I am still madly in love with Sridevi: Boney Kapoor

Apr 19, 2013 IANS

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Filmmaker Boney Kapoor seemed to be in a candid mood Friday when he shared his "love story" with his actress wife Sridvei and confessed that it was love at first sight for him. He says he is still mad about her.

"I fell in love with Sri (Sridevi) when I watched her Tamil film during the late 1970s. After watching her film, I wanted to know more about her," Kapoor told reporters while sharing the inside story, which has been kept under wraps so far, much to the embarrassment of his wife.

"I had especially gone to Chennai at her house to meet her, but she was shooting in Singapore. I returned to Mumbai disheartened," he added.

He was accompanying Sridevi, who was in the capital to attend the India Today Women Summit 2013.

Looking beautiful in a red embroidered sari, the "Chandni" actress made futile attempts to stop Kapoor from divulging more details about their romance.

But he continued and said: "After some time, I watched Sri's 'Solva Sawan' (1979). I desperately wanted to meet her. I wanted her to work with me. One day I went to meet her on the set (of a movie). Sri is an introvert. She doesn't talk to strangers. She talked to me in half broken English and Hindi and just said that her mother takes care of her professional matters."

Kapoor, who married Sri in 1996, said when he met his future mother-in-law, he offered "Mr India" and Sridevi's mother asked for Rs.10 lakh to sign the film.

"When she asked for Rs.10 lakh, I offered her Rs.11 lakh because I wanted to be close to Sri. Her mother was completely impressed with me. Sri was the highest paid actresses of that time and she later confessed to me that she thought I was a crazy producer who was offering more than what she had asked for," said Kapoor.

It was a "dream come true" for him when Sridevi acted in his production venture "Mr. India". In the super hit sci-fi comedy, directed by Shekhar Kapur, Kapoor roped in his younger brother to play the male lead opposite Sridevi.

"I made sure she was comfortable on the set (of 'Mr. India'). I personally took care of everything. There were no vanity vans at that time, but I arranged for a separate make-up room for her. Gradually, she felt comfortable with me."

Later Sridevi starred in his films like "Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja" and "Judaai".

Kapoor was so madly in love with her that when Sridevi was filming "Chandni" in Switzerland, he had gone to Switzerland especially to see her "because I wanted to be close to her".

"After coming back, I told my first wife (Mona Shourie) what I had felt for Sri," he said and added when Sridevi's) mother died, "I was there with her all the time."

"When she finished shooting for 'Lamhe', her father passed away. We came close to each other slowly. I supported her throughout.

"Even she was there for me always. She is not only a talented actress, but a fabulous wife and mother. She still lives in her own world and doesn't get into controversies. Even after so many years of our marriage, I am still madly in love with her."

The couple has two daughters.