By Subhash K Jha

The premiere of Sridevi's comeback film English Vinglish at the Toronto Film Festival's prestigious 'Gala' section on Friday evening was an outright winner.

Funnily more than the two ladies Sridevi and her director Gauri Shinde, it was their respective husbands Boney Kapoor and R Balki who were moved to tears to see the love of their lives light up the posh Roy Thompson Theatre and its hard-to-please audience.

`We got a standing ovation for ten minutes, ` Balki sobbed right after the premiere. `The local media just can't stop praising Sridevi and Gauri wotk. They are comparing Sri with Meryl Streep. She is just taking it all in so modestly. `

However with the sunshine comes the cloud and Balki sighs, `I truly wish Mr Bachchan was here with us in Toronto. He has a 5-minute cameo with Sri. But the impact he makes is amazing. Everyone is asking about him, `

The Big B tried his utmost to make it. But his prior commitment to the shooting of Kaun Banega Crorepati kept him away.

On a brighter note Sridevi along with hubby Boney, her producer Balki and his director-wife Gauri Shinde were invited for tea in the office of Dalton McGuinty, the current premiere of the province of Ontario who apparently was supremely charmed by Sri and just couldn't stop giving her attention.

McGuinty took time off from his Sri-dialogue to show his guests a picture taken of him with Boney and Anil Kapoor when they visited.

`Dalton McGuinty was very gracious. He remembered Boney's earlier visit when he had paid McGuinty a courtesy call with his brother Anil. He also showed an interest in watching English Vinglish. `