When Baahubali stormed the silver screen, it didn’t just become a blockbuster- it transformed Indian cinema forever. The grand storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and unforgettable characters elevated it into a phenomenon. Among these iconic characters, Sivagami stood tall as the fearless queen mother, etched into the memory of audiences across the world. Yet, few know that this powerful role, immortalized by Ramya Krishnan, was originally offered to the late superstar Sridevi.
Her refusal sparked endless debates and speculations, but now her husband, filmmaker Boney Kapoor, has spoken up to clear the air.
Boney Kapoor Breaks Silence on the Controversy
In a candid conversation on the Game Changers YouTube channel, Boney Kapoor revealed that contrary to rumours, Sridevi did not reject Baahubali due to ‘unreasonable demands’. He recalled how director SS Rajamouli himself admired Sridevi after a detailed discussion with her.
“The film with Rajamouli didn’t happen, but I still have his text saying he was a fan of Sridevi as an actor, and after the conversation, his respect for her increased multifold,” Boney shared.
“She didn’t work in that film because of the confusion created by the producers,” he said.
According to him, the real issue wasn’t Sridevi’s expectations but the producers’ approach.
“When Rajamouli stepped out after the discussion, the producers offered her less money than what she got for English Vinglish. She wasn’t a struggling actor. Why would I want my wife to do that?” he said.
Producers Misled Rajamouli, Claims Boney Kapoor
Boney directly pointed fingers at producer Shobu Yarlagadda, alleging that he misrepresented Sridevi’s position.
“The producers never told Rajamouli about the offer they made. Instead, they fed him stories like she wanted an entire hotel floor or demanded an entourage,” Boney stated.
Further, he added, “All we requested was that the big shoots be scheduled during our children’s holidays. To brand her as unprofessional is unfair. Legends like Rakesh Roshan, Yash Chopra, and K. Raghavendra Rao worked with her repeatedly- would they do that if she was unprofessional?”
Rajamouli’s Claims and Sridevi’s Heartfelt Response
When Baahubali finally released, Sridevi’s supposed ‘demands’ became a hot topic. Rajamouli himself had claimed in an interview that she asked for Rs 10 crore, ten flight tickets, and an entire hotel floor.
These remarks deeply hurt the veteran actress. In an interview with a Telugu channel, she responded with grace but disappointment and said, “I have been in the industry for about 50 years and acted in more than 300 films. Do you think I could have achieved all this by making such demands? People would have sent me packing if I behaved like that. Hearing such things about yourself is very hurtful.”
She suggested that miscommunication or misinformation might have been at play but felt it was “not in good taste” to air such matters publicly.
Rajamouli’s Regret
In hindsight, even Rajamouli acknowledged that he may have gone too far. Speaking to DNA later, the director admitted, “I regret making those statements and I shouldn’t have discussed such details on a public platform.”