Sridevi Was ‘Almost In Denial Of Her Stardom,’ Says Mr India Director Shekhar Kapur: Unlike Actors Today…

Late actor Sridevi is one of the most celebrated stars in Indian cinema, with her performances being remembered and loved years after her death. On what would have been her 63rd birth anniversary, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur paid an emotional tribute to the actor by sharing a throwback picture from the early days of their collaboration. Kapur, who directed Sridevi in the iconic 1987 science-fiction film Mr India, recalled the unique bond they shared while working together. He also remembered her remarkable ability to transform completely once the camera started rolling, describing her as an actor unlike any other.

Shekhar Kapur took to social media to remember Sridevi with what he described as the earliest picture he had of the actor and himself. The photograph was taken during their first collaboration on Joshilay, years before they worked together on Mr India.

Kapur wrote, “Her eyes flashed startlingly in this pic from the film ‘Joshilay’ as much as they did later in ‘Mr India’.” The filmmaker said that while the world remembered Sridevi as a superstar on her birth anniversary on August 13, he chose to remember her as someone who was ‘the Director’s best friend.’

Kapur went on to state how important their creative partnership was. “Mr India would not have been possible without the amazing collaboration between Sridevi and myself,” Kapur recalled. He also remembered feeling excited about reaching the sets each day because he never knew what the actor would bring to her performance.

One of the most striking aspects of Kapur’s tribute was his recollection of Sridevi’s behaviour when she was not shooting. Despite being one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, the actor was remarkably grounded on set. Kapur recalled that when the camera was not focused on her, Sridevi would quietly sit in her chair instead of retreating to a private trailer. “She would be quietly sitting in her chair .. almost in denial of her stardom (unlike actors today she would not disappear into her trailer),” he wrote.

However, everything changed as soon as she faced the camera. Kapur said that Sridevi appeared to transform completely once she began performing, creating an energy that could be felt by everyone present on the set. According to Kapur, Sridevi’s performance energy was not limited to what appeared on screen. Her presence was powerful enough to affect the entire atmosphere on the set.

“Her energy not only radiated out of her for the camera .. everyone on the set felt it .. it was electric,” the filmmaker recalled. He also shared an amusing memory from the making of Mr India, explaining that   could become so captivating during certain performances that even he would momentarily forget his responsibilities as the director. “At times (especially in a dance sequence) we would forget to switch off the camera! For I would forget to say ‘Cut’,” Kapur wrote.

Remembering the late actor,   concluded his tribute by acknowledging the rarity of her talent and the impact she left behind. “I doubt there’ll be another Sri Devi .. she was a gift to us, So wherever you are Sri .. Happy Birthday” he wrote.

Sridevi was born on August 13, 1963. She worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films, seeing success in every industry. Sridevi passed away in 2018 at the age of 54. She died in Dubai on February 24, 2018, while attending the wedding celebrations of her nephew, actor Mohit Marwah. Her death was later determined to have been caused by accidental drowning in a hotel bathtub.