Producer Boney Kapoor has revealed the clever negotiation strategy he used to steadily raise the per-film fee of his late wife, actress Sridevi, from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh — a remarkable leap that reshaped her market value in Bollywood. Kapoor shared the behind-the-scenes story during an appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show.

The Mr India Negotiation

Kapoor recalled travelling to Chennai to meet Sridevi's mother and negotiate her fees for Mr India. Despite the language barrier — her mother spoke neither Hindi nor English — the two managed to communicate through gestures. When her mother quoted ₹10 lakh, Kapoor deliberately countered with a higher figure.

Recounting the conversation, Kapoor said, 'She said, Pappi, price INR 10 rupees. INR 10 rupees meant INR 10 lakhs. I had done some research and inquired in the market as to how much Sridevi charged for her last film. At that time, she had signed the last film for INR 8.5 lakhs. So I thought, she signed for INR 8.5 lakhs; I'll give her 9. When she said, 10 rupees, I said, No. So she froze for 10 seconds. I said, I'll pay 11. After that, she froze for 15 seconds. She then said, The staff money is separate, INR 30,000 rupees. So I said, No, I'll pay 50,000. So, I gave her 11 lakhs.'

The Chandni Clause

Kapoor's real gambit, however, was a forward-looking condition he attached to each deal. For Mr India, he agreed to pay ₹11 lakh on the condition that Sridevi's next film would command ₹15 lakh. When her mother expressed scepticism about who would pay that amount, Kapoor stepped in proactively — he spoke to filmmaker Yash Chopra and ensured Sridevi was signed for Chandni at exactly ₹15 lakh.

This approach effectively used each film as a stepping stone, locking in the next fee before the current project had even released.

The ₹25 Lakh Milestone

Kapoor applied the same formula a second time. When Sridevi's mother offered a discounted rate of ₹14 lakh for Kapoor's next production, he countered by offering ₹16 lakh — with a condition that the film after that would pay ₹25 lakh. Her mother reportedly asked who would pay such a figure. The answer came in the form of Khuda Gawah, in which Sridevi was paid the agreed ₹25 lakh.

Why the Story Still Resonates

The anecdote offers a rare glimpse into Bollywood's pre-liberalisation pay structures, when even top-tier female stars commanded fees far below their male counterparts. Sridevi, widely regarded as one of India's greatest actresses, was at the peak of her commercial drawing power during this period. The fact that a producer — who later became her husband — was instrumental in raising her market rate adds a layered personal and professional dimension to the story. Sridevi passed away in February 2018, and Kapoor has spoken about her legacy on several public occasions since.