When Sridevi's Daughters Opened Up On Carrying Forward Her Legacy

Seven years after the passing of legendary actor Sridevi, her daughters, Khushi and Janhvi Kapoor, continue to cherish her legacy in their own ways. While Khushi fondly remembers her mother’s dedication to acting, Janhvi remains committed to carrying forward her cinematic heritage. 

“She Will Always Be a Huge Part of Our Lives”: Khushi and Janhvi Kapoor on Sridevi’s Legacy

On her death anniversary, her younger daughter, actor Khushi Kapoor, fondly remembered her mother’s dedication to acting in a conversation with Hindustan Times. Khushi shared, “My mom gave her all to acting, starting when she was barely four. My sister and I are very proud of her, and she will always play a huge part in our lives.” She also admitted to missing Sridevi during her milestone moment,  “When I saw myself on the big screen for the first time, I missed her a lot.”

Speaking about the constant comparisons between her and Sridevi, Khushi acknowledged her mother’s unparalleled stature. “I can’t be like my mom even in the next 100 years. She was made of a different mould; they don’t make artists like her anymore.”

Moreover, last year in January, Sridevi's elder daughter, Janhvi Kapoor expressed her commitment to carrying forward her mother Sridevi's legacy, emphasising her dedication to working tirelessly to honour it. In a conversation with Film Companion, she said, "I cannot abandon my mom's (Sridevi) legacy. I need to take it forward, I will die trying. It means the most to me. I need to work day and night tirelessly so that I justify that I got this opportunity easily. And I feel like I have taken somebody's spot. So it is only right for me, out of respect, to overcompensate, in order to justify this."

Acknowledging the privilege she has due to her parents' fame, she stressed that her dedication and love for cinema are intrinsic, and ingrained in her through her lineage. Janhvi expressed her intent to work relentlessly, driven by the devotion and love for the craft instilled in her by her family's cinematic heritage.

What Does Janhvi Kapoor Regret?

Earlier in an interview, the actor expressed regret about a decision she made during the filming of her debut movie, Dhadak. She revealed that she urged her mother, the late superstar Sridevi, not to visit her on set, considering it one of her biggest regrets. Kapoor felt she had an unfair advantage due to being Sridevi's daughter and didn't want any help or guidance from her mother.

Looking back, she now considers it foolish to have taken the situation so seriously and wishes she had allowed her mother to be present and support her during the shoot. Janhvi acknowledged her mother's desire to assist her and regrets not letting her be part of that journey. She said, "People were already saying 'You got your first film because you are Sridevi's daughter'. I decided I wouldn't take any help from her. I thought I had an unfair advantage. It would be more unfair if I took her advice. So, I told her 'Please don't come on set, I have to work on my own."

"Sometimes, I feel it was stupid of me. I took all that nonsense a bit too seriously. I regret it... I know she was dying to come on set and help me as a mother. I just didn't let her. One of the biggest regrets... I wish I had just said 'Mumma, please come, I have a shoot. I need you."

Sridevi, the first female superstar in Bollywood and recipient of the Padma Shri award, passed suddenly on February 24, 2018, in Dubai, where she had travelled to attend a family event. The late actor's spouse, Boney Kapoor, discovered her unconscious in the bathtub. According to reports, the 54-year-old actor drowned accidentally.