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​When People Blasted Sridevi

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K. Vishwanath reveals why people criticized Sridevi

K Vishwanath
K Vishwanath

Star director K. Vishwanath revealed that people lambasted him and Sridevi once. Yes, Vishwanath recollecting the incident shared, "Sridevi didn't star in any of my films even when she was a child artist. Even after becoming a heroine, she did act in only one of my films and that is 'Jaag Uthaa Insaan'. This is the remake of my Telugu film Saptapadi."

He further added, "Actor, producer Rakesh Roshan who liked Saptapadi met me and expressed his wish to remake the film in Hindi. She already became a big star in Hindi. He planned to cast Sridevi in the role played by Sabitha and I didn't object. Thus for the first time Sridevi starred in my film. 

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Mithun Chakraborthy acted as a guy who plays flute, Rakesh Roshan acted as a priest and husband of Sridevi

We used the track Jathavedhase in Hindi as it is. However though the plot was similar, we changed the treatment and taking accordingly to the Hindi version. Sridevi adapted to this easily as a seasoned artist. We shot most of the film in Amaravati just like the original. We shot some part of the Hindi version of the song 'nemaliki nerpina nadakalivi' in Mumbai. 

During that time director Sekhar Kapoor met Sridevi for Mister India. Many criticized Sridevi's selection for the role and questioned how can Sridevi be cast in the role of a dancer. During the shooting in Guntur, a felicitation ceremony was organised. Sridevi was present on the dais and one from the audience scribbled a question on a piece of paper and demanded answer from me. 

He questioned me how dare you cast Sridevi who was doing glamour roles in the role of a classical dancer. I told that an actress should play the role according to the taste of director and Sridevi was not at fault. I said it is wrong to brand Sridevi as a glamour star and she will do full justice to the role."