Sridevi’s electric energy in the iconic ‘Hawa Hawai’ song from Mr India remains an eternal masterclass in cinematic charm, complete with her unmatched expressions, playful theatrics, and unforgettable flair. Now, that very magic has found a delightful nod on television as Mansi Srivastava stepped into the iconic look for her Zee TV show, Lakshmi Niwas, produced by Rashmi Sharma Telefilms.
Donning the legendary avatar to spy on her on-screen husband, Vivek, Mansi, who plays Revati in the show, embraced the chance to channel her inner screen idol, making it a career highlight she truly cherishes.
Stepping into the shoes of a cinematic icon is no small feat, but for Mansi, watching Sridevi’s sheer conviction onscreen provided all the inspiration she needed. Talking about the experience and bringing her character Revathi to life with a twist, she shared, “They gave me Sridevi’s ‘Hawa Hawai’ look and I had to speak a little bit like her. I saw the ‘Hawa Hawai’ video a couple of times and the way she says ‘oui, oui, oui, oui.’ Of course, I couldn’t imitate her completely, but I feel I did my best and loved doing it too. Just watching any scene of Sridevi makes you feel so good, as she is full of conviction”
To pull off the special sequence where Revati goes undercover to keep an eye on Vivek, Mansi added unique layers to her performance, blending the legendary Bollywood vibe with the persona of a wealthy Christian lady. “I had to also speak some English as Revathi, so I tried speaking like the Britishers did—saying ‘T’ a certain way—and spoke in a little bit of an accent as I was playing a rich Christian lady. Playing this ‘Hawa Hawai’ look even for a day was such a good change for me. I wish I got to play more such characters.”
As Lakshmi Niwas recently hit the milestone of 300 episodes, Mansi reflected on the incredible journey, the love from fans, and the humorous comments she frequently receives from viewers who deeply connect with Revathi’s emotional side. “I feel so blessed to be associated with this amazing show. I love the story and my character in it, and I’m so glad that the audience is so connected with our story. I love reading all the comments—the best one is when people actually comment, ‘Revati ji, aap bahut roti hain, kam royiye pls! ‘ “
