All about English Vinglish

The story of Sridevi's big screen comeback is also about balancing acting and stardom.

With a woman-centric story and beautiful characterisation, English Vinglish — a slice-of-life movie — appears to be tailor-made for Sridevi's comeback. Director Gauri Shinde and producer R Balki, however, say it was accidental. "While Gauri was writing the script, I happened to meet Boney (Kapoor) and Sri. When I was casually telling them about the movie's core idea, I could see a glimmer in her eyes. That night when I went home, I told Gauri that her film will be made," said Balki at the Screen Preview of English Vinglish on Wednesday. Sridevi and Shinde, too, were present to talk about their film that released yesterday. Balki's instincts proved to be right when Sridevi promptly took up the offer the very next day.

For the 49-year-old actor, who took a break from films 15 years ago, English Vinglish offered a character that she could slip into. The film is about a middle-aged Indian housewife, Sashi, settled in the US, whose inferiority complex about her weak English makes her take up spoken English classes. "I grabbed the offer; I loved the script and instantly connected with it as a mother and a woman," said Sridevi.

Similarly, for Shinde it couldn't have been better. Not only did she need a big name, but also someone who could strike a fine balance between great acting and stardom. "I have always seen Sridevi as a performer — not just a diva, but a star who could become the character when required. In this film, too, you will see Sashi and not Sridevi," she said. But will that disappoint fans who go looking for the Sridevi they knew and grew up with? "That doesn't happen when you have an exceptional performer; I have seen Amitabh Bachchan do that before and now Sridevi; they can undo all the starry expectations a fan carries to a movie, and make them root for the character instead," said Balki.

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