Zip your mouth, says Sridevi to plastic surgery rumour-mongers

[email protected] (Afsana Ahmed, HT)
September 3, 2012
sridevi2
For all women who’re 40 and above, Sridevi has a message: Look after yourself and do what makes you desirable. Work out, eat right, be focused and be happy. You should also be in love. That makes you radiant. About to return to the big screen after a 15-year focus on home and family, Bollywood’s original queen bee should be out there promoting her comeback movie, R Balki’s English Vinglish. But she leaves the hype to the producers, preferring, instead, to talk only to people she trusts, just as she did in the ’80s.

Dressed in simple black slacks and a white top, sans make-up, Sridevi chats about her film, life and how she manages to look so young.


All set for your comeback?

I am so glad to be here at a time when cinema is going through an exciting phase. It’s not just stars pulling in the crowds. The script has also become a star! Look at Kahaani and The Dirty Picture (2011). I would love to do more films after English Vinglish, if people accept it.


You’ve always had offers for a comeback film. Why did you choose to work with Balki?

I love his previous work, Cheeni Kum (2007) and Paa (2009). Also, the subject of English Vinglish is universally appealing. After watching this film, men will never take their wives for granted (laughs).


You look stunning and younger than ever! What’s your secret?

Actually, I’ve looked like this for quite some time. It seems new because I’ve recently started making frequent public appearances. Your state of mind reflects on your face and I am in the happiest phase of my life today. I lead a systematic life. I am health conscious, I do power yoga, play tennis four days a week, control my diet and resist junk food, fried stuff and sweets, even though I have a sweet tooth. And most importantly, I don’t sweat the small stuff (laughs). All these bring a change in the appearance.

Some people say you must have had plastic surgery to look like this.

No, I haven’t. I want to tell these people that instead of whining and criticising, why don’t you move out of your comfort zone, zip your mouth and slog it out? Then let’s talk! There will be a visible change not just in your appearance, but also in your attitude. But if you’re a lazy bum, hooked to TV, and cannot give up your food because you know you can undergo cosmetic surgery, you’re damned! It doesn’t work like that. Anything that is plastic melts in no time. You have to understand that there’s a regime for everything and you benefit by associating yourself with it. To look and feel good, you have to slog it out.

Have you inspired your husband Boney Kapoor to keep fit?

Forget going to the gym, he hasn’t even given up fatty food! Recently, I instructed the cook not to make rice, but I was shocked to see him eating rice at dinner. When I asked the cook, he said, ‘Ma’am, you told me not to make rice, but this is gobi rice.’ Now what can I say? I am taking it as a challenge to get him off oily food. Having said this, Boneyji is the most handsome guy in the world for me.


Today’s female actors are very bold. Even Madhuri Dixit, who’s making a comeback (with Gulab Gang), said she wouldn’t mind being bold. Are you open to it too?

Nobody has offered me a bold role as yet, but I don’t mind experimenting as long as I am comfortable. I am looking for versatility.

Since you’ve lost so much weight, would you wear a bikini?

No! I don’t even wear one when swimming!


What do you like about cinema today?

Technology is unbelievably advanced. We never had these luxuries. We used to have an assistant director taking notes for shots, which today, are corrected by the monitors. We never had make-up vans. Today, they’ve got stylists on every film.


One thing you dislike about cinema today?

The fierce promotions for which actors are personally required. I don’t like my life to be controlled like that. In my time, we just gave a few magazine interviews, and I prefer it that way. When my film is over, I like to spend time with my family.


You started as a child artiste. Looking back, do you think you missed out on a normal childhood?

I have no regrets. As for missing a normal childhood, I didn’t spend mine in the studios wearing make-up. I was brought up in a traditional atmosphere with lots of cousins and friends. The only thing I missed out on was studying. That cannot be altered, so I look at whatever I have achieved and feel happy.


We’ve heard you are grooming Jhanavi to become an actor.

If I could, I would get Jhanavi married at the earliest. I am a normal mother, pestering the kids to eat healthy, sleep on time, study etc. This generation doesn’t need guidance or grooming when it comes to fashion, fitness and health. But yes, Jhanavi is my gym, swimming and tennis partner. And if I have hammered anything into her head, it’s to be religious.


Does she want to be an actor?

Sometimes she wants to be a writer, sometimes a designer. Anyway, Jhanavi needs to complete her studies before finding her vocation. And I’ll have no problem with whatever she chooses.


Your wedding to Boney was unconventional. Is there anything you’ve learnt or had to unlearn along the way?

Life has always sprung surprises on me. Luckily, I’ve never had to unlearn anything with Boneyji. In return, I selflessly give my 100 per cent as his wife. And he feels I am the best.



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Agencies
July 29,2020

Patna, Jul 29: BJP MLA Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu, cousin of Sushant Singh Rajput, on Tuesday said that a huge amount of money has been transferred into the account of actress Rhea Chakraborty from the actor's account.

"An FIR has been filed against actress Rhea Chakraborty by the father of Sushant Singh as a huge amount of money has been transferred into her account and they both have joint accounts for some companies through which cheating has been done from her side," Bablu said.

"This is the issue of probe and police will go there and investigate the matter after that everything will be revealed," he added.

He also said that Karan Johar should also be called in for questioning by the Mumbai Police in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.

The statement was given in the backdrop of several top film personalities being questioned in connection with the case.

On July 28, an FIR has been registered against actor Rhea Chakraborty under various sections including abetment of suicide on the complaint of Sushant Singh Rajput's father Krishna Kishor Singh, the police said on Tuesday.

It said that a four-member team has been sent to Mumbai following registration of FIR.
"A four-member team has been sent to Mumbai. The team will collect case diary and other important documents from Mumbai Police," Sanjay Singh, Inspector General, Patna Central Zone said.

In the complaint made to Rajeev Nagar police station in-charge, KK Singh alleged that Rhea Chakraborty and her relatives "committed fraud" and "pressurised the actor for financial gains".

Sushant's father alleged that Chakraborty "got in touch with the actor with a motive to establish herself in the film industry using his contacts and she and her relatives started interfering in his affairs".

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Mumbai, Jul 31: Maharashtra Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the Enforcement Directorate should carry out an investigation in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide case.

"There is a huge public sentiment about handing over #SushantSinghRajput case to CBI but looking at the reluctance of State Government, atleast @dir_ed ED can register an ECIR since misappropriation and money laundering angle has come out," tweeted Fadnavis.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that no FIR had been registered in Maharashtra yet and that the case must be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"There is a confrontation between two states and there has been no FIR registered yet in Maharashtra. Chirag (Paswan) had spoken to CM Thackeray that there should be CBI probe. All political leaders are demanding for it. It should be handed over to CBI," Paswan said.

A team of the Bihar Police that arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, recorded statements of two persons, including actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sister, on Wednesday in connection with the case.

An FIR was filed by Sushant Singh Rajput's father against actor Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on Tuesday.

Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai residence on June 14.

According to the Maharashtra Police, statements of 41 people, including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra have been recorded in the investigation so far.

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Agencies
January 16,2020

Washington D.C., Jan 16: Barbara Broccoli, who has since long been the producer of the James Bond franchise, recently clarified in an interview that the 007 character won't be played by a woman in the forthcoming rendition.

Broccoli, accompanied by her half brother and fellow producer Michael G. Wilson, told Variety: "He can be of any color, but he is male."

She went on to say: "I believe we should be creating new characters for women -- strong female characters. I'm not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that."

According to Fox News, the current Bond hero, Daniel Craig, announced last November that he would cease to play the legendary character once he is done with the upcoming 'No Time To Die' movie that is scheduled for release in coming April.

Commenting on Daniel parting ways with the franchise, Broccoli said: "I'm in total denial. I've accepted what Daniel has said, but I'm still in denial. It's too traumatic for me."

Fox News reported last July that the British Actress Lashana Lynch could possibly star in the 2020 Bond flick, but such speculations were dispelled once the trailer for the movie was brought out last December.

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