Sridevi, a superstar who knew Bollywood’s highs and lows, was fiercely protective. She dreamed of Janhvi becoming a doctor, away from the industry’s harsh realities. During an appearance on Twinkle Khanna and Kajol’s talk show, Janhvi shared intimate details: ‘Mom was strict. She believed I was too innocent for this world and kept saying, “I can’t bear to see you struggle as an actress.”‘

Janhvi’s passion for performing, however, was unshakeable. With father Boney’s encouragement, she pursued her calling. Her breakthrough came with ‘Dhadak’ in 2018, a romantic drama remaking the Marathi blockbuster ‘Sairat,’ co-starring Ishaan Khatter. The film resonated with audiences, launching her with a Best Female Debut award.

Fate dealt a cruel blow when Sridevi died unexpectedly in Dubai at age 54, right before Janhvi’s debut release. At 20, she faced unimaginable grief but pressed on. ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’ in 2020 showcased her as a trailblazing pilot, earning Filmfare nods. Then came ‘Mili,’ a claustrophobic thriller where her intense performance as a trapped survivor wowed critics, again landing a Filmfare nomination.

Venturing south, Janhvi entered Tollywood with ‘Devara: Part 1’ opposite Jr. NTR in 2024, and buzz is building for her next with Ram Charan in ‘Peddi.’ Janhvi’s evolution from a reluctant debutante to a pan-Indian talent proves that while family influence shaped her start, her own drive defines her success. Bollywood’s new leading lady has arrived, honoring her roots while forging ahead.

Work is buzzing at the Yamuna Expressway Sector-21 location. Bayview Bhutani Film City Pvt Ltd, the Kapoor-Bhutani collaboration, has begun essential land mapping. ‘Sets will be shoot-ready in roughly 20 days post-mapping,’ confirmed project officials, highlighting the rapid pace.

Secured through an agreement with YEIDA, the first phase is advancing post-layout approval. This 1,000-acre venture aims to host Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT, and more, leveraging proximity to Jewar Airport for logistics ease.

GM Rajiv Arora emphasized dual progress: ‘While prepping for Mom 2, we’re launching core construction. This will soon be inaugurated by top leaders, kickstarting UP’s film ecosystem.’ The choice of ‘Mom 2’ – sequel to the Sridevi starrer – reflects Bollywood’s trust in UP’s infrastructure push.

Industry analysts see huge potential. With tax breaks, modern studios, and connectivity, the Film City could siphon projects from Film City Mumbai, creating thousands of jobs and fostering regional talent. It’s a strategic play to make UP synonymous with entertainment excellence.

This milestone proves UP’s film policy is gaining traction. As cameras roll for ‘Mom 2’, expect a flurry of announcements, positioning the state as India’s rising star in global filmmaking.

Kapoor explained that when Sridevi’s mother initially quoted INR 10 lakh for her to star in a film, he promptly offered INR 11 lakh. He elaborated that Sridevi was a major star at the time, and he was keen to have his brother cast opposite a leading actress. His first meeting with Sridevi was in Mumbai, where she directed him to speak with her mother regarding her professional engagements.

During a conversation with Sridevi’s mother in Chennai, Kapoor skillfully navigated the negotiation despite language barriers. He understood that her mention of ’10 rupees’ actually signified INR 10 lakh. Having researched Sridevi’s previous film remuneration, which was around INR 8.5 lakh, Kapoor initially considered offering INR 9 lakh. However, when her mother stated the fee, he countered by offering INR 11 lakh, a move that surprised her. The negotiation continued with Kapoor agreeing to cover additional staff expenses, eventually settling on INR 11 lakh for her services.

This initial deal set a precedent. Kapoor revealed that for the film ‘Chandni’, he negotiated a fee of INR 15 lakh after speaking with Yash Chopra. Later, for ‘Khuda Gawah’, Kapoor strategically proposed a future fee of INR 25 lakh, which Sridevi’s mother eventually accepted, demonstrating Kapoor’s long-term planning and influence.

Sridevi remains one of Indian cinema’s most cherished icons. Her untimely death in 2018 in Dubai left a void in the industry. The circumstances of her passing, accidental drowning complicated by heart failure, were a profound shock to her fans and colleagues worldwide.

During the casting for the film ‘Joshilaay,’ Sridevi was set to star opposite Sunny Deol. Kapoor, wanting his brother to have a top actress as his co-star, met with Sridevi in Mumbai. Her mother initially quoted INR 10 lakhs for Sridevi’s fee. Kapoor, having done his research and knowing Sridevi’s last signed film was for INR 8.5 lakhs, decided to offer INR 11 lakhs. This move initially surprised Sridevi’s mother, who froze for a moment. Kapoor then increased his offer to INR 11 lakhs, and further negotiated the staff expenses from INR 30,000 to INR 50,000.

Kapoor explained that this negotiation was a calculated step to build a strong professional bond. He even approached Yash Chopra to ensure Sridevi signed for ‘Chandni’ at INR 15 lakhs. He continued this practice for subsequent films, negotiating higher fees for Sridevi with the condition of increasing her remuneration for future projects, ultimately leading to her INR 25 lakhs fee for ‘Khuda Gawah.’

Sridevi remains one of India’s most celebrated and iconic actresses. Her untimely passing in Dubai in 2018 at the age of 54 left a void in the film industry. Her death, caused by accidental drowning complicated by heart failure, was a profound shock to her fans and colleagues worldwide.

He explained that when Sridevi’s mother, who managed her professional affairs, initially asked for INR 10 lakhs for a film, Kapoor countered with INR 11 lakhs. He was keen to have his brother paired with a top actress, and Sridevi was a prime choice. His first meeting with Sridevi took place in Mumbai, where she indicated her mother would handle the financial discussions.

Kapoor then traveled to Chennai to meet Sridevi’s mother at their bungalow. Despite a language barrier, Kapoor managed to communicate effectively. He understood that her mention of ’10 rupees’ actually referred to 10 lakhs. Having researched Sridevi’s recent contract of INR 8.5 lakhs, Kapoor initially planned to offer INR 9 lakhs. When her mother stated ’10 rupees,’ Kapoor hesitated before increasing his offer to INR 11 lakhs. This surprised her, and after a pause, she revealed an additional charge of INR 30,000 for staff. Kapoor promptly agreed to INR 50,000, thus finalizing the deal for 11 lakhs, but with a crucial condition for future projects.

For their next collaboration, Sridevi’s mother asked for INR 15 lakhs. Kapoor negotiated this with Yash Chopra, ensuring Sridevi was signed for ‘Chandni’ at the requested amount, which pleased them. On a subsequent meeting for another film, Kapoor recalled Sridevi’s mother quoting INR 14 lakhs for him. He then proposed INR 16 lakhs but stipulated that for the *next* film, her fee would be INR 25 lakhs. This led to Sridevi’s impressive INR 25 lakh remuneration for the film ‘Khuda Gawah’.

Kapoor explained that Sridevi’s mother initially quoted a fee of INR 10 lakhs. However, Boney Kapoor, eager to secure her for a film and perhaps impress, countered with INR 11 lakhs. This negotiation occurred when Sridevi was a top star and was being considered for a role opposite Sunny Deol in the film ‘Joshilaay.’ Kapoor’s intention was also to cast his brother opposite a leading actress, making Sridevi an ideal choice.

He detailed a meeting with Sridevi in Mumbai, where she indicated her mother would handle the financial discussions. Subsequently, Kapoor traveled to Chennai to meet Sridevi’s mother. Despite a language barrier, Kapoor managed to communicate effectively through gestures. He understood her mention of ’10 rupees’ as a coded INR 10 lakhs. Having researched Sridevi’s previous contract, which was for INR 8.5 lakhs, Kapoor initially aimed to offer INR 9 lakhs. When her mother stated ’10 rupees,’ Kapoor surprised her by offering INR 11 lakhs. This was followed by a discussion about staff payments, where Kapoor also agreed to a higher amount of INR 50,000, exceeding the initial quote of INR 30,000.

The producer further elaborated on how he secured Sridevi for Yash Chopra’s directorial venture, ‘Chandni.’ He revealed that he agreed to pay INR 15 lakhs, which pleased Sridevi’s mother. For subsequent films, Kapoor continued this pattern of negotiation. He mentioned an instance where he offered INR 16 lakhs for a film and stipulated that for the next project, ‘Khuda Gawah,’ Sridevi’s fee would be INR 25 lakhs, a figure that was eventually met.

Sridevi remains one of Indian cinema’s most beloved and influential actresses. Her untimely death in Dubai on February 24, 2018, at the age of 54, sent shockwaves through the nation. The official cause of her death was determined to be accidental drowning, with cardiac arrest as a contributing factor.

Boney Kapoor married Mona Shourie Kapoor in 1983, and they had two children, Arjun and Anshula Kapoor. Boney later grew close to Sridevi, leading to his divorce from Mona in 1996. That same year, Boney married Sridevi. Arjun held resentment towards Sridevi due to her role in his parents’ divorce.

Following his parents’ separation, Arjun struggled with depression and gained weight. He blamed Sridevi for the family’s breakup. While he never accepted Sridevi as a mother figure, referring to her only as his father’s wife, his perspective shifted after Sridevi’s death in 2018. Arjun supported her daughters, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor, fulfilling the role of a caring elder brother. He put aside his past grievances and participated in Sridevi’s final rites and farewell.

In a recent interview, Boney Kapoor discussed his upcoming projects, revealing plans for six films in the future. These include four Hindi films and two Tamil films.

Beyond ‘No Entry Mein Entry,’ which has already been announced, Kapoor has outlined plans for six other films. These will feature Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor, as well as Shraddha Kapoor. Shraddha Kapoor’s recent film, ‘Stree 2,’ reportedly earned over 800 crore. Additionally, Kapoor has several scripts ready for production.

He explained that he cannot start work on multiple films simultaneously. However, he wants his children to be satisfied when they work in his films, ensuring they are not just doing it because of parental pressure. He shared an experience with Anil Kapoor, who was hesitant to work in ‘Bewafaa’ and ‘Judaai’ initially, but had to be convinced.

Kapoor also mentioned his investment in remake rights, having spent 30-35 crore rupees since the beginning of his career. He revealed that the most expensive remake rights were for a film that hasn’t been made yet, costing him 3.5 crore rupees. The Hindi rights have been given to Luv Ranjan, while Boney Kapoor retains the all-India rights.

In 2024, Boney Kapoor had previously announced plans for 4-5 Hindi films and 2 Tamil, 1 Telugu, and 1 Kannada film over the next two years. He also expressed his interest in producing Punjabi, Kannada, and Bhojpuri films.

Boney explained that producer Shobu Yarlagadda created misunderstandings regarding Sridevi. Subsequently, the actress did not take part in the film. Boney added, “Rajamouli came to our house for the film. We had a conversation, and when he left, the producer offered Sridevi a fee lower than what she had received for her 2012 film ‘English Vinglish.’ She wasn’t a struggling actress. You were benefiting from casting her. Why would I let my wife do that?”

Boney further stated that Shobu had lied to Rajamouli about Sridevi’s fee for the film. Boney said, “I think the producer never told Rajamouli about his offer. He told Rajamouli that Sridevi wanted an entire hotel floor, a team, but we only wanted to have major shoots during our children’s holidays, so they could be a part of it.” Boney also accused Shobu of labeling Sridevi as unprofessional. Regarding the producer’s claim, Boney said, “If she was unprofessional, why would Rakesh Roshan do three films with her, Yash Chopra four films, D Ramanaidu six films, and Raghavendra Rao more than 20 films?”

Recently, Arjun Kapoor’s sister spoke openly about her parents’ relationship. Boney Kapoor married Mona Shourie in 1983. It was an arranged marriage. Arjun’s mother married his father, Boney Kapoor, who was 10 years older than her. But then this relationship broke down, which affected both their children. What did Anshula say about the divorce?