For Janhvi Kapoor, the void left by her mother Sridevi’s untimely passing is irreplaceable. However, in a recent interaction, the Dhadak actor shared how she now looks up to veteran actress Rekha for approval. Janhvi spoke about Rekha’s special bond with her mother, explaining how Rekha took Sridevi under her wings when she was new to the Hindi film industry. She also talked about their Telugu heritage.

In an interview with Filmfare, Janhvi said, “Mom and she were like soul sisters. When mom first joined Hindi movies and was feeling so lost, Peddamma really took her under her wings and they were friends for a very long time.”

Though Janhvi Kapoor noted that Sridevi and Rekha eventually lost touch, they would reconnect instantly whenever they met. They even used Telugu to keep certain conversations private from Janhvi and her sister. “Then they lost touch in between though they’d meet at events and all. That’s why I was almost 14 when I actually first encountered her when she came home. Both of them would break into Telugu if they didn’t want us kids to hear their inside jokes or secrets,” she shared.

Since her mother’s passing, Janhvi says Rekha has become a steady source of support. She recalled how, during the release of her debut film, Rekha would consistently text and call, keeping track of everything from the trailer launch to the release. Janhvi also mentioned how, despite her film Ulajh not performing well at the box office, Rekha reassured her, affirming that her performance was nuanced and that it hadn’t gone unnoticed. “I was pretty bummed that the film hadn’t done well. But she assured me that my performance was nuanced and that it would get its due someday. She said, in her time, she had done roles which went unnoticed and today they have stood the test of time. She assured me that same thing would happen to my performance in Ulajh,” she said.

Explaining why Rekha’s approval means so much to her, Janhvi Kapoor said, “Since mom isn’t around now, I feel Peddamma’s approval is important. Because artistically, both mom and she are similar. In a manner of speaking, after mom, I look to Peddamma for validation. What she thinks about me and my work means a lot to me.”

On the professional front, Janhvi is currently enjoying the success of her Telugu debut, Devara, which stars Jr NTR in the lead role. She will next be seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, alongside Varun Dhawan.

Click for more updates and latest Bollywood news along with Entertainment updates. Also get latest news and top headlines from India and around the world at The Indian Express.