A talented designer to the stars, Manish Malhotra has made quite a name for himself. However, as fans celebrate the late Sridevi’s 58th birth anniversary, the ace designer speaks of his long association with the legendary actress. Malhotra shares that he first met the actress while she was shooting for Pathar Ke Insan (1990).
“The first time Rakesh Shrestha took me to meet her, she was shooting for Pathar Ke Insan in Mehboob Studio. I had just got into movies so I was very excited about meeting Sridevi. He introduced me as a young guy who’s a designer.
Malhotra adds that Sridevi soon called him to Chennai to design for actor Chiranjeevi as well. “That’s the first time I met Chiranjeevi sir. Then, I didn’t hear from her for a year and a half. I wondered if she liked my work.”
IE reports that Malhotra was attempting to make his way into the film industry back then and he got a call from producer Yash Johar by Sridevi’s reference. They called him for a photo session for Sridevi’s acclaimed film Gumrah. “They asked for two very rockstar kind of garments which Sridevi wanted me to make. I sent them to Madras. But I got no reaction. I kept wondering if I’ll ever get a chance to meet this phenomenal actor again.”
To Malhotra’s pleasant surprise, Sridevi called him one day and asked him to do Gumrah for her. “I was really excited. I said it’s going to be an important film, so why don’t we work on the look. I said let’s keep the hair short and she liked the idea. That is how our bond started.”
Malhotra and Sridevi collaborated on several films before she Sridevi gave up her career back then to bring up her daughters. Manish shared, “It was the last day of Judaai’s shooting in Las Vegas. I still remember we were coming down the elevator. She told me I’m not planning to work anymore. I had a lump in my throat. And I kept thinking why do I feel like this. It means somewhere I’ve got really attached to her. I think I got attached to her professionalism, to the way she gave respect. She never spoke about anybody. I think I got along with that very well. She was focused, hard working. We never gossiped about anybody. It was always about the work.”
Malhotra adds, “I remember going to see when Janhvi was born. I remember seeing Khushi in the hospital. For 15 years, she didn’t really do any work, but I was in touch with her.”
Sridevi’s untimely death in 2018 sent shock waves across the industry. But today, the designer says he has a special bond with Sridevi’s daughters Janhvi and Khushi. “They are today’s girls. They think differently, they have so much love from their parents. They have so many qualities that Sridevi ma’am had. I’m sure they miss her each and every day because she was such a loving and doting mother and also a friend to them.”
“There was a simplicity to her which I found so beautiful and wonderful. The bond that I shared with Sridevi ji, continues with her daughters, and I think is to stay forever,” he signs off.
What a beautiful connection the two seemed to have shared!