukul Anand 

The only reason I know of Rakesh Shrestha is because of magazine credits in the late 1980s and early 90s, found in the folds of many a Bollywood-based film magazine-- somehow, all my favourite images (particularly those of Sridevi, Manisha Koirala, on occasion Rekha) were by this mysterious man who seemed to have access, a deep friendship and confidence of ALL the tops stars of their time. Very little is known about him publicly... which might be his wish, but we wanted to secure his status as one of the greats that percolated Mumbai film industry and the juggernaut that is Bollywood.  

So here's a mini dive. The once prominent Indian still-photographer is best known for his extensive work in Bollywood, where he captured publicity stills of major movies, and special photography for over 600 films, making him a prominent part of not just film journalism, but films itself. His images were used to launch stars, films, film magazines, film posters, the iconography of Hindi cinema. 

Gumrah set: Sridevi - with Rakesh in the background

Born on October 5, 1956, in Bombay (now Mumbai) to a family of Nepali origin, he was raised in the city which would be synonymous with the film capital of the world. A commerce graduate, he initially worked in a colour lab handling accounts before transitioning to photography. Without formal training or assisting others, he started in the early 1980s with a modest camera, initially doing urgent passport photos and building confidence through persistence and self-taught skills.

Neetu Singh

His breakthrough came after persistently approaching actress Neetu Singh on film sets, eventually shooting her for a magazine cover that launched his career. This led to long-term collaborations with major stars, including Rekha (with whom he worked extensively starting around 1981 and praised for her professionalism, creativity, and technical knowledge of lighting/makeup), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (whom he called one of the most beautiful actresses he photographed), Sridevi, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, and many others. 

Notable film credits include still photography for Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), 1942: A Love Story (1994), Vaastav: The Reality (1999), and others, often for major productions like Yash Raj Films.

He built a successful career through charm, persistence, and creating comfortable environments for stars. 

After the tragic death of his first wife, Jean, in 2009, he significantly slowed down and largely stepped back from active work to support his beloved son Rohan Shrestha’s photography career (avoiding competition for assignments) and focus on family. He has a second son, Rihaan, from his later marriage.

Shrestha is remembered as a self-made industry veteran who documented key eras of Hindi cinema through his lens. 

In the west, most photographers recap their portfolio in mighty coffee table books and so far, Shreshta has resisted the temptation to publish his incredible work over the past 40 years. One imagines the sheer volume of negatives and series of images of stars to be monumental; a herculean task awaits. We all live in hope he'll publish a book that's not only a retrospective of his personal musings and muses, but an archive of some of the greatest stars that came and went in the transient space that is Bollywood. Stars shine and fade, supernovas are forever-- Rakesh Shreshta in capturing many celebrities is at risk of being one himself. 

My massive archive of Rakesh Shreshta photos are here and here. 

TBT: Launch of Khuda Gawah with the biggest stars of Bollywood

TBT: Launch of Khuda Gawah with the biggest stars of Bollywood, the biggest film producers, direct, banner... It was everything grand and epic and big-screen worthy... 

Birth anniversary of director Mukul Anand: Seen here at Khuda Gawah mahurat with Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan

Birth anniversary of director Mukul Anand: Seen here at Khuda Gawah mahurat with Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan 

 

At the mahurat [launch] of Khuda Gawah with Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi: Bollywood launch of an EPIC!

That's Us @ The Mahurat of Khuda Gawah @ Gaiety Cinema From L to R 
Laxmikant , MukulAnand , N.N.Sippy , Sridevi , Amitji behind him Me with ManojDesai

Want to thank Mr Monty Premnath for posting the above rare pic.

Below: Rare pic of Manmohan Desai, Mukul Anand, ?, Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan

More from Ulhas Shirke - as he fondly remembers Sridevi here. 

Rare images of the cast and crew of Khuda Gawah during the grand launch/mahurat of the film. The biggest power players of the Hindi film industry turned up.