The director Ram Gopal Verma goes hand in hand when it’s about controversies.

He is always surrounded with controversies and is known to land on everyone’s wrong side. This time he’s done it again and irked the calm and composed actress Sridevi. 

The director has a number of times expressed his admiration for the actress, however this time he has changed the title of his movie from ‘Saavitri’ to ‘Sridevi’. But obviously, this would annoy anybody and that is what happened to Sridevi and her husband Boney Kapoor. Moreover, the whole aggravation occurred when the filmmaker refused to give any explanation even when the husband-wife tried to get in touch with him. 

Due to Ram Gopal Verma’s ignorance, the couple sent him a legal notice that consisted of various conditions penned down by them which are – an unconditional apology, change in the film’s title and an assurance that they would not use any of her images, likeness, persona or any other attributes in the film. 

On a social media platform, Ram Gopal Verma wrote a letter clarifying all the doubts that the couple had and also mentioned that he won’t be changing the title of his upcoming film. He also said that he had earlier named the film ‘Saavitri’ but because the producers were unable to get the rights to use that name, then they had to change it to ‘Sridevi’. 

In the letter, the filmmaker wrote that the movie no where showcases or relates anything about the real Sridevi. He also describes a little bit about the story of his movie about a young boy and a woman. 

You can read the letter written on the Facebook profile of Ram Gopal Verma below: 

“In the legal notice sent to me, there seems to be an apprehension that the film “Sridevi” is based on a crush I personally had for Sridevi in my college years.. I, many times over the last 5 years expressed this publicly in both the media and also to her which was taken by all concerned in a humorous and healthy spirit.

Now coming to the film “Sridevi”, the story is about a teenager’s infatuation towards a 25 year old woman… a subject matter like this was earlier dealt with, in such films as Malena, Cinema Paradiso, Summer of 42, Rajkapoor’s Mera Naam Joker etc, to name just a few… But coming to the film “Sridevi”, neither is the woman playing the title role in my film is an actress nor the boy is a director.. Also, there’s a huge age gap between the boy and woman in the film “Sridevi”, which is not the case with me and the real Sridevi.

The title has been given to us by the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber which is the authorised body for such deeds..moreover films with this same title “Sridevi “have been made and released atleast 3 times in the last two decades …The Film chamber already sent a reply saying that they are well within their rights to grant the title to us.

The film was earlier titled “Saavitri” but we changed it not for reasons of the protests as some sections of the media are falsely reporting ..The reason for the change in title is due to a miscommunication on the production part they went ahead with the title without acquiring it from the previous right holder of the title…when the previous title holder refused to give the title we changed it to “Sridevi”.After the producer got the title he went ahead with the printing of standees and hoardings with the new title..When Mr.Boney kapoor called me I explained to him both orally and in a msg which I have also given to the press with regard to clearing the speculations on the so called controversial content of the subject…

I am deeply hurt by this action of Sridevi whom I always admired and respected and I strongly believe that she was influenced by others with vested interests..I am going ahead with the title “Sridevi” because I am well within my legal and moral rights to use it..legal because a name cannot be copyrighted and also like I said the film has nothing to do with the real Sridevi to the extent that the protoganist is not even an actress…moral because I know in my heart that I will never do anything to degrade or demean Sridevi and the final outcome of the film will prove that…”

Ram Gopal Varma

src:bollywoodnazar