Boney Kapoor, the veteran producer, has offered a rare glimpse into the business of Bollywood’s golden era, recalling how he strategically negotiated fees for his late wife, the iconic Sridevi. A recently circulated video features Kapoor sharing an amusing anecdote about his early dealings with Sridevi’s mother.
Kapoor explained that when Sridevi was being considered for the film ‘Joshilaay,’ he was keen to ensure his brother was also cast opposite a top heroine. Sridevi’s mother initially requested INR 10 lakhs for her daughter’s services. Kapoor, however, decided to up the ante by offering INR 11 lakhs. He first met Sridevi in Mumbai, who then directed him to her mother for the primary negotiations.
The producer then embarked on a trip to Chennai to meet Sridevi’s mother. He recounted the challenges of communication, as she didn’t speak Hindi or English, but emphasized his ability to understand her through non-verbal cues. He deciphered her mention of ’10 rupees’ as a reference to 10 lakhs. Knowing Sridevi’s previous film contract was for INR 8.5 lakhs, Kapoor initially considered offering INR 9 lakhs. Instead, he proposed INR 11 lakhs, which caused her a significant pause. When she brought up additional staff expenses, Kapoor agreed to INR 50,000, thereby finalizing the 11 lakh deal while setting a precedent for future collaborations.
This negotiation style persisted. For another film, the fee was set at INR 15 lakhs, facilitated by Kapoor connecting her with Yash Chopra for ‘Chandni.’ In a later negotiation, Sridevi’s mother offered him a fee of INR 14 lakhs. Kapoor responded by offering INR 16 lakhs, but with a crucial condition: her next film’s fee would be INR 25 lakhs. This strategic move proved fruitful, as Sridevi ultimately secured INR 25 lakhs for her role in ‘Khuda Gawah’, demonstrating Kapoor’s impressive foresight and negotiation skills in shaping Sridevi’s career trajectory.