Producer Boney Kapoor has shared a fascinating anecdote from the early days of his relationship with the late legendary actress Sridevi. In a recently surfaced clip, Kapoor details how he strategically increased Sridevi’s remuneration to secure a successful professional partnership even before their marriage.
During the casting for the film ‘Joshilaay,’ Sridevi was set to star opposite Sunny Deol. Kapoor, wanting his brother to have a top actress as his co-star, met with Sridevi in Mumbai. Her mother initially quoted INR 10 lakhs for Sridevi’s fee. Kapoor, having done his research and knowing Sridevi’s last signed film was for INR 8.5 lakhs, decided to offer INR 11 lakhs. This move initially surprised Sridevi’s mother, who froze for a moment. Kapoor then increased his offer to INR 11 lakhs, and further negotiated the staff expenses from INR 30,000 to INR 50,000.
Kapoor explained that this negotiation was a calculated step to build a strong professional bond. He even approached Yash Chopra to ensure Sridevi signed for ‘Chandni’ at INR 15 lakhs. He continued this practice for subsequent films, negotiating higher fees for Sridevi with the condition of increasing her remuneration for future projects, ultimately leading to her INR 25 lakhs fee for ‘Khuda Gawah.’
Sridevi remains one of India’s most celebrated and iconic actresses. Her untimely passing in Dubai in 2018 at the age of 54 left a void in the film industry. Her death, caused by accidental drowning complicated by heart failure, was a profound shock to her fans and colleagues worldwide.