Adil Hussain explains how Sridevi revolted in her own way against film industry's 'feudal system'
Mumbai, June 16
Actor Adil Hussain, whose film '52 Blue' is set to be screened at the upcoming edition of the London Indian Film Festival, is walking down the memory lane to the early 2010s.
The actor spoke with IANS, and shared his experience of working with a creative 'giant' like Sridevi in the film, who at that time had close to 300 films under her belt.
Talking about the same, Adil told IANS, "'English Vinglish' was my third film in Hindi language. So it was already a phenomenon that I'm working with a person, Sridevi, who had done, I think that was her 300th film or something. My fondest memory would probably be her humility to ask an actor to work together, to do a scene, she would suggest something and I would suggest something, and say, 'Oh, can we do it this way?'. She would go, 'Yeah, let's do it this way'. She was always ready to improvise".
He further mentioned that the actress belonged to the rare breed of accomplished actors who never fed the feudal system in the film industry, and rather worked exactly opposite to the norms.
He shared, "There is a huge feudal system, you know, a hierarchical system that we follow, stars are stars and newcomers are newcomers, there is no dialogue happening. I'm not saying that is always the case, but that's the case most of the time. But here, I'm a newcomer in the film world, and then I'm working with a giant, as accomplished as Sridevi, and there she comes and consults, we consult each other to see if we can do a scene a particular way. It was very open communication with her for the greater good of film", he added.
London Indian Film Festival is set to be held from July 9 to July 19, 2026.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The feudal system Adil mentions is so real in Bollywood. We've all heard stories of newcomers being treated badly. Sridevi was truly ahead of her time—she had the power but chose to collaborate instead of dominating. English Vinglish is one of my all-time favorites precisely because of that warmth she brought.
It's refreshing to hear about stars who break the hierarchy. Sridevi's openness to improvise and consult a newcomer shows true artistry. Coming from outside India, I've always admired how Indian cinema balances tradition with modernity—this is a perfect example of that.
Honestly, this makes me respect Sridevi even more. But let's not forget—this is one anecdote. While it's beautiful, the industry still has a long way to go in breaking that feudal mindset. More power to actors like Adil who speak up about these things!
What a lovely tribute! Sridevi's humility despite being such a giant is something many current stars should learn from. Adil Hussain is also a brilliant actor—his performances in Life of Pi and English Vinglish were fantastic. Hope 52 Blue does well at the festival! 🌟
I find it slightly ironic that we applaud Sridevi for not perpetuating the feudal system, when the system itself still thrives. She was an exception, not the rule. Adil is right to highlight this, but we need more than exceptions—we need structural change in how the industry treats newcomers.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.