Director Pankaj Parashar recently revealed a concerning incident where Sridevi fainted and lost a tooth due to an intense crash diet, allegedly at the insistence of filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma.
A Director’s Startling Revelation
Pankaj Parashar, who directed Sridevi in the film *Chaalbaaz*, recently shared a disturbing account about the late actress. He claimed that director Ram Gopal Varma heavily pushed Sridevi to lose weight for their 1991 Telugu film, *Kshana Kshanam*.
According to Parashar, Sridevi embarked on a severe crash diet, even cutting out salt. This extreme measure led to her blood pressure dropping significantly.
During filming, Sridevi fainted, hitting a table and losing a tooth. She remained unconscious for about 20 minutes, a terrifying incident that brought the film’s schedule to a halt.
The Ripple Effect on ‘Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin’
This health crisis had wider repercussions, particularly for Parashar’s own film, *Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin*, starring Sridevi and Akshay Kumar. The incident forced Sridevi to take a break, disrupting the production.
Parashar stated that the film’s schedule was abandoned midway. This led to further complications, including the financer withdrawing and the producer passing away, ultimately leaving the film incomplete for years.
An unfinished version of *Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin* was eventually released in 2004. Akshay Kumar later recalled how the film abruptly ended with on-screen text, as they never shot the intended climax.
Boney Kapoor’s Confirmations
Pankaj Parashar’s account echoes previous statements made by Sridevi’s husband, producer Boney Kapoor. In a 2018 interview, Kapoor shared that Sridevi frequently resorted to crash diets to maintain her on-screen appearance.
Kapoor revealed that Sridevi had experienced blackouts multiple times due to low blood pressure, a recurring issue throughout their marriage. He also specifically recalled an incident where she fainted and broke a tooth while on a crash diet for another film, a story corroborated by Nagarjuna.
These revelations shed light on the intense pressure faced by actors to conform to certain body standards, often at significant personal health risks.
- Sridevi fainted and lost a tooth due to a crash diet for her 1991 film *Kshana Kshanam*.
- Director Pankaj Parashar attributes this to pressure from Ram Gopal Varma to lose weight.
- The incident severely disrupted the filming of *Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin*, causing its delayed and incomplete release.
- Sridevi’s husband, Boney Kapoor, previously confirmed her struggles with crash diets and low blood pressure, including similar fainting incidents.
The tragic details highlight the enduring pressures on public figures to maintain a certain image, sometimes with serious consequences for their well-being.