Pankaj Parashar reveals Sridevi earned respect despite Bollywood being patriarchal: ‘Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Shakti Kapoor jumped to their feet upon seeing her’ |

Indian cinema has had many iconic actresses, but Sridevi stands out as the Supreme Queen due to her exceptional achievements. Even after seven years of her passing, she remains deeply loved by fans. Sridevi earned respect not only for her stellar performances but also for her grace and dignity, defying the industry’s patriarchal norms.
Director Pankaj Parashar, who worked with Sridevi on ChaalBaaz and Meri Biwi Ka Jawaab Nahin, recently shared a memorable incident showcasing the immense respect she commanded. He recalled how a group of top male Bollywood actors stood up in reverence upon seeing her, reflecting her stature in the industry.

The filmmaker recalled that by the time films like Himmatwala, Sadma, Tohfa, Mr India, and Nagina had already been released, Sridevi was the reigning queen of Bollywood. He shared an experience of visiting her on set at Film City Studio, where she was shooting with multiple actors, to discuss scenes.

Parashar also recalled an incident during lunchtime when actors Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Ranjeet, and Shakti Kapoor were sitting together enjoying mutton biryani from Rishi’s home. As soon as Sridevi entered, all of them immediately stood up, as if a high-ranking army officer had arrived. The respect she commanded, without asking for it, was truly remarkable.
In ChaalBaaz, Sridevi took on dual roles, with the film also starring Rajinikanth and Sunny Deol, becoming both a critical and commercial hit. Director Pankaj Parashar shared that during the first schedule in Chennai, Sridevi was initially distant and unapproachable. As a young director, he couldn’t interact directly with her, with all communication going through her assistant. However, once Sridevi recognized his creative vision and saw that the film was different from her previous work, their relationship became more collaborative.