Over the years she may have come across as a shy individual, but there is no two ways about the fact that she loved facing the camera. Her comic timing was arguably the sharpest among her contemporaries, but whats most beautiful are the bonds she shared with her near and dear ones. On Sridevi’s birth anniversary, we remember the diva through husband Boney Kapoor, daughter Janhvi and close confidant, Manish Malhotra!
While Sridevi's untimely demise left everyone reeling in shock, it can’t be anything as compared to what husband Boney Kapoor must have felt. On several occasions he has expressed the gloomy spell that Sridevi’s death cast over him and his family. Whether it be posting an emotional video of her on their wedding anniversary or justifying why Sridevi is still active on Instagram as it is he who runs her account, simply so that Sridevi is still alive in everyone’s heart through this virtual world. Boney pretty much broke down while receiving the National award for his late wife with his young daughters this year. On the occasion when an anchor asked Boney to share his sentiments on Sridevi's second National Film Award, he corrected her and said:
“First let me correct you. This is her first National Film Award. It is a very proud moment for all us. At the same time, a sad moment. We wish she was here with us. She truly deserves it and she has been around for almost 50 years and done almost 300 films. She has always given her best to all her films. Finally, unfortunately after she has left, that she has been awarded with this honour.”
On the same occasion when asked what advice would he like to give all the young fans who aspire to be like Sridevi, Boney got his daughters - who looked simple and elegant in traditional wear - forward, and said, “Like my daughters, there are many more young ladies who aspire to be like my late wife Sridevi. I would only ask them to be as dedicated as focused as sincere, as hardworking as her.”
Boney also said Sridevi will be alive forever through her work.
“The world is watching all what she did, all what she achieved. Thanks to television and the digital era, she will continue entertaining people forever. As long as the entertainment industry exists, as long as media exists, she will continue to entertain everybody.”
It’s no secret that ace couturier and costume stylist Manish Malhotra and Sridevi have shared a very close bond over the years. Manish Malhotra pretty much began his career with Sridevi in 1990, who was a superstar then.
“I learnt much from her, whether a simple sartorial trick — she taught me that sleeves sans lining were more flattering on screen — or giving a task your unwavering focus.”Manish Malhotra on Sridevi
Malhotra nostalgically recollects how he was in college when “I first watched Himmatwala (1983) and I was instantly enamoured, by those twinkling eyes and her poise.” He confesses having loved everything about her, “I finally met her a few years later, when Rakesh Shrestha, legendary photographer of the time, introduced us at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studio,” as he anxiously waited for Sridevi, “who wrapped up a song sequence and appeared in a striking red Amrapali costume alongside Vinod Khanna.”
“She greeted you with genuine kindness, but one couldn’t help notice how reserved she was. She barely spoke, in fact. She, however, came to life when the camera started rolling. It was almost as if the camera was her most intimate friend.”
The two made (still do and always will) for an iconic ‘Designer-Muse Duo’. But it was only in 1993, with Gumrah, “that our work relationship really took flight,” says Malhotra recalling a time when Sridevi tried on an outfit, and it didn’t look quite right. At the time, still new to the industry, he refrained from commenting.
“But my eyes gave my thoughts away. She coerced the truth out of me. In little ways, she made you feel your opinion mattered, especially when it came from a place of truth,” says Malhotra straight from his heart.
“In fact, some of the best relationships in my life are a result of my friendship with Sridevi ma’am. It was through her that I met Yash Johar (my favourite producer) and his son Karan, who is now my closest friend, and also began longstanding associations with Ram Gopal Varma and Boney Kapoor’s production houses” admits Malhotra.
Daughter Janhvi Kapoor's debut film Dhadak may have gained her a lot of accolades from the critics and the audience, but one saw how it was an emotional moment for Janhvi as she began promotions of her debut film and faced a house full of media who kept reminding her of her loss as they constantly asked questions about Sridevi.
“I saw Sairat with mom at home and I remember telling her 'I wish that this was my first film and I could do something like it'. Me and mom had this big discussion on how she wanted a role like this for me and then you (Karan) called and it happened,” Janhvi told reporters.
“She was a creatively fueled person. Her knowledge of acting and cinema was unparalleled, for her acting was like breathing. But my mother never gave me any tips, but watching her was everything for me in daily life.”
When asked if she had received any tips from her, Janhvi, with a lump in her throat, said, "I definitely miss her today... The biggest and the most helpful tip is to work hard and feel every emotion".
“Both of us were clear that she wanted this to be my own journey. I remember reading lines with her around. But she never said ‘Do it like this or that’. She would always say, ‘I want you to find this on your own, do it on your own’”Janhvi Kapoor on Sridevi
When asked if she would ever star in a remake of Sridevi’s film produced by Boney Kapoor, Janhvi said, “It is daunting to even think about it. First I have to prove myself to even be deserving of such a great opportunity.”
Sridevi, you are still being missed and always will!
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