‘Sridevi was distraught after break up with Mithun Chakraborty; Rajinikanth would talk to his own reflection,’ recalls Sujata Mehta

Sujata Mehta reflected on her experiences working with Sridevi and shared insights about the star’s demeanour. She also touched upon Rajinikanth's humility, and compared late actor Rishi Kapoor and his son, Ranbir Kapoor.

By: Entertainment Desk

Chennai | Updated: December 31, 2024 03:20 PM IST

3 min read

Sridevi and Mithun Chakraborty in a still from Waqt Ki Awaz.

Veteran actor Sujata Mehta recently opened up about the dynamics between female actors during the 1970s and ’80s. Known for her performances in films like Pratighaat, Yateem, and Kanwarlal, Sujata reflected on her experiences working with Sridevi and shared insights about the star’s demeanour. She also touched upon the alleged rivalry between Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit, her impressions of Rajinikanth’s humility, and compared late veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and his son, Ranbir Kapoor.

In a conversation on the YouTube channel Hindi Rush, Sujata addressed the perception that Sridevi “had an attitude.” However, Sujata revealed she never felt that way. Recalling an incident on set, she shared how Sridevi, often accompanied by a relative, once asked her niece to vacate a seat for Sujata. “She gave me respect,” Sujata said, adding that Sridevi was an “introvert” who didn’t speak much but was always kind to her.

Sujata also reflected on Sridevi’s emotional state following her breakup with Mithun Chakraborty. “She used to be so distraught, but she was so professional. The moment the camera turned on, she belonged only to the camera. But after the shot, she would sit quietly in a corner,” Sujata recalled, adding, “They were madly in love.”

When asked about the rumoured tension between Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit, Sujata said, “They would sit at a distance on the set. Madhuri wouldn’t talk to anyone. She would sit in her corner with her Walkman.”

Sujata also reminisced about working with Rajinikanth in the 1987 film Zameen. She described him as a humble star with a unique charm. “He doesn’t have the conventional hero look, but he’s a superstar. When I asked him how he pulls it off, he told me, ‘I sit in front of the mirror the whole night and talk to myself.’ He would skip lunch and only have buttermilk,” she said. Sujata added, “He has no ego and is incredibly down-to-earth.”

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Turning her attention to Rishi Kapoor, Sujata compared the late actor to his son, Ranbir Kapoor. “Ranbir is mind-blowing. For an actor to make it big despite having superstar parents is a big achievement—it doesn’t happen often,” she said. Sujata admitted she hasn’t watched any of Janhvi Kapoor’s films yet. “I don’t think Janhvi is like Sridevi, but you never know. I’ve only seen her ads,” she noted.

Speaking about her favorites among the younger generation, Sujata praised Alia Bhatt. “Alia is my favorite. I’d love to work with her someday,” she said.

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