I feel like a newcomer

Tamil,Telugu,Malayalam…

I draw the line there. I can handle English,Hindi,Vinglish,Hinglish. You move further south and I am in trouble.

Thats fine.

Nice to see you in Delhi. What brings you here?

Im here for the NGO Sahachari Foundation. Theyve put up a great exhibition of designers from all over the country. Its for a good cause,for charity. That is why Im here.

So your arrival in philanthropy,is it to do with the new phase in your life?

Well,yes. But it just happened. I never planned this comeback at all.

This new phase in philanthropy has also coincided with your comeback. Is this a confident,new,independent Sridevi after 15 years of purdah,if I may say so?

Well,this is because of my children and my husband. They encouraged me to come back and do some films and whatever else Im doing. Otherwise,I was happy just taking care of my children. So thats it,Im here.

So its a new innings now?

Yes,absolutely. Its a new experience,and Im feeling like a newcomer all over again.

How does someone like you who has made love to the camera and vice versa for such a long time feel like a newcomer when you again face the camera? Its the same thing,isnt it?

Not at all,because with every film,you feel new. You feel excited and unsure about yourself. You are insecure and you are thrilled. So many feelings put together. So,its special.

Sridevi insecure in front of the camera?

Yes,well,sometimes. I always wonder if I have done the job right. Even after seeing the film,I wish I could have done a better job.

After English Vinglish,did you feel like that? Or did you think it was perfect?

No,I am never satisfied with my work. Even though the director and my family always say it is good,I am not happy.

But with your earlier films,the big hits,do you think,I could have done this differently?

Always.

Go over some of them. Chandni,Lamhe,Chaalbaaz,Mr India…see I am not that poorly informed.

I am impressed. They are all different films,different kinds of roles and I am thankful to my directors and producers for having trusted me and given me such brilliant work. Especially,English Vinglish. After 15 years,I never thought I would get such a good opportunity. Gauri (Shinde) is a superb director. And,of course,Balki is one of my favourite directors.

There were other novelties in that experience. For example,a woman director and,if I may say so,a director much younger than you.

I never asked her age,but maybe she is younger to me,yes. This was the first time I worked with a woman director and it was a great experience.

What is the difference between working with a male director and a woman director?

It doesnt matter to me if the director is a man or a woman. But with a woman director,there is a comfort level and I can share more.

Give us some examples of the things you might share with a woman director that you felt awkward sharing with a man.

We giggle a lot and we laugh.

You can giggle with men too.

No,not much. I am a little reserved. But I was very comfortable with Gauri. Sometimes when you are not well,you can tell a lady director,Look I have a problem. I am not well. With a male director,it is difficult to communicate that. I have to go via my husband and say,Please tell him.

And when the husband wasnt there,then go via whom?

Before,it used to be my mother.

Going back to your first innings…its been 25 years since Mr India. Do you remember any experience from the film?

The major sequence I had done was the Charlie Chaplin one. It was quite hard for me,we took 10-15 days to shoot that. I was not well. But the credit goes to director Shekhar Kapur and of course,I am not saying this because hes my husband,but he (Boney Kapoor) was one of the best producers I worked with. He has so much patience and is best for the directors. He gives his best.

Tell us about Hawa Hawai.

It was a funny song and I felt very funny making all kinds of expressions. I was not at all comfortable. But the director and Saroj Khan,the choreographer,pushed me and I followed blindly.

I believe you put real fruits in your hat?

Yes. Because in one of the scenes,I had to pluck one from my hat and eat it.

So,that is the remarkable thing about shooting because you could do something very serious and something very funny. You were the best female comedian of your time with a wonderful sense of comic timing. Did you see yourself as a funny woman in real life?

Yes,my husband calls me a joker. My daughter says,Ma,my friends think you are very cool.

Just to be funny,will you do an out-and-out comedy now?

I would love to. I always enjoyed doing comedy scenes and roles. Even at home,I am very cool and jovial and very funny with my close friends,or my daughters,or my husband.

Why this reputation that Sridevi is a very quiet person?

I am very quiet. I am very media-shy. I am only comfortable with people I am close to.

So this new film and this new fame. What does one see going ahead now? More films or more of this…more charity?

Charity has always been there. Its not that I just started now. Regarding films,I dont know. I dont plan things. If anything comes up that excites me…

Films these days have changed. Have you seen any of the recent films lately?

Yes.

So,which ones have you enjoyed watching?

I loved Vicky Donor. I loved Taare Zameen Par. Some commercial films are also very good. Wanted is our film,but it is a very good commercial film. I loved Salman in that. And I loved Chak De! India,it is Shah Rukhs best performance. And of course,I loved Barfi. Ranbir is outstanding. Kahaani…

Which one of the recent roles would you have loved to play? Barfi,Kahaani…

Kahaani has a very powerful character. It is a heroine-oriented film. When you see it,it holds you. Its really good.

Whats this thing about you Tamil women? You come from Tamil Nadu and you rule Hindi cinema. You,Rekha,Vidya Balan now…

Yes. There is a long list. Vyjayanthimalaji,Hema Maliniji,Waheeda Rehmanji,Vidya Balan…I dont know about myself. But I feel they all are dedicated,focussed and hard-working.

Or do you think it is the training of Tamil cinema?

South Indians themselves are very committed and hard-working. I am not saying others are not. Nowadays,all heroines are hard-working. Look at Katrina. She didnt even know the language,but look at where she has reached.

I am not sure she knows it yet…but she has done fine. But she manages. In that case,even I dont know Hindi properly. I still manage all the other languages also.

Women could have one serious complaint with Hindi cinema. Male stars can carry on into their 40s and 50s. Remember that sequence from The Dirty Picture where Naseeruddin Shah in his 60s is romancing girls in their 20s. Somebody who used to be his heroine till the other day becomes his mother in the film. Hindi cinema has been unkind to women because beyond their 30s,it becomes tough. Do you think Hindi cinema has been unfair to older women? No Meryl Streep. No Julia Roberts.

Definitely,compared to international standards,it is very sad. But things are changing now. Especially after a few films,people have begun to realise that its not the woman,it is the character,it is the subject. The script is the hero today for some films.

Or the script is the heroine. So Sridevi chose this time to come back. Because you restored the balance in the 90s and you now,along with Vidya Balan and others,once again restore the gender balance in Hindi cinema.

Well,I dont think so. They are far superior to me. I feel I am still a newcomer after 15 years. I hope I get more good films and good scripts. Im looking forward to it. Lets see.

Now we know why you are a superstar,Sridevi,or Sri,as you prefer to be called,because even after a 15-year break,you come back and say you feel like a newcomer and you reinvent yourself.

Yes,I am totally a directors actor and maybe that is the reason I feel I am a newcomer.

Indias first woman superstar now has the courage to come back after 15 years,at a very good time for women in Hindi cinema.

I think so. Everything has gone well for me. The script. The director. The producer and,of course,my family to have been there to back me and encourage me. Everything worked well for me and the audience loved it.

And the timing,Sri. You always had the gift of timing. Youve chosen right. So,welcome back.

It took me 15 years to choose the timing.

All your fans are still around and they are waiting. I think they are waiting for the next one now.

I hope so. Even I am waiting.

Thank you for finding the time.

Nice talking to you.

Transcribed by Uttara Varma. For the full transcript,visit http://www.indianexpress.com