Never imagined I'd work with Akshaye Khanna: Sridevi

Sridevi worked with Vinod Khanna in the 1989 film "Chandni". Back then and even later, she never thought she will end up acting with his son Akshaye Khanna, with whom she has shared the frame for "Mom".

"I used to meet Akshaye on the sets of 'Chandni' while working with Vinod Khanna, but I never imagined that I would ever work with him," Sridevi said in an interview to IANS here.

"He (Akshaye) is a focussed and dignified actor, and you come across only a very few actors like him. It was wonderful to work with him," added the actress, who was in the capital for the film's promotion.

It is after a leap of five years that the 53-year-old actress has returned to acting in Bollywood. She last regaled her fans in a mother's role in "English Vinglish", and she is once again playing the role of a mother in "Mom" -- but with a difference.

"For two years, I was enjoying the success of "English Vinglish" (2012). I got many scripts but that spontaneity of saying 'yes' did not strike me. The script of 'Mom' script really touched me and moved me. So I decided to work on it," Sridevi added.

The story of "Mom", directed by Ravi Udyawar, talks about how far a mother can go for the sake of her children. It also features critically acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a key role.

"It's a universal subject... This mother character is strong and she is not on the softer side," said Sridevi, who "really enjoyed" how the film gave her a chance to portray an "intense, emotional and genuine" part.

A mother of two daughters -- Jhanvi and Khushi, how is she as a mom off-screen?

"I am not possessive, but a very protective mother. Me and my daughters are more like friends, so we share and discuss everything.

"Mother is a mother -- everywhere it's the same -- the concern, the worries always remain," she said, adding that the story of "Mom" is very relevant in today's time.

The film is produced by her husband Boney Kapoor.

She calls him "the most passionate and involved producer I have come across".

"Not just in financing the movie, but in each step he was there for the actors and technicians as well to fulfil their views towards the movie," said Sridevi.

The evergreen beauty, who worked as a child artiste first and then took on leading roles starting 1976, has worked across Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema. Loved for her expressive acting and dancing skills, she has delivered memorable performances in films like "Himmatwala", "Mr. India", "Sadma", "Nagina", "ChaalBaaz" and "Lamhe".

"Mom" will release on Friday.

(Shivani Chaskar is an intern at IANS. She can be reached at shivanichaskar94@gmail.com)

--IANS

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