'English Vinglish' has given me so much respect. I am really

In the words of Sridevi, the luminous star who returned to the screen after years of silence, we hear both humility and triumph: “‘English Vinglish’ has given me so much respect. I am really thankful to director Gauri Shinde and her husband R. Balki. They blindly believed in me.” This declaration is not merely about a film, but about trust, faith, and the power of opportunity. For in her gratitude lies the eternal truth—that even the most gifted require those who will believe in them without hesitation, and that such faith can become the spark for rebirth.

The story of English Vinglish is one of renewal. After years away from cinema, Sridevi returned to find herself embraced once more, not only by her fans but by a new generation. The respect she speaks of is not merely fame or applause, but the deeper acknowledgment of her artistry, her craft, and her humanity. It was not automatic—it was gifted to her through the vision of Gauri Shinde and the support of R. Balki, who trusted her wholly, who saw not her absence but her enduring flame. Their blind belief became her bridge back into the hearts of millions.

This truth is ancient. Consider the tale of Julius Caesar and Crassus. Caesar, before he became master of Rome, was nearly ruined, his debts heavy and his fortunes waning. Yet Crassus, seeing in him a potential that others ignored, chose to trust him, to invest in him, to lift him when none others dared. That faith changed history, for Caesar rose to greatness. So too did Sridevi, when Shinde and Balki entrusted her with their vision, reminding us that belief in another can alter not just a career, but the course of destiny.

There is also in her words the spirit of gratitude. She does not place herself upon a throne, proclaiming her return as her own victory alone. Instead, she honors those who stood beside her, those who “blindly believed.” Gratitude transforms triumph from arrogance into humility. It ensures that success is remembered not as a solitary climb, but as a shared ascent. This humility is the mark of true greatness: to remember the hands that lifted you when others turned away.

Her words also speak to the mystery of trust. To believe “blindly” is to act not on certainty, but on faith. Shinde and Balki placed their hopes upon Sridevi, not because the world guaranteed her return, but because their hearts did. And she, in turn, honored that trust by giving her art, her soul, her full being to the film. This exchange of faith is what creates miracles—not contracts, not calculations, but courage to believe.

The lesson for us is clear: never underestimate the power of believing in another. Your trust may be the very light that awakens someone’s dormant flame. Likewise, when others extend their belief to you, honor it with your full measure of devotion, for such gifts are rare and sacred. Respect is not given freely—it is born of trust answered with integrity.

Practically, this calls us to live with both gratitude and faith. Look to those who have supported you, and speak your thanks while they yet live. And in your own path, do not hesitate to place faith in others—to mentor, to support, to offer chances where others see only risk. For often, greatness blooms not in certainty, but in the soil of blind belief.

Thus the words of Sridevi endure, as luminous as her art: “‘English Vinglish’ has given me so much respect… they blindly believed in me.” May we too learn to give thanks for those who believe in us, and to be such believers for others. For in the bond of trust and gratitude lies the power to lift lives, to shape legacies, and to turn silence into song once more.