While there’s a lot of chatter and misinformation about veteran actress Sridevi’s demise, there are some who have chosen not to be on the bandwagon. Sri’s English Vinglish director Gauri Shinde is in disbelief and shock. Unable to accept the truth, the filmmaker has been speechless.
Sridevi’s sister Srilatha too hasn’t spoken up yet. Sources say that she’s in a state of shock and the family has collectively decided to not make any statements about her death till her mortal remains are flown home from Dubai.
Meanwhile, preparations for Sridevi’s last rites are still on. “A massive prayer meeting will follow. That too is being planned by the family,” reveals a close family friend. “However, Boney has his own plans to carry Sri’s legacy forward. Right now, he’s too distraught to give these plans clarity of vision. But he has told close friends that he won’t allow her to die in the hearts of her audiences, come what may.”
Boney had recently said, “You keep saying I’m lucky to be married to a Goddess. But isn’t she lucky to be married to me too? We look out for one another at the best and worst of times. I make sure she’s comfortable in whatever she’s doing.”
In November last year, as Boney turned 63, Sridevi had arranged a special birthday party for him in Chennai, as well as for the close friends of the couple. The guest list included the likes of Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, Amar Singh, Kamal Haasan, Manish Malhotra, Sanjay and Pinky Reddy, and even A.R. Rahman.
“It was the best birthday of my life,” Boney had gushed. “My wife looked into every small detail to ensure everything went smoothly.”
