Sridevi gave a nod to a rom-com with Kaalidhar Laapata director Madhumita before her demise, Boney Kapoor gave suggestions for Hindi adaptation: ‘I went to her house and she said…’

‘Script is shelved forever as a homage to Sridevi’

The writer-director also met Sridevi’s husband, Boney Kapoor, for inputs on the Hindi adaptation. “I met Mr. Boney Kapoor as well. There were some suggestions he had on how to make it best for the Hindi audience. But unfortunately, we lost her. And now, the script is remaining in the cupboard. I can’t imagine another actress doing it. It’s very hard for me to think of anybody else but her in that film. I had her in my mind while writing every scene. When she is not around anymore, casting anyone else just seems like a compromise. That’s why that script is shelved forever as a homage to her,” she added.

ALSO READ | Sridevi didn’t let anyone come too close to her, says Khuda Gawah co-star Kiran Kumar: ‘She could do a Sadma as well as a Chaalbaaz’

Talking about her first Hindi feature film Kaalidhar Laapata, starring Abhishek Bachchan in the lead role, Madhumita said that the digital release didn’t matter to her. “There is an opinion that one medium of distribution is lesser than another. With amount of time that people have today, we have to realise that there are certain categories of films that the audience wants to go watch at the theatres. We have to be mindful of that. If it’s a big scale spectacle, I would not opt for OTT. But with this one, it’s a very personal film. You can watch it with your family at home while relaxing. The kind of film decides the medium,” she stated.

When asked about Abhishek’s reaction to the movie’s script, she shared, “After hearing the story for 30-40 minutes, he said, ‘When are we starting the shoot?’ He was ready to go. It was very respectful. AB sir was so attentive, listening and asking questions. I wanted to show a side that no one has seen yet and they couldn’t have possibly imagined him doing.”

Besides Abhishek Bachchan, the film also stars Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and child actor Daivik Bhagela in pivotal roles. Backed by Zee Studios and Emmay Entertainment, it is the Hindi remake of Madhumita’s 2019 Tamil film K.D.