Actor Sumeet Vyas has remembered late Bollywood icon Sridevi for her humility in both her craft and personal life as Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish marked 14 years since its release.
Vyas took to Instagram to share glimpses from the making of the 2012 film and described it as the “most special film” of his life. Paying tribute to Sridevi, he said he would always remember the humility she brought to her work and life.
He also thanked director Gauri Shinde for creating the film and praised her warmth as both a filmmaker and a person. Vyas recalled the experience of shooting the film as being like a dream and acknowledged the contributions of cinematographer Laxman Utekar and producer R. Balki, along with the rest of the cast and crew.
English Vinglish starred Sridevi as Shashi Godbole, a homemaker and small-scale entrepreneur who makes snacks and sweets. After facing ridicule from her husband and daughter over her limited English skills, Shashi enrols in an English-speaking course during a trip to the US. The experience helps her develop confidence and regain her sense of self-respect.
The film was inspired by Shinde’s mother and marked Sridevi’s return to acting after a 15-year hiatus. It also featured Adil Hussain, French actor Mehdi Nebbou and Priya Anand, while Amitabh Bachchan made a cameo appearance in the original version.
Sridevi died in Dubai in February 2018 at the age of 54 after an accidental drowning in a hotel bathtub.
Vyas, meanwhile, gained wider recognition with his role as Mikesh Chaudhary in TVF’s 2014 web series Permanent Roommates. He has subsequently appeared in films including Parched, Guddu Ki Gun and Veere Di Wedding, besides several web projects.