I'm impressed. I usually am not with all these so called actresses (more off screen then on it) but I was with Sridevi.
They don't make women like her no more. Sold, brazen and beautiful. Fair like the summer morning with eyes as bright as the winter nights, she has come a long long way from just being a South-Indian idly. Extremely talented and ruling the roost with utmost ease, Sridevi beholds the star quality that the Madhuri's and Juhi's lack. And who is vain are aspiring restlessly to don her mantle.
Her power is devastating. See the lady at any of her shoots and you'll know what I mean. The minute she walks into anywhere alike are all so much in awe of this South-Indian seductress that she simply commands that kind of attention and respect. It's magnetic. As if everyone around her have been mesmerized by her hypnotism eyes. People fuss over her literally bending to please her and make her comfortable. Silence surrounds her and discipline becomes the order of the day. Something that is missing in the aura of the other aspiring. No. 1's who are just taken for granted.
And whoever said that this crowned beauty is dumb sure needs to get his head examined for she surely isn't that. If she was then she wouldn't be where she is today. Reigning supreme and yet maintaining her position. Keeping the Madhuri's at bay sure needs a smart head and that she's got. That she may not have a public display of it is another matter
They don't make women like her no more. Sold, brazen and beautiful. Fair like the summer morning with eyes as bright as the winter nights, she has come a long long way from just being a South-Indian idly. Extremely talented and ruling the roost with utmost ease, Sridevi beholds the star quality that the Madhuri's and Juhi's lack. And who is vain are aspiring restlessly to don her mantle.
Her power is devastating. See the lady at any of her shoots and you'll know what I mean. The minute she walks into anywhere alike are all so much in awe of this South-Indian seductress that she simply commands that kind of attention and respect. It's magnetic. As if everyone around her have been mesmerized by her hypnotism eyes. People fuss over her literally bending to please her and make her comfortable. Silence surrounds her and discipline becomes the order of the day. Something that is missing in the aura of the other aspiring. No. 1's who are just taken for granted.
And whoever said that this crowned beauty is dumb sure needs to get his head examined for she surely isn't that. If she was then she wouldn't be where she is today. Reigning supreme and yet maintaining her position. Keeping the Madhuri's at bay sure needs a smart head and that she's got. That she may not have a public display of it is another matter
Until now when I met the heart-throb of the nation for the first time for a tete-a-tete on all that is Sridevi. A day before the interview the lady, co-operation personified, took time out of her busy schedule to shoot specially for "Stardust". We wanted her to wear something different which she was quite apprehensive about for like she herself said, "I've never done anything like this before. I don't know how the pictures will look. "Experiment", we said and fashion designer Manish Malhotra weaved the magic threads for the trendiest of outfits giving her a totally different look in bells. And the pictures were simply mind-blowing.
I met the darling of cinema fanatics the next day at Filmistan Studios where she was shooting for Pankaj Parashar's, "Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin". Ensconced in the air-conditioned comforts of her spacious house on wheels (very tastefully designed), Sridevi welcomed me with her courteous, "Namaste'. Making myself comfortable on one of the many settees in the huge van of hers we began chatting and it ended up as quite a pleasant experience talking to the Numero Uno beauty.
The first thing I asked her was about her being the quite, shy types who didn't mix around much with people, who smiled occasionally and who laughed rarely. She was said to be a lonely person who liked keeping to herself. No wonder then that one never saw at her discotheques. Nor was she seen much at filmi parties either. Playing with one of the pillows on the sofa she said softly, : "I don't know if I'm a lonely person. But yes I'm a very homely person. I like being with my family members, I'm pretty close to them. To a certain extent I like keeping to myself. May be I'm a private person. But it's not as if I don't mix people with people or don't laugh at all. I take time to know people and adjust to them. And may be that's why people may find me to be quit and reserved. But when I'm with my family and friends I do behave any normal person does."
I met the darling of cinema fanatics the next day at Filmistan Studios where she was shooting for Pankaj Parashar's, "Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin". Ensconced in the air-conditioned comforts of her spacious house on wheels (very tastefully designed), Sridevi welcomed me with her courteous, "Namaste'. Making myself comfortable on one of the many settees in the huge van of hers we began chatting and it ended up as quite a pleasant experience talking to the Numero Uno beauty.
The first thing I asked her was about her being the quite, shy types who didn't mix around much with people, who smiled occasionally and who laughed rarely. She was said to be a lonely person who liked keeping to herself. No wonder then that one never saw at her discotheques. Nor was she seen much at filmi parties either. Playing with one of the pillows on the sofa she said softly, : "I don't know if I'm a lonely person. But yes I'm a very homely person. I like being with my family members, I'm pretty close to them. To a certain extent I like keeping to myself. May be I'm a private person. But it's not as if I don't mix people with people or don't laugh at all. I take time to know people and adjust to them. And may be that's why people may find me to be quit and reserved. But when I'm with my family and friends I do behave any normal person does."
"You are right about me not socializing and going to discotheques like most girls of my age. Believe me I've yet to go to a discotheque and dance. It's not that I've stopped myself from going to a disco. You see I'm always with either my mother or my brother. And if I've go to a discotheque then I'd have to go there with my mother. It doesn't make sense. I can't dance alone and my mother would get bored. And I don't have the kind of friends who will drag me to a discotheque forcibly. Anyway I don't think I'm missing much. For going to discotheques is not really my idea of fun and enjoyment. I feel I can have the same amount of fun even sitting at home. I love cooking and spend most of my time in the kitchen. My other past time is watching television. And that's how I keep myself occupied when I'm free", she started.
Was it because of her traumatic struggle from a child-star to the one that she is today that has made her withdraw into her shell? She must have experienced and encountered all kinds of people in the industry who must tried to take advantage of her naiveté. "No, it's not as dramatic as you make it out to be," she answered. "Yes, I've struggled to reach the position I'm in today but it's not been traumatic. Yes, people here try to take advantage when you're new. They manipulate things to suit their means. I'll say there is a lot of manipulations in this industry and people try to run down each other. Maybe I've been a victim to it in the past but today things are different., " she smiled that lovely smile.
The gleam in her eyes was a very mischievous one. Then looking back at her long and steady transition she revealed., "Earlier producers would hassle and manipulate me for dates. Not me actually, but my mother who used to handle my work. They would argue about dates and speak very arrogantly. Today it's not like that. No one can take me for a ride for I look after my work myself now and know exactly how to deal in these matters. I guess I have learned from experience."
Was it because of her traumatic struggle from a child-star to the one that she is today that has made her withdraw into her shell? She must have experienced and encountered all kinds of people in the industry who must tried to take advantage of her naiveté. "No, it's not as dramatic as you make it out to be," she answered. "Yes, I've struggled to reach the position I'm in today but it's not been traumatic. Yes, people here try to take advantage when you're new. They manipulate things to suit their means. I'll say there is a lot of manipulations in this industry and people try to run down each other. Maybe I've been a victim to it in the past but today things are different., " she smiled that lovely smile.
The gleam in her eyes was a very mischievous one. Then looking back at her long and steady transition she revealed., "Earlier producers would hassle and manipulate me for dates. Not me actually, but my mother who used to handle my work. They would argue about dates and speak very arrogantly. Today it's not like that. No one can take me for a ride for I look after my work myself now and know exactly how to deal in these matters. I guess I have learned from experience."
"Then there were producers who'd take me for their outdoors to God forsaken places like Rajmundry and places where shooting conditions were bad. I used to be there at their mercy at a stretch for twenty days etc. burning in the sun bearing all the discomfiture. Today it's different. My producers are kind enough to come and ask me, "Madam, where would you like to shoot? Ooty, Simla, Switzerland?" That's it. I guess things change with success. Also over the years I've earned a lot of respect from my producers, directors, co-stars and every everybody in the industry."
That surely proved her star-status. But of late her films like "Heer Ranjha", "Lamhe", "Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja" had all flopped disastrously proving the fact that she had lost the ability to sustain her draw at the box-office. "I know, even I was very disappointed when these films didn't do to well. For I had put my heart into all these films. "RKRCKR" took five years to be made. I gave it my best but it didn't click at the box-office. "Lamhe" was a much appreciated film but it failed with the audiences. What could I do? Tell me was "Lamhe" a bad film of was my acting in it bad? But all these things are unpredictable," she reasoned.
True, but then didn't she feel insecure that her rivals were hastily putting Madhuri into the number one slot. Ms.Dixit herself was giving interviews saying, "Yes if you go by hits then I'm Number One," and "Since all of you (critics) are calling me number one then I must be Number one". A fact that Ms.Dixit was gloating on like Anil Kapoor was till some time ago in comparison to Bachchan. What did Sri feel particularly about the number game and about the status of Numero Uno accorded to her unanimously by one and all? How had she taken success in her stride?
"I am a very professional actress and such things are immaterial to me", the actress said matter-of factly. "I don't know about other but I've never considered myself to be Number one. I'm successful yes, thanks to my fans and producers who have put me up where I am. And flops don't make me insecure. I'm pretty confident about myself that I can get films. Flops don't disturb me to an extent that they start affecting me. They just disappoint me and make me feel sad that why didn't they run? That's it. And that too it is a temporary feeling. "Why should I get insecure? I've got four films on the floors and "Gumrah" is really for realize. The others are "Chaand Kaa Tukdaa", "Laadla", "Chandramukhi" and "Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin". Also I have finalized a few films with the Venus people, Rakesh Roshan, Sudhkar Bokade and a few others. Let me tell you, if I was insecure about my position then O would've signed a dozen films to feel secure. No. I don't work on that Principle. It's not as if I had banked my career on the films that flopped. As for the Number one position, two hits make you number one and one flop leaves you without any number," -she explained meaningfully.
That surely proved her star-status. But of late her films like "Heer Ranjha", "Lamhe", "Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja" had all flopped disastrously proving the fact that she had lost the ability to sustain her draw at the box-office. "I know, even I was very disappointed when these films didn't do to well. For I had put my heart into all these films. "RKRCKR" took five years to be made. I gave it my best but it didn't click at the box-office. "Lamhe" was a much appreciated film but it failed with the audiences. What could I do? Tell me was "Lamhe" a bad film of was my acting in it bad? But all these things are unpredictable," she reasoned.
True, but then didn't she feel insecure that her rivals were hastily putting Madhuri into the number one slot. Ms.Dixit herself was giving interviews saying, "Yes if you go by hits then I'm Number One," and "Since all of you (critics) are calling me number one then I must be Number one". A fact that Ms.Dixit was gloating on like Anil Kapoor was till some time ago in comparison to Bachchan. What did Sri feel particularly about the number game and about the status of Numero Uno accorded to her unanimously by one and all? How had she taken success in her stride?
"I am a very professional actress and such things are immaterial to me", the actress said matter-of factly. "I don't know about other but I've never considered myself to be Number one. I'm successful yes, thanks to my fans and producers who have put me up where I am. And flops don't make me insecure. I'm pretty confident about myself that I can get films. Flops don't disturb me to an extent that they start affecting me. They just disappoint me and make me feel sad that why didn't they run? That's it. And that too it is a temporary feeling. "Why should I get insecure? I've got four films on the floors and "Gumrah" is really for realize. The others are "Chaand Kaa Tukdaa", "Laadla", "Chandramukhi" and "Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin". Also I have finalized a few films with the Venus people, Rakesh Roshan, Sudhkar Bokade and a few others. Let me tell you, if I was insecure about my position then O would've signed a dozen films to feel secure. No. I don't work on that Principle. It's not as if I had banked my career on the films that flopped. As for the Number one position, two hits make you number one and one flop leaves you without any number," -she explained meaningfully.
Then, playing with her plait she continued, "Success hasn't affected me to an extent where I have run down others or harassed my producers. Have you heard of any harassing them for dates," she asked proudly. Apparently if certain producers were to be believed then they weren't approaching her because extremely high price that she charged to do a film. And that she didn't make any concessions even if a producer was in trouble. Taking strong objection to this she retorted, "No, no, this is not true at all. I get a lot of offers but I don't sign all of them. Ofcourse I do make concessions where the problems are genuine. A classic example is "Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja", the film took five years to be made. I have given so much of extra dates only so that the film could be completed without charging for it. And I was accused of charging Boney Kapoor one lakh rupees per day, which is not true. Maybe if I had given the same dates to someone in the south I would have earned five times as much. I can't afford to act pricey with my own films. After all it will only affect me. I am quite sensible that way. I am a thorough professional," she stressed.
One of the other reasons that one felt she was slipping down the ladder was that she was getting monotonous film after film. Like Rishi had said in one of his interviews that Sri was stagnating. And that she should stop making "those" faces at the camera. Sridevi was taken aback at the question. She thought for a while and then said, " I don't know about this but I would like to tell you that I do what my directors tell me to. Tell me, how many variations can I possibly do with my face in the light and comedy scenes? I can only get variations in serious roles. Anyway since Chintuji has brought this to my notice I will keep this mind and try not to repeat my expressions," she averred.
Her reign the top had got hero into a lot of controversies. Like her favorite dance directress who had turned for overnight and painted a very black picture of Sridevi calling her all kinds of names. In fact Saroj had even gone to the extent of saying that "What is she without me dances? I've made her, etc". Sri's smile suddenly tapered off when I asked her this, "What can I say. I had no problem with her. It was her problem with the producer, Saawanji. In fact Saawanji was having some problems with Saroj who was not coming regular. Saawanji came to me and said that he couldn't work with her so I told him to give her one more chance. But then somehow things didn't work out between them and I became the villain. Her grouse was against Saawanji, I wonder why she took it out all on me. Maybe she felt let-down by me that I didn't really take up her cause or side or whatever. And if she says that I'm nothing without her dances and that she's made me then all I can say is that I'm very grateful to her for this," she grinned trying to hide her sarcasm.
One of the other reasons that one felt she was slipping down the ladder was that she was getting monotonous film after film. Like Rishi had said in one of his interviews that Sri was stagnating. And that she should stop making "those" faces at the camera. Sridevi was taken aback at the question. She thought for a while and then said, " I don't know about this but I would like to tell you that I do what my directors tell me to. Tell me, how many variations can I possibly do with my face in the light and comedy scenes? I can only get variations in serious roles. Anyway since Chintuji has brought this to my notice I will keep this mind and try not to repeat my expressions," she averred.
Her reign the top had got hero into a lot of controversies. Like her favorite dance directress who had turned for overnight and painted a very black picture of Sridevi calling her all kinds of names. In fact Saroj had even gone to the extent of saying that "What is she without me dances? I've made her, etc". Sri's smile suddenly tapered off when I asked her this, "What can I say. I had no problem with her. It was her problem with the producer, Saawanji. In fact Saawanji was having some problems with Saroj who was not coming regular. Saawanji came to me and said that he couldn't work with her so I told him to give her one more chance. But then somehow things didn't work out between them and I became the villain. Her grouse was against Saawanji, I wonder why she took it out all on me. Maybe she felt let-down by me that I didn't really take up her cause or side or whatever. And if she says that I'm nothing without her dances and that she's made me then all I can say is that I'm very grateful to her for this," she grinned trying to hide her sarcasm.
Sridevi had often been accused of playing games and misusing her star-power. Like Chunky Pandey who is known to crack harmless jokes on people feels he been one the victims. He in the past used to ridicule the actress in every interview of his to which Sridevi is supposed to have taken offence. And apparently she got back at him by dropping him from two projects, "Khuda Gawah" and "Gumrah". Even Ajay Devgan nurses a similar grouse against her for having him dropped from "Khuda Gawah" where he was replaced by Nagarjuna that too after he was signed on the dotted line. No wonder then that in one of his interviews he had said that he would never work with Sridevi.
The awesome actress seemed shocked at these accusations. She defended herself with, "No, this is not true. Chunky is a nice boy and what is the harm in joking? I didn't know that he was being considered for "Khuda Gawah" or "Gumrah". In fact for Yash Johar's "Gumrah" I didn't even know that Rahul was in the film till the last minute. As for Ajay Devgan why should I put my foot down and have him dropped from the film? I didn't even know he was signed. You see when Sanju walked out of the film "Khuda Gawah" they wanted somebody else in his place. The producers had seen "Shiva" and liked Nagarjuna and since he's a South-Indian they approached me to talk to him. I told my mama to talk to Nag and that's how he came into the film. Tell me, how does it matter to me as to who is in the film? Be it Chunky, Ajay or Nagarjuna? The producers decides that, who am I? I only do what I'm told to do. There is certainly some misunderstanding on Ajay's part and if he still feels so strongly about it then what can I say. I challenge anyone to prove that I had them dropped . It's not me. I don't resort to such politics!" she clarified.
I noticed that Sridevi had lost a lot of weight and become almost half her size to develop a perfect ten with a narrow waistline of twenty-six inches. Was this a desperate attempt to look younger since she had two films with newcomers from a totally different generation? Taking offence Sri argued, "Wonder why people talk about me signing films with Salman and Akshay Kumar. What do you mean by a totally different generation? You make me out to be somebody very old. Why did people talk about this when I acted with N.T.Rama Rao who is totally from a different generation? I guess people who don't like you spread such things. And I wasn't the one who wanted Salman and Akshay opposite me. Saawanji first signed Salman Khan for "Chaand Kaa Tukdaa" and then he approached me. As for "Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin" , the producers had signed me but were not getting the dates of the heroes they wanted. Finally they settled for Akshay Kumar. I was a little hesitant about Akshay, but then they came and showed me his "Khiladi". I found him to be good so I signed the film, "she cleared her throat.
The awesome actress seemed shocked at these accusations. She defended herself with, "No, this is not true. Chunky is a nice boy and what is the harm in joking? I didn't know that he was being considered for "Khuda Gawah" or "Gumrah". In fact for Yash Johar's "Gumrah" I didn't even know that Rahul was in the film till the last minute. As for Ajay Devgan why should I put my foot down and have him dropped from the film? I didn't even know he was signed. You see when Sanju walked out of the film "Khuda Gawah" they wanted somebody else in his place. The producers had seen "Shiva" and liked Nagarjuna and since he's a South-Indian they approached me to talk to him. I told my mama to talk to Nag and that's how he came into the film. Tell me, how does it matter to me as to who is in the film? Be it Chunky, Ajay or Nagarjuna? The producers decides that, who am I? I only do what I'm told to do. There is certainly some misunderstanding on Ajay's part and if he still feels so strongly about it then what can I say. I challenge anyone to prove that I had them dropped . It's not me. I don't resort to such politics!" she clarified.
I noticed that Sridevi had lost a lot of weight and become almost half her size to develop a perfect ten with a narrow waistline of twenty-six inches. Was this a desperate attempt to look younger since she had two films with newcomers from a totally different generation? Taking offence Sri argued, "Wonder why people talk about me signing films with Salman and Akshay Kumar. What do you mean by a totally different generation? You make me out to be somebody very old. Why did people talk about this when I acted with N.T.Rama Rao who is totally from a different generation? I guess people who don't like you spread such things. And I wasn't the one who wanted Salman and Akshay opposite me. Saawanji first signed Salman Khan for "Chaand Kaa Tukdaa" and then he approached me. As for "Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin" , the producers had signed me but were not getting the dates of the heroes they wanted. Finally they settled for Akshay Kumar. I was a little hesitant about Akshay, but then they came and showed me his "Khiladi". I found him to be good so I signed the film, "she cleared her throat.
Then in the same tone, she added, 'You know the newer breed of actors and actresses are very different from my times. Today's actresses are so much more confident, bold and very talented. Compared to them I was very dumb and nervous in my initial stages. Like for my first film "Solva Saawan", I was a bundle of nerves, I was sweating and shaking in the knees I didn't know if I would do my shots right. I was too alien to the Hindi industry. It was a totally different world from the South. Karisma is a very spontaneous actress and I liked her very much in "Prem Qaidi". Manisha Koirala has got a very different style and she is very confident. So is Raveena Tandon she's got a very pretty face and she's a good actress. These three girls have got it in them and they'll go places. In fact, I think I can learn a few things from them, "said Sridevi playing mother-hen. Talking about actresses reminded me of Sri's old friend Rekha. Sridevi still seemed to suffer from a massive Rekha hang-up. Whatever the sultry Rekha did Sridevi tried to do better. Like she had even started to do her own make-up ever since she learnt that Rekha did her own. Laughing at the allegation, Sri said, "In what way do I copy her, can you be specific? Why should I? As for trying to do my own make-up like Rekha. Let me tell you one thing. She's got a stunning face. And I don't think anybody can do better make-up than her. Not even me. Though I do my own make-up, I don't think I'm as good as her. You saw for yourself the other day at the photo session, (Pandhari) Dada was doing my make-up," she countered refuting the comparison.
Well now that the sultry maiden was already in her late twenties, what were her plans about marriage? And what was her ideal husband? Blushing a beetroot red she said, "Marriage is important for every girl in Indian society. Yes I will get married the day I find a good husband. He has to be tall and good-looking. It's not necessary that he should be rich but then he shouldn't be bekaar either. That is, he shouldn't be unemployed. He should at least be able to fend for himself," she laughed aloud. Then with a faraway look in her eyes she said, "I don't know what kind of a marriage it will be. I have no qualms to an arranged marriage but if I meet someone and fall in love that too could mean marriage. If I meet the right guy soon enough I would settle down with him. And I would love to continue working after marriage too if my husband allows me to," she hoped.
"This industry has given me a lot. Fame, money, success, things that I never dreamed of. I'm eternally grateful to my fans, to God and to my producers. Looking back today I've no regrets in life. If anything, I miss my father, terribly. I was attached to him and respected him a lot. It was not like as it is shown in films. Where a daughter rushes to her papa with the trophy that she won and all that follows it. But nevertheless I miss him dearly. The day he died I cried a lot. I thought that I couldn't live without him. I thought that it was also the end of me. I thought everything had come to an end for me. His death was a great loss to me. There's no one who can take his place," she reminisced sadly.
Well now that the sultry maiden was already in her late twenties, what were her plans about marriage? And what was her ideal husband? Blushing a beetroot red she said, "Marriage is important for every girl in Indian society. Yes I will get married the day I find a good husband. He has to be tall and good-looking. It's not necessary that he should be rich but then he shouldn't be bekaar either. That is, he shouldn't be unemployed. He should at least be able to fend for himself," she laughed aloud. Then with a faraway look in her eyes she said, "I don't know what kind of a marriage it will be. I have no qualms to an arranged marriage but if I meet someone and fall in love that too could mean marriage. If I meet the right guy soon enough I would settle down with him. And I would love to continue working after marriage too if my husband allows me to," she hoped.
"This industry has given me a lot. Fame, money, success, things that I never dreamed of. I'm eternally grateful to my fans, to God and to my producers. Looking back today I've no regrets in life. If anything, I miss my father, terribly. I was attached to him and respected him a lot. It was not like as it is shown in films. Where a daughter rushes to her papa with the trophy that she won and all that follows it. But nevertheless I miss him dearly. The day he died I cried a lot. I thought that I couldn't live without him. I thought that it was also the end of me. I thought everything had come to an end for me. His death was a great loss to me. There's no one who can take his place," she reminisced sadly.
Then cheering up she smiled, "I think I've become a much stronger person today. I can handle my own work, manage people on my own. Earlier if anybody asked me, "What film are you shooting for tomorrow?", or "What happened about this or that?", I would very innocently say, "Ask mummy." It had become a joke. When I think of those days I laugh now but then today I don't need to say "Ask mummy". I can give all the answers myself. But yes, my family and mother are very dear to me and I consult and discuss with them everything before taking my decisions," she disclosed.
Sridevi sure was no dumb-belle like people had made her to be. She had her screwed property on her shoulders and she had not allowed the intoxicating essence of success to ferment her level-headedness, professionalism and perseverance. No wonder then that she is and will continue to rule the roost. And she isn't called Numero Uno for nothing.
Once a queen always a queen.
Sridevi sure was no dumb-belle like people had made her to be. She had her screwed property on her shoulders and she had not allowed the intoxicating essence of success to ferment her level-headedness, professionalism and perseverance. No wonder then that she is and will continue to rule the roost. And she isn't called Numero Uno for nothing.
Once a queen always a queen.