I can’t really believe that Sridevi is no more. It is an irreparable loss for Indian cinema. She ruled the roost for 40 years.” A grieving director went on to say, “I was searching for a 16-year-old for 16 Vayadhinile. I found her in the Malayalam film with IV Sasi. Mayil character was my dream character. I found her perfect. But she came with a makeup man, but I said she should be natural and de-glam. She immediately agreed realising the importance of the role. She lived in the character of Mayil and fulfilled what I expected. Later, when the film was made in Hindi, the makers gave me the freedom of choosing the heroine. I said only Sridevi was apt. They asked if she knew Hindi. I told them she is very shrewd and would learn the language quickly. That was Solva Sawan, where I introduced her to Bollywood.”
“My second film was Sigappau Rojakkal, she said she didn’t want to listen to the script as she had full confidence in me. It was a big hit. Recently, I watched one of her interviews where she said that ‘she learnt acting skills from Bharathiraja sir’. That was the biggest compliment she gave me. She was not educated, but she was intelligent and speaks more than seven languages fluently.” “I had a plan to write a story and a character for her and direct her soon, but now my ‘Mayil’ has flown away too soon,” Bharathiraja said.
