A Sridevi and Mohan Lal film with the music of AR Rehman shelved...

A Sridevi and Mohan Lal film with the music of AR Rehman shelved... 

This newsbyte made us sad - what could have been... 

 

Filmfare excerpt: Queen of Hearts: Sridevi

 

Triangle Tangle

Must say that Sridevi still sets hearts pitter-patter. The other day, at a studio, ma'am Sri was togged out in a deadly outfit and no visitors were allowed on the sets. To see her perform a dance number, top heroes however snatched permission from the gateman and slipped inside to pay Sri a heap of compliments to which the lady could only respond with, "Oh thank you, thank you." 

When Salman wooed and wrote a film with Sridevi in mind

Sridevi - Settling old scores! 

Salman is taking his obsession for older women a bit too far. It was his idea to get Sridevi for Bubby Kent's next film for which he has written the story, and now tht she has signed for it., the actress is showing more than a keen interest in the project. She has given bulk dates ot the film, reportedly at the cost of the dates that she had given to Harmesh Malhotra for Heer Ranjha! But then Sridevi can't be blamed for the overnight switch of affect from the superstar that never was, Anil Kapoor, to the new superstar, Salman Khan!. After all her thanda [cold] patch in recent times needs to get heated up.

-- Cine Blitz, early 90s

Salman Khan, "No comparison to Sridevi"

Salman Khan, "No comparison to Sridevi"

In reality TV show Super Dancer Chapter 4, contestants' tribute to Sridevi takes judges Malaika Arora and Geeta Kapur down memory lane

Bollywood World Tour show 1994

Contestant Florina Gogoi along with her choreographer, Tusshar Shetty gave an energetic performance on a medley of late Sridevi's popular remixed songs on the Indian reality show Super Dancer 4 earlier this month.  

Super Dancer – Chapter 4 paid tribute to the evergreen actresses of the Indian Film Industry with the Bollywood Queens Special episode. 

Contestant Florina Gogoi, from Jorhat Assam, along with her choreographer, Tusshar Shetty did a fine tribute to Sridevi, replete with voiceovers and visuals of the late great actress and dancer. 

Florina and Tushar did not copy or replicate the actress' movements or outfits, instead displayed their prowess with House and old-school Hip-Hop styles on songs such as Mama Mia, Naino Mein Sapna, Hawaa Hawaai, Tu Mujhe Qabool and Meri Bindiya. 

Judges Geeta Kapur, Malaika Arora and Terence Lewis loved it - and applauded the guru-shishya duo for doing justice and paying a tribute to the screen goddess. 

Geeta Kapur, who worked with Sridevi on stage shows in the early 90s, said, “Itni badi hasti hain na Sridevi ji, unke life ko itne chote se samay main, samman dena bohot hi mushkil kaam hai. [Sridevi was such a huge phenomenon who accomplished so much in her short life, its difficult to pay tribute to her] Because her body of work is so much… Aapne sahi kaha end main, wo chaand ki chandani banker hume roz touch karti hain. [You were right to say at the end, she was a luminscent being who continues to touch our lives daily].” 

When asked by Florina, Geeta Kapur shared further anecdotes about how in the early days of her career as a dancer, she worked Sridevi on international stage shows in the early '90s.

Geeta Kapur with Sridevi - circa 1994

She said, “A long time ago, when I was really young and I used to be a dancer, I used to dance behind Sridevi during some shows. I used to stand in the wings and watch her make an entry. She used to be so calm, collected and composed before she went on stage. Nothing used to affect her, not even screams and cheers from the audience, and the moment she had to go on stage, she used to be jaise ek tej aata hai... that aura, that personality… it used to be a star entry! It used to be so joyful to watch her. People talk about how she used to switch on and switch off when she was in front of or away from the camera, but see how her work has never switched off. She's still here, amongst us.”

Geeta also revealed how Sridevi had a sharp memory. Once after several years, when Janhvi Kapoor was being launched in Dhadak, Geeta was working with the actress' daughter, and Sridevi happened to be on set. She came up to the choreographer and said, “Hello Geeta, how are you?” 

It just made Geeta’s day! 

On this note, Geeta gives a word of advice to Florina. “As you grow up and you go through your life’s journey, never forget the people who have been associated with you. Because down the line, when you meet them and say ‘hello’ they will feel nice. Toh sab ko yaad rakhna... [remember everyone] okay.”

Malaika Arora who was also a Sridevi fan, got very emotional reminiscing about the late actress who was suddenly taken away. 

Sridevi's first born lands her first Best Actress Nomination at Filmfare: Janhvi Kapoor for Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

Earlier today, it was announced that film producer Boney Kapoor and actress Sridevi's eldest daughter Janhvi Kapoor has been nominated for a highly coveted award, Filmfare Best Actress; for the film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl 

Two films old and a title-role, that's quiet an achievement for Sridevi's first-born. Looking at the list of nominees, however, well, she's not going to win, but an honour to be nominated blah blah blah, yaddah yaddah yaddah. 

On the plus side, young Janhvi Kapoor at age 24 - and only two films old (three if you count her short film on Netflix Ghost Stories) is making smart choices and opting for films that show range, not just box-office potential. 

Sridevi of course made the fine balance of entertainment versus meaningful cinema in her storied career.  When it comes to awards, there aren't any who can measure up to Sridevi's vast achievements from a young age. 

At age seven, Sridevi was walking up on stage to pick up the Kerala State Film Award for the Malayalam film Poombatta, Sridevi's first Best Actress Filmfare was for the Tamil film Meendum Kokila - when she was only 18. By age 19, Sridevi won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for Moondram Pirai, considered by many actors and directors as her finest performance. Ever. 

Sridevi in Baazigar with Shahrukh Khan?

Sridevi was considered for a double role in Baazigar but the directors feared killing off Sridevi on screen - the biggest and beloved superstar of Hindi cinema - would turn the audience off and kill Shahrukh Khan's career! 

Sridevi was replaced by newcomers Shilpa Shetty and Kajol. 

TBT: Mohanlal and Sridevi together?

Sridevi, Boney Kapoor and Mohanlal 

One of the great tragedies of Indian cinema, Mohanlal and Sridevi never appeared in a film together.
If only...

There was discussion in the 90s, and the 00s - but nothing came into fruition. Indian cinema is riddled with coulda/shoulda/woulda. So many discussions that go around in circles. Pity. 

Sridevi has appeared in 25 Malayalam films (mostly as a child/teen artist) and Kerala superstar Mohanlal in roughly 178! 

Alia Bhatt with Sridevi: On stage: On Film: On Covers: Sridevi to star with Alia in Shiddat!

Alia Bhatt with Sridevi over the years. It was Alia Bhatt's birthday on March 15 (born in 1993!). She was a huge fan of  Sridevi, Sridevi was a fan of Alia's.

Images of two the star-actresses together here. Alia at age 27 is easily the best of her gen. Sridevi was the best of hers.

The two would have appeared together in Kalank had fate not so cruelly intervened. Wonder what it would have been like...

Below: The newsbyte that initially came out from Dharma Productions back in 2017 regarding their new film. The original cast of Kalank, which was then called Shiddat we believe...

TBT: Priya Anand on working with Sridevi in English Vinglish

TBT: Actress Priya Anand on working with Sridevi in English Vinglish. 


For actress Priya Anand, working with legends such as Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan in her B-town debut has been her biggest achievement so far.

The South star who has acted in movies such as Leader, Vaamanan, 180, Rama Rama Krishna Krishna is currently shooting in Chennai for her latest and first Bollywood movie, English Vinglish.

Priya says that it wasn’t easy for her to do the role and it took around six months of auditioning and hectic calls before she could commit. “I couldn’t commit because of my film 180’s release timing. But, a day prior to the release I got a call from them again. And I came on board,” says the actress.

She says she was star-struck by Sridevi’s presence on the sets. “It was insane! I couldn’t believe I was working with her. She is such a nice and gentle person.” In fact, Boney Kapoor’s presence made her more comfortable. “He is a very nice family man. It was a pleasure meeting him,” she says adding that she is still waiting for her shoot with Big B.

Apart from the plot and director, the presence of Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan was the deciding factor for Priya to say yes to the film.

With her foray into Bollywood, Priya has joined the likes of south stars Asin, Kajal and Genelia. Will the competition get tougher now?

“Acting is my job. Whether good or bad, the result will be mine. I have no competitors and I am here to stay,” says the actor.

From http://www.atozmasti.net/2011/12/dream-come-true-for-priya-anand.html

UPDATE:

Priya Anand

@PriyaAnand

Feb 25, 2018

This is just the saddest news to wake up to! Heartbreaking. Fan girl for life!

The Boney Kapoor - Sridevi marriage: Scandal of the 90s: Sridevi's biggest Bollywood controversy

Boney Kapoor and Sridevi discuss their marriage

SCREEN, February 14, 1997


The marriage had taken place last June (June 2 1996 to be precise) at the Saibaba Temple at Shirdi. There were no invitees but only a few witnesses. It had been a very hush-hush affair. They even had a blissful honeymoon in the US of A. And now seven months later, Sridevi is seven months pregnant and a blushing bride again.

The second marriage took place because the traditional actress had been haunted all along by the fact that their marriage hand't been solemnizsed according to vedic rites. But since her parents are dead and her only sister Sreelatha has now gone to court demanding a share of the family wealth, there was no one she could confide in regarding her secret wish. So all this while she kept quiet and kept the marriage under wraps.

Then on January 22 1997, Dr Anitha VijayKumar, Manjula Vijaykumar's daughter and a close friend of Sridevi and Boney, attended the celebrations and at the family wedding, she opened her heart to the Vijaykumars - who promised to help her. According to custom, the married daughter returns to her parents house in the seventh month of her pregnancy for a ceremony. Sridevi, it seems wanted not just to formalise the marriage but also the traditional ceremony to take place. A superstitious person, she felt that her baby would be affected if these rituals weren't adhered to. The Vijaykumars decided to perform the ceremonies. They even agreed to give the bride away. Incidentally, Manjula who made her debut in the MGR starrer Rikshawakaran, and now plays character roles, is the second wife of Vijaykumar. Vijaykumar was a one-time hero of Tamil films and is now a much in demand character actor. He had till recently managed to keep both his wives and their children (some of them are upcoming artists) under one roof. And though the two families separated recently, they are still good friends.

Boney Kapoor, Sridevi and Sunita Kapoor

The day after Vijaykumar's daughter's wedding, Boney and Sridevi got married according to vedic rites a the house of Vijaykumar's first wife. On Sridevi's side, there was only her father's brother and her mother's sister along with her cousin Maheswari (an upcoming heroine). The groom's guest list included his brother Anil Kapoor and his wife Sunita Kapoor [right] along with  few friends from Mumbai who had arrived the previous night and stayed at the Taj.

When the news of the wedding appeared in a Tamil morning paper, the couple who were then staying at Sridevi's CIT colony bungalow first issued a "No comments " statement . But the next day, they relented and called a press conference, in which they admitted that they have known each other for the last 15 years and that they had tied the knot in June last year. This wedding was mere formality. A beaming Boney Kapoor asserted. "I am very happy and lucky man." He refused to answer any more queries about his first wife.

Sridevi looking radiant in her maroon salwar-kameez was sporting a mangal sutra and kum kum in her maang. She flashed a smile and said, "For the first time in my life, I am really happy. I am fortunate to get a husband like Boney." For the first few years, the much-in-love couple made several attempts to hid their feelings for each other. However, the very professional actress said she has no plans of quitting films. She insisted that she would return to acting once she delivered the baby.

The Anil Kapoor,Sridevi, Urmila starrer Judaai, produced by Boney Kapoor is ready and should be released later this year.

Boney and Sridevi returned to Mumbai soon after and moved into Sridevi's Green Acres apartment.

Screen, Febrauary 14, 1997 

Boney Kapoor, Sridevi, Rajeshari and Ayappan (Sridevi's parents).
Photo from Sreelatha's (Sridevi's younger sister) wedding circa 1990

A trilogy of sequels for Mr India is in the works... Without Sridevi, we are NOT here for it.

Mr India was a surprise Bollywood box-office blockbuster released 33 years ago. A much beloved film that was the [second] biggest hit of 1987, the genre bending sci-fi-superhero-dramedy-musical entertainer was a pastiche of everything cinematic and great that gelled together to perfection on screen. The movie hasn't dated a bit and is worth watching again and again. But is it worth remaking or re-creating with sequels - without the magical original cast? 

Hmm. 

Shekhar Kapur

@shekharkapur

·

Feb 18

Worked very hard to create 3D Version for Mr India , but

@BoneyKapoor

just gave up.

A sequel to the film has been in discussion for the past 25 years (we traced back to the first article mentioned in Filmfare back in 1995) but nothing concrete has ever been finalised. We've reported on the sequel so many times over the past 20 years (since the inception of this Sridevi fan blog in fact) that we can barely feign interest now. 

A few days ago however, noted writer / director Ali Abbas Zafar tweeted that a trilogy is being planned;

ali abbas zafar

@aliabbaszafar

·

Feb 17

Excited to partner with

@ZeeStudios_

for an epic trilogy #MrIndia! It is a huge responsibility to carry forward an iconic character loved by everyone. Currently, working on the script, no actor has been locked till now. Once we lock the first draft of the script, casting begins!

Zafar's career has seen tremendous highs (Tiger Zinda Hai, Sultan) to mediocre fare (Gunday). 

Since the original release of the film, the octogenarian music director-duo Laxmikant* Pyarelal retired [*Laxmikant passed away in 1998], Amrish Puri died back in 2005, Sridevi suddenly passed away two years ago. Shekhar Kapur's career (as a film director) has been in stasis for years now [but he's been busy tweeting with alarming alacrity]. Boney Kapoor has been producing films on occasion but mostly busy raising his four children, Anil Kapoor has been defying the aging process with enviable ease. 

Shekhar Kapur

@shekharkapur

·

Feb 19

Am not miffed about announcement of #MrIndia2 , just amazed

When the discussion about a sequel came up at MAMI, it was met with tremendous applause and enthusiasm - but then, at the time, the principle cast was on stage looking like time stopped still just for them. 

A natural, trigger response, an auto-pilot reaction to looking at the gorgeous leads in nostalgic sepia tones. Anil Kapoor donning his vintage jacket, Sridevi looking ever-youthful... it was all but pandering to the excited audience.

However, with some thought going into this... milking past ideas for formulaic box-office appeal is no guarantee for success. The major ingredients that made the film so great are no longer alive or associated with what's cooking by Zafar and Zee.

Shekhar Kapur

@shekharkapur

·

Feb 18

No one has even asked me or mentioned to me about this film called Mr India 2. I can only guess that they using the title to get a big weekend. For they cannot use the characters/story without permission from the original creators of the film.

It's startling how dead horses are being flogged again and again; when sequels or remakes of iconic films have been notable flops - eg Sholay, Umrao Jaan, Karz...etc So WHY touch classics? Is there such a paucity of ideas in Indian cinema today? Are the writers bereft of new thoughts? Are there no literary tomes worth re-imagining? Chapters in history that need to be brought to the arc lights?!  

I'm sure the new team will hoist a polished product - technology is leaps and bounds ahead from what it was in the 1980s. However, the soul and spirit of the original will be sorely missing. 

She was the one: Sridevi 

From a personal perspective - of this blog esp - with the kohinoor of Indian films missing in action, they are trying to pass off cubic zirconias for gen z viewers. And it's just not going to be the same. 

Sure the idea of a re-make is making headlines today, but the original made history.













PS: An entire post on old Sridevi songs being remade with current gen and synthetic sounds is long over-due too. Its audible atrocity... but more on that at a later date.


Update: Sonam Kapoor and Anil Kapoor express their shock at learning about the news of Mr India sequels

UPDATE 2: