Page 56 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

Sridevi — The Enigma in the mediocrely written hood and youth. Boney

Kapoor was the one big
Chaalbaaz won her awards,
establishing her ability to
breath of refreshing
Will Stay Alive turn a poor script to a good freedom.
film.
Boney Kapoor was
Her most memorable
years to Mona Kapoor
collaboration in Hindi married for thirteen
cinema will be remem- and had fathered two
Following the sudden and shocking death of the country’s most successful and bered as the one that she children when he
sought-after female actor of the previous century who was a role model for the current breed shared with filmmaker walked out to marry
of Bollywood stars, archita kashyap looks back at her life’s journey and producer Yash Chopra. Sridevi. His family stood
Chopra tapped hidden
by their daughter-in-
depths in her as an actor law; Boney broke away.
— presenting her stark Their love story is remi-
n one of her final interviews with news website Boney Kapoor, a much-married producer who had given beauty, compelling screen niscent of classic Holly-
Scroll last year, Sridevi had said, “I never get agitated up his wife and children to be with her. presence and expressive wood and showbiz tales
about anything in life.” For someone so calm, death How Sridevi chose to live her life is reminiscent of clas- face in varied roles. Chandni of unapologetic, deter-
took an ironical form. The 54-year-old actor and sic screen divas here and abroad. She never apologized for and Lamhe remain Sridevi’s mined lovers shunning
India’s first female superstar died of a cardiac arrest the choices that she made and the decisions that she took. most loved and unforget- social taboo and choos-
I in Dubai. She had no history of heart ailments, and It’s a lifetime of a super achiever and the story of an ambi- table films. By the early ing each other. Sridevi
was in good health. tious, talented, dedicated and hard working professional. Nineties, she had raised never spoke about this
A prolific actor who had begun as early as at the age of She made her films and went home, guarding her privacy heckles when she refused aspect of her life, nor
twelve, Sri Devi has over 300 films to her credit in Tamil, fiercely. As Rishi Kapoor, her co-star in many Hindi films, promising projects op- did she ever apologize
Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. She is the first mentions in his autobiography Khullam Khulla, he had posite Amitabh Bachchan, for marrying an already
heroine to command Rs one crore in fees — an astronomi- exactly one conversation with Sridevi while shooting including one by Chopra. married man.
cal amount in the Nineties that only top heroes asked for. for Nagina. Otherwise they would just say hello and good Her explanation was sim- Over the years,
Significantly, she would often be paid what she demand- night before filming a scene. Her frequent co-stars Jeeten- ple — there’s little room for Sridevi had become a
ed; such was her prowess and hold over dra and Anil Kapoor would also vouch an artiste to perform in an devoted mother, wife
audiences. Scripts would be written for for the fact that she rarely made conver- Amitabh Bachchan film for and a style icon. She
her and roles would be created. Every- Sridevi always desired sation with anyone on set. An introvert, he does everything himself. also returned to screen
thing that leading ladies aspire to today she chose to remain so. The desire to become an ac- with English Vinglish
happened to this actor organically. In a to become an actor who She always let her work do the talking. tor who can hold a film up and Mom, both success-
compellingly honest statement, she had could hold a film up by As young as twelve-years-old, she began by herself emerged clearly 13 August 1963 — 24 February 2018 ful films in which she
told the film glossy Filmfare, “Where her full-fledged acting career in 1976 in at this stage. delivered remarkable
are the rivals? There can be rivalry only herself. She didn’t desire the Tamil film Moondru Mudichu along A look back at her performances. She
between two equals. My only rival at the stardom quite as much side Rajnikanth. A film by K Balachander, interviews and conversa- could still draw a crowd
moment is Sridevi. I’m constantly trying as she was hungry to be it featured Kamal Haasan in an extended tions reveal that she didn’t desire stardom quite as much at the age of over 50 years. She was set to act more and
to upstage her.” guest role. Together, with this filmmaker as she was hungry to be a fine actor. She hated crowds produce more films, and to fit into the current demands of
She was a reticent, shy person who a fine actor and mentor to all three superstars, and parties. She didn’t speak Hindi or English very well. Hindi cinema. Accepting that rounds of media interviews
didn’t have the best social skills. She Sridevi acted in entertaining, engaging Speaking to an editor of Filmfare, she had admitted to hav- and public appearances are an essential part of current
rarely spoke to the press during the peak stories that often saw her teaming up ing no friends amongst Bollywood women because they film promotions. Sridevi did all of it with ease for her new
of her career. When she did, her state- with Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan. made fun of her. Sridevi’s protective mother, guarding films. But the shy, reserved person remained consistent.
ments would be interpreted as arrogant. Actually, she was She debuted in Hindi cinema in 1979 with Solvan her against casual harassment that women often face She would smile and ease up when asked about her pre-
just an honest speaker who spoke her mind while giving Saavan. Sridevi shot to stardom with Himmatwala (1983) in cinema, ensured that she rarely stepped out without cious daughters, Jahnvi and Khushi.
an interview. Sridevi would hide every little detail of her earning her the moniker of ‘Thunder Thighs’. This is also the a consort. She had admitted that while she chose films A diva in every sense of the word, Sridevi was a natural
personal life; on other topics, she didn’t have a publicist’s year when Kamal Haasan and she delivered the unforget- over getting an education, she would like to have a loving born star without the plush packaging of designer wears,
filter or anxiety about reactions. So in stating that she table Sadma, establishing that a star and talented actor had husband and family above all else. Having had little scope an army of managers and publicists and brand endorse-
didn’t have a competitor in 1990, she was just speaking indeed arrived. Stunningly beautiful and an accomplished to interact with kids her age, Sridevi said that she was a ments, as is the norm today. She remains an enigma, and
from the heart. dancer, she concentrated on her acting, losing weight and lonely child. No interview or conversation on record has the face of calm, composed stardom. And above all else,
Things changed quickly in the Nineties when she was dancing skills. The author-backed roles that Malayalam ever been made over her decision to marry Boney Kapoor. she will be remembered for the sheer brilliance that she
dethroned from being the only heroine who mattered by and Tamil cinema offered made her balance films in all But an assessment can be made that this besotted man, displayed as an actor. Doing a hard day’s work, after all,
the younger, effervescent and more urbane Madhuri Dixit three languages. She found iconic status in Hindi films, who was willing to build a Taj Mahal for her (admittedly), still is the biggest factor in bringing success, and Sridevi’s
and Juhi Chawla. Sridevi continued to act in strong author- becoming a national phenomenon. In the Eighties, she de- won her over. A queen of the world of cinema, this beauti- life remains testimony to that.
backed films well into the Nineties, and gradually began livered blockbusters like Nagina, Mr India, Tohfa, Chaalbaaz, ful movie star had seen little of the real world and tasted
to step away from acting once she scandalously married Ghar Sansar and Karma, among others. Her double role very little life due to her closeted, work focused child- letters@tehelka.com

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