‘I had never left the industry’

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Since the time she decided to make a comeback to movies after a 15-year-long break, much has been written about Sridevi. But prod her about it and she says she doesn’t feel that she had left the industry ever. “I feel that I was working till a day ago and had taken leave for a day and then have come back to work,” says Sri, who was in the capital to promote her film English Vinglish, along with director Gauri Shinde.

But yes, she is surprised to see the changes in the industry. Now, with so many promotional tours and other changes involved, she feels it’s a different ballgame altogether. “Back then, it was just a few magazines talking about the film. Now, there’s so much you need to do,” she says.
Sri was also quite surprised to see the advancements in technology. “But Gauri made me feel really comfortable to get used to all the changes,” adds Sridevi.
In the film, Sri portrays the role of Shashi, a simple Indian housewife who after being ridiculed by her husband and kids for her poor English, takes English lessons.
Ask her why she chose such a deglam role for her comeback and she quickly reacts, “Aapke bolne ke baad mujhe pata chal raha hai it’s a deglam role. I never thought about my look or anything else. It was just the character that interested me. I fell in love with the script. In Gauri’s mind, Shashi’s character was so clear. That made my life really easier.”
Gauri, who wrote the story much before Sri agreed to take up the role, was inspired by the life of her mom. Asked if any changes were made after the inclusion of Sri in the cast, Gauri says, “Sri loved the script the way it was and the biggest change that happened was that she was going to be Shashi.”
Before Gauri could say anything else, Sri chipped in: “I’m sure she would have replaced me if I had asked her to change even one scene in the film.”
However, the two are happy with the initial buzz the film is gathering. Gauri is “completely overwhelmed” with the reaction the film is getting everywhere, especially the standing ovation at the Toronto Film Festival.