R Balki recalls the struggle to find producers for Sridevi starrer English Vinglish; says, “Nobody was willing to produce it” : Bollywood News

Acclaimed filmmaker R. Balki has opened up about the difficulties he faced in getting his wife Gauri Shinde's directorial debut, English Vinglish, produced. In a recent interview, Balki revealed that several producers were hesitant to back the film due to its female-led narrative and overseas shooting schedule.

R Balki recalls the struggle to find producers for Sridevi starrer English Vinglish; says, “Nobody was willing to produce it”

"When Gauri was writing English Vinglish, nobody was willing to produce it," Balki said. "They said, 'How can you have a film with a female lead and spend so much?'"

The filmmaker went on to explain that the producers were concerned about the film's financial prospects, given that it was a woman-centric story set in the United States. However, Balki was determined to get the film made and eventually found a backer in renowned investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.

Balki also shared the story of how Sridevi came on board to play the lead role in English Vinglish. He said that he had initially discussed a different project with Sridevi, but it became clear that the film might not be made. While trying to figure out how to break the news to Sridevi, Balki realised that she would be the perfect fit for the role of Shashi in English Vinglish.

He arranged a meeting between Gauri and Sridevi, and the two women immediately hit it off. Within minutes, they had decided to work together on the film. For the unversed, English Vinglish was a critical and commercial success, with Sridevi's performance being widely praised. The film marked her comeback to acting after a 15-year hiatus and is considered to be one of her most iconic roles.

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