Producer Boney Kapoor has shared an intriguing story about how he secured the services of his late wife, the legendary Sridevi, during the initial stages of their professional and personal relationship. A clip circulating online highlights Kapoor’s shrewd negotiation skills.
Kapoor recounted a specific instance when Sridevi was being considered for the movie ‘Joshilaay.’ He met with her mother to finalize the fee. Sridevi’s mother named a price of INR 10 lakhs. Kapoor, having done his due diligence and knowing Sridevi’s last film deal was for INR 8.5 lakhs, decided to go higher. He proposed INR 11 lakhs, a figure that caused Sridevi’s mother to pause. He also managed to negotiate the staff costs to INR 50,000.
This approach was a deliberate strategy to foster a strong working partnership. Kapoor elaborated on how he would sometimes offer more than initially asked, setting a precedent for increased remuneration in future collaborations. He successfully negotiated her contract for ‘Chandni’ at INR 15 lakhs and ensured her significant paycheck of INR 25 lakhs for ‘Khuda Gawah,’ often dictating the terms for subsequent films.
Sridevi, a titan of Indian cinema, passed away tragically in 2018 in Dubai. Her death at 54, due to accidental drowning, deeply affected the film fraternity and her vast fanbase. Her contributions to cinema continue to be celebrated.