Not only is her comeback
film English Vinglish equally loved by masses, classes and critics,
but the role as well as performance and the film itself rank among her finest.
As Shashi Godbole, she has proved that her 15-year break from the big screen
has not made her lose even a spark from her histrionic fire (she was last seen
in Judaai, the serial Malini Iyer discounting her delayed “Mere Biwi
Ka Jawaab Nahin” that came and vamoosed in 2004). Between 2002 and 2005 she
also produced three films – Shakti – The
Power, Run and Bewafaa starring other actresses.
Sridevi, who first faced the camera at the age of seven, is full of beans when
India-West has a ‘phoner with her.
The Interview of Sridevi :
Question :
How does it feel to be the luckiest in a whole range of actresses coming back
to films?
Answer :
Yes, I need to say a big thank you to my fans and the audiences, and to God.
When Gauri narrated the subject to me, in a chance meeting for something else
between Boney-ji and Balki-ji, he told my husband that his wife was
planning such a story. Boney-ji suggested my name. When we meet we just
clicked as people apart from my loving the script.
Question :
Is not this your first-ever film with a woman director? Or have you had any in
the South?
Answer : Never!
Though the gender did not matter by itself, I admit there was a greater comfort
level, because you can talk about almost anything with a woman. And I enjoyed
every moment of working on this film, especially because Boney-ji was
there throughout the ten-week schedule of the film in New
York. It was like a free holiday for him! (Laughs)
Question : What does he think
of your performance?
Answer : You
will have to ask him! (Chuckles)
Question : All your co-stars
were new to you. How were they to work with?
Answer : I
loved working with the small boy, Sagar, who was so unusually sharp and good as
an actor and so cute. My French co-star Mehdi Nebbou was so enthusiastic and
quite a perfectionist. Adil Hussain and everyone else were good too.
Question : Which is the best
compliment you have received for this role?
Answer : Well,
I never planned any comeback. But I feel so lucky and grateful at what is
happening. Such praise leads to a great responsibility that cannot be taken
lightly. The compliments – the sms-es and the calls - have never stopped.
Strangers call me, stop me and there are ladies who call up or hug me and say
how the film changed their lives. I am amazed that so many people have told me
that English Vinglish is exactly their story - not just wives, but
even husbands and kids have come and told me that they have apologized to their
wives and mothers after watching this film! Daughters have called from abroad
to tell us how they have called their mothers in India
to say sorry for behaving the way they did with them.
Question : How much has all
this motivated you to do more films, or maybe become choosier?
Answer : I
will look for quality films, because I will have to be away from my family
during shooting. Before we shot this film, my husband took my daughters Jhanvi
and Khushi, and me for a month-long holiday to Las Vegas
because I was going to be away from my kids.
Question : Which have been
your past favorites from your films?
Answer : All
my films are close to me! But among those in Hindi, Yash Chopra-ji really
made me look beautiful in Chandni and Lamhe and Sadma, Mr.
India and Chaalbaaz are
also special.
Question : Your music was a
great asset to your career, especially in the films of Bappi Lahiri at first
and then Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
Answer : I
am very grateful to these stalwarts. They really gave me such great songs. I
had lovely songs in Yash-ji’s films too.
Question : Recently Tusshar
Kapoor expressed his anger at a statement you had made about Himmatwala being
no “Mughal-E-Azam.”
Answer : I
would rather not speak about that.
Question : What is the truth
behind all the conflicting media reports about your daughter Jhanvi doing
films, your grooming her, and then her not doing films and so on?
Answer : I
am quite disturbed by whatever the newspapers keep writing because it is all
untrue. Jhanvi’s just 15 and she is doing very well in her studies. We do not
even discuss a career in films.
Question : Will it be okay if
she decides on a film career later?
Answer : We
will see about that if the time comes. Why should I break my head on it now?
Question : What is the status
of the sequel to “Mr. India?”
Answer : That
is again something that my husband knows better!
