English Vinglish director Gauri Shinde, just like her filmmaker husband R Balki, comes to Bollywood from the ad world. Articulate and precise, the debutante director discusses directing 1980s superstar Sridevi’s “welcome back” film and the importance of communication over fluency in language.

English Vinglish marks Sridevi’s comeback after 15 years. Is that a big burden for a debut director to shoulder?
I have not felt it but now that I see the number of fans she has and the excitement around the film, there’s happiness. I feel, “Oh my God, there are so many people who are such passionate fans of hers, and are dying to see her.” And I don’t like the word ‘comeback’; it doesn’t have a very positive connotation.