Remembering the legendary Sridevi on what would have been her 62nd birth anniversary, in a throwback interview, choreographer and filmmaker Ahmed Khan had a heartwarming anecdote that captures her off-screen charm. Decades after the iconic film ‘Mr. India’ captivated audiences, Khan vividly recalls how the beloved actress won over the crew.Here’s a closer look.
Ahmed Khan recalls memories with the late Sridevi
Speaking in an interview last year with Siddharth Kanan, Ahmed Khan painted a picture of Sridevi that few outside the set would have seen. Off-camera, she was almost reserved, soft-spoken, calm, and content to stay in her own space. Yet, the moment the director called “action,” it was as if someone had flipped a switch. She would step into the skin of Seema with such force and precision that the transformation left the children on set, including Khan, completely spellbound. He compared her to Michael Jackson: gentle in conversation, but a powerhouse when performing.
An unexpected treat by the late Sridevi in the middle of a tense shoot
Over time, Sridevi began warming up to the young cast members. One day, during the filming of an intense hospital sequence set after a bomb blast, the mood was understandably heavy. It was at that moment that she decided to break the tension in her own quiet, mischievous way. She led Ahmed and the other children to the doctor’s room and handed out ice cream. It was no fanfare, no big gesture, just a simple treat that made them forget the sombre scene they were shooting. For Ahmed Khan, that little act of kindness stayed with him far longer than any line of dialogue from the film.On her 62nd birth anniversary, stories like these remind us why she wasn’t just India’s screen goddess, she was also someone’s warm co-star, a quiet friend, and, sometimes, the lady who bought you ice cream.Meanwhile, ‘Mr India’, starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi, is surely one of the biggest blockbusters in Indian cinema. The movie was directed by Shekhar Kapur.
