ETV Interview at TIFF

"They used to call me 'parrot.' I used to mug lines, knowing the meaning and giving the expression, without knowing the language," the star of more than 250 Bollywood movies recalled last month during an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, adding that she also regularly performed in Kannada and Malayalam, two other Indian languages she did not speak.

And now? "I can communicate with my servants, I can fight with my husband in Hindi."

Reading the script from Gauri Shinde, an advertising director making her feature-film directorial debut, Sridevi decided she wanted to play Shashi.

"I was happy with what I was doing. I didn't plan [it.] I just loved the character," she said.

Sridevi in white shirt, blue denims and a cheery yellow BCBG Bowie Tailored Jacket blazer.