Adil Hussain cooked a 6-course meal for Sridevi on 'English Vinglish' sets
Synopsis
Adil Hussain once cooked a 6-course meal for Sridevi and 70 crew members on the New York sets of 'English Vinglish' after the catered food grew monotonous. The story, shared ahead of his film '52 Blue' screening at the London Indian Film Festival, also reveals a side of Sridevi rarely seen — a superstar with nearly 300 films who still improvised scenes with a newcomer as a creative equal.
Key Takeaways
Adil Hussain cooked a 6-course meal for Sridevi and approximately 70 crew members on the New York sets of 'English Vinglish' .
The meal came after Sridevi expressed frustration with the repetitive North Indian catering on set.
Hussain described Sridevi as highly collaborative, always willing to improvise scenes with fellow actors regardless of seniority. 'English Vinglish' was Hussain's third Hindi-language film ; Sridevi was reportedly on approximately her 300th film at the time.
Hussain's film '52 Blue' is set to screen at the upcoming London Indian Film Festival .
Actor Adil Hussain has shared a warm memory from the sets of 'English Vinglish', revealing that he once cooked a 6-course meal for the late actress Sridevi and approximately 70 crew members while the film was being shot in New York. The anecdote surfaced as Hussain's upcoming film '52 Blue' prepares for its screening at the London Indian Film Festival.
The Story Behind the Meal
According to Hussain, the food being served on the New York shoot had grown repetitive, with the caterer offering only a standard North Indian restaurant spread. Sridevi reportedly expressed her frustration, saying, 'Oh, God, this food is not happening.' Hussain stepped in and offered to cook himself.
'So I cooked a 6 course meal for 70 people. And, she just loved it,' Hussain recalled. He added that he had assistance with the chopping and prep work, but the cooking was largely his own effort. 'That was one of my fondest memories while I saw her relishing the food that I cooked,' he said.
Working Alongside a Cinema Giant
'English Vinglish' was only Hussain's third Hindi-language film at the time, while Sridevi was reportedly working on what was approximately her 300th film. Despite the vast difference in stature, Hussain described her as remarkably collaborative and free of the hierarchical attitudes common in the industry.
'My fondest memory would probably be her humility to ask an actor to work together, to do a scene — she would suggest something and I would suggest something, and say, "Oh, can we do it this way?" She would go, "Yeah, let’s do it this way." She was always ready to improvise,' he said.
Sridevi's Rare Humility on Set
Hussain noted that Bollywood operates within what he described as a deeply entrenched feudal and hierarchical system, where established stars rarely engage with newer actors as creative equals. Sridevi, he said, was a notable exception.
'Here, I’m a newcomer in the film world, and then I’m working with a giant as accomplished as Sridevi, and there she comes and consults — we consult each other to see if we can do a scene a particular way. It was very open communication with her for the greater good of film,' he said.
'52 Blue' Heads to London
Hussain's comments come ahead of the London Indian Film Festival screening of '52 Blue', bringing renewed attention to his career and to the lasting impressions left by his collaborators, including Sridevi, who passed away in February 2018. The festival continues to serve as a platform for Indian cinema that spans both mainstream and independent voices.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the structural one: Hussain is essentially describing how rare genuine creative equality is on Indian film sets. That a superstar with 300 films would improvise scenes with a newcomer and eat his cooking without ceremony says more about Sridevi's character than any tribute reel. As Bollywood continues to grapple with its well-documented star hierarchy and power imbalances, Hussain's recollection doubles as a quiet indictment of the norm — and a reminder of what collaborative filmmaking can look like when ego is set aside.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Adil Hussain cook for Sridevi on the sets of 'English Vinglish'?
Adil Hussain cooked a 6-course meal for Sridevi and around 70 crew members because the catered food on the New York shoot had become repetitive, consisting only of standard North Indian restaurant fare. Sridevi reportedly said the food 'was not happening,' prompting Hussain to offer to cook himself.
How many people did Adil Hussain cook for on the 'English Vinglish' sets?
Hussain cooked for approximately 70 people, including Sridevi and the rest of the crew. He noted he had assistance with chopping and prep work but handled the cooking himself.
What did Adil Hussain say about working with Sridevi on 'English Vinglish'?
Hussain described Sridevi as exceptionally humble and collaborative, noting she would actively consult co-actors on how to approach scenes rather than asserting seniority. He said she was 'always ready to improvise,' which he found remarkable given she had approximately 300 films to her credit at the time.
What is Adil Hussain's film '52 Blue'?
'52 Blue' is Adil Hussain's upcoming film that is set to be screened at the London Indian Film Festival. Further details about the film's plot or release date were not specified in the available information.
When did Sridevi pass away?
Sridevi passed away in February 2018. She remains one of Indian cinema's most celebrated actresses, with a career spanning several decades and approximately 300 films.
