I am deeply hurt by Sridevi, says RGV

After the shocking notice sent by veteran actress Sridevi to change the name of his film, Ram Gopal Varma on Sunday responded casually. However, '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,' he said.

Though 'deeply hurt', the director did not budge with his decision and explained, '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 protagonist 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.'

Shrugging off the actress' accusations, the director said, '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 five years expressed this publicly in both the media and also to her which was taken by all concerned in a humorous and healthy spirit,' note adds.

Stressing on how the subject of the film is not new and linking it to this fresh notice, the note says, 'Coming to the film Sridevi, neither 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.'

Pointing out that the title of the film has been approved by the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber, an authorised body and films with the same title have been made and released atleast three times in the last two decades he clarified that 'they are well within their rights to grant the title.'

Clarifying why the crew arrived at this title in the first place, it says, 'The film was earlier titled Saavitri but we changed it due to a miscommunication on the production part, where the team 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 Boney kapoor called me I explained to him both orally and in a message which I have also given to the press with regard to clearing the speculations on the so called controversial content of the film.