Priya Prakash Varrier, whose upcoming film Sridevi Bungalow ran into controversy over a scene that mirrored the death of actress Sridevi, acknowledged that the scene was recreated for publicity. Speaking to India Today, Varrier said that the scene was “just an element that would make the audience watch the movie.”
She said, “I wouldn’t want my movie becoming a controversy. At the end of the day, everything is publicity. But still, I would rather stay away from the negativity. It’s up to the director and the producer to handle those issues. I am just playing the character that has been given to me.”
Last month, producer Boney Kapoor sent a legal notice to the makers of Priya Prakash Warrier’s debut Bollywood film Sridevi Bungalow after its trailer released. Varrier, who plays the eponymous character, is shown to be meeting her end in a bathtub, mirroring the real-life circumstances that led to the death of Kapoor’s actress-wife Sridevi.
When asked about this scene, Varrier said, “That is just an element that would make the audience want to watch the movie.”.
Prashanth Mambully, the director of the movie, while acknowledging the legal notice from Kapoor said, “In the letter, he asked us to not use Sridevi’s name anywhere in the film. Our reply to him was that Sridevi is a common name across India and that’s why we have used it. There has been no further communication. I will face whatever controversy that comes my way regarding this film.”
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“Sridevi is a proud name for all Indians. Even I am a fan of Sridevi. My film is a suspense thriller where Priya Prakash Varrier is playing a character named Sridevi. That is all I can reveal about the story right now. I would request everyone to watch the film to find out if it is based on real events or not,” he added.
Meanwhile, Boney Kapoor is in the process of making a film on Sridevi.
Watch the trailer of Sridevi Bungalow: