By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan could be planning to exhibit her own photography in the future.

The Paa actress is reportedly a keen amateur photographer and has a portfolio of 500 pictures, according Mid Day.

A source told the site: “[Photography] has become something of a passion over the last two years.

“She gets snapping when she travels to shoots and other professional commitments.”

Balan is said to have started taking photographs on the set of Salaam-E-Ishq.

However, the insider added that Balan is undecided about whether or not to exhibit her work because she has a full schedule already.

The star will next be see in Dirty Picture, a biopic of sultry South Indian actress Silka Smitha.

By Jilawatan

While Vidya Balan definitely knew that she had to go extra glam to play Silk Smitha in Milan Luthria’s Dirty Picture produced by Ekta Kapoor, Balan sort of freaked out when she saw the sketches of what she needs to wear for the portrayal.

Hot pants, low necks and petticoats (without the saree that Vidya is so fond of) got a bit too hot to handle for the lady. Also, she would have to wear these outrageous outfits after she gains some extra kilos on her thighs and other areas that the role requires, which left the actress gob smacked.

A little shaken with the initial sketches, Vidya Balan has told Luthria that all her outfits need to reach at least 30 days before she starts shooting, so that she can try and get comfortable in them.

Fashion designer Niharika Khan, who is in charge of Vidya’s outfits in Dirty Picture, has pulled out all stops to comply with Balan’s order.

The designer confirmed, “I am working as fast a I can. There is bound to be a lot of skin show where her legs and stomach will be bare.

The role has a graph where initially she will be wearing her usual clothes, later she becomes a star and then the downfall. So it’s an array of costumes I am preparing covering all three phases.”

When asked about Sabyasachi not designing for Vidya in the film, she added, “Well, Milan wanted me in the film. So, I can’t comment on that.”

Confirming this, Ekta said, “Well, there are two sizes that Vidya will be seen in. One is the thinner one, the other one is where she will have to put on weight.”

When contacted, Luthria said, “Vidya Balan needs to get bolder in her performance and physicality. Bolder in body and in mind.

This is not kid stuff we are doing. My film takes a naked look at all we’ve been whispering about.”

“When Vidya asked me for the clothes, earlier than usual, I really wasn’t surprised. My job is to ease her into the character. And this is just step one,” added Luthria.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan needs to become more comfortable in her own skin on screen, according to the director of her upcoming film Dirty Picture.

The actress is known for her love of more traditional roles in films such as the crime drama Ishqiya.

According to the Mumbai Mirror, she was shocked when she received her wardrobe for the film, which turned out to be full of skimpy outfits.

Helmer Milan Luthria told the paper: “Vidya Balan needs to get bolder in her performance and physicality. Bolder in body and in mind.

“This is not kid stuff we are doing. My film takes a naked look at all we’ve been whispering about.”

Dirty Picture will see Balan playing the tragic South Indian actress Silk Smitha, who was famous for her “sensual” dances.

It was reported last month she planned to sue over doctored pictures of her in a bikini posing on a fake Maxim cover.

By Jilawatan

You have heard many nocturnal tales of Vidya Balan’s struggle with insomnia, which made it difficult for her to lose weight.

But she might be spreading the condition. A reporter, who was waiting for a quote from VB, is complaining of lack of sleep. She was told the way to reach the actress on an urgent basis, was to text her late night and wait for her to revert on a good time to call her. So, she kept sleeping a few winks, then waking again and again to check if the actress had sent a message. Because so if she dozed off, well she could miss her message probably sent at 2 am to call her ‘Now’. So what do one do? Well, wait for the next night to come… obviously.

By Jilawatan

No, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is not getting competition with her husband! However, buzz is that the two actresses have been roped in to play wives to Junior Bachchan in two upcoming films.

Vidya Balan, who has been on a guest starring spree, has been roped in to play Abhishek’s better half in Dum Maaro Dum. Earlier, the actress had signed up for a cameo in ‘Thank You’, playing Akshay Kumar’s wife.

This is not the first time that the actress has been seen opposite Abhishek Bachchan. The duo were seen together in ‘Paa’, where they played parents to Amitabh Bachchan.

Kangna Ranaut, on the other hand has taken up a role opposite Bachchan Junior in RGV’s next, Department.

The film, which has just been announced, revolves around three cops and the extra-constitutional activities they engage in to maintain a civil society.

By Jilawatan

Political parties in Maharashtra, who love to play the regional card, may just have found their new poster girl. After news that Aamir Khan has taken to learning Marathi, we find out that Vidya Balan has also taken up the language. But Vidya says her interest goes beyond the language, and what she really wants is to be a part of the cinema.

“I love watching Marathi cinema, I love the language — not because I have been born and brought up in Mumbai, but because of my exposure to Marathi plays and films. They have so many beautiful stories to tell,” Vidya says.

But there is just one hitch in her re-discovered passion — actually learning the language. “I want to learn the language before taking up any regional film,” she says. Well, considering that Vidya wants to work in regional cinema across India, she may soon know all the existing Indian languages at this rate! But who’s complaining?

By Jilawatan

Bollywood beauty Vidya Balan enjoyed her hour of darkness during the ”Earth Hour” in Delhi as the city switched off it”s lights, joining the biggest global movement to preserve energy and the environment.

The 33-year-old actress who is the first female brand ambassador of the ”Earth Hour” said that she looks forward to a long association with the cause.

“I am honored to be the first female brand ambassador of the cause. Let us enjoy darkness for a while. I am both privileged and elated to be part of Earth Hour 2011. It is encouraging to see the support that our very own citizens have lent to the initiative,” said Balan.

“I have pledged to take action even beyond the hour.
Each one of us has the power to make a difference. We just need to be conscious of it and make wise choices. When each one of us take simple steps, together these actions add up,” said Balan who sported a Earth hour t-shirt with a pair of jeans.

The celebration saw the lights at the India Gate switch off and with candles in their hands, Delhiites grooved to the tunes of ”Euphoria” who performed to mark the occasion, with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the audience.

“Delhi has come together again this year and pledged their support for Earth Hour India. The city plunged in darkness for a brighter tomorrow and we hope that it sensitises each of one of us for making the shift to a better lifestyle,” said Dikshit.

The initiative enabled the capital to save 296 MW power.

By Jilawatan

Actress Vidya Balan is worried these days. No, it isn’t because of her upcoming film or her rumoured relationship with corporate honcho Siddharth Roy Kapoor. But ever since Japan has been hit by the earthquake and the tsunami, the actor has been having sleepless nights. Balan’s best friend lives in Hiroshima in Japan and she’s been praying for her well-being ever since the tragedy occurred.

Balan, who is very close to her friend, came to know about the catastrophe while she was shooting. “I was completely taken aback when I saw the videos on news channels and I just wanted to speak to my friend in Hiroshima to find out if everything was fine with her. Initially, I couldn’t get through to her and that disturbed me. But when I did get to speak to her, I felt a little better,” said the actress.

But unfortunately, Balan’s respite was short-lived as news about the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Power Plant began flooding TV channels. “The images of the billowing white smoke just numbed my mind. And now that the radioactive emissions are blending with the air and water, I’m so scared that the air she’ll breathe will be harmful to her health. I’m just praying hard that everything gets sorted soon and everyone comes out of this hazardous situation,” she added.

Meanwhile, Rajnikanth who has huge fan following in Japan has been joined by several celebs in working towards raising funds to aid the crisis-stricken people.

By Jilawatan

That is what Vidya Balan wished for when she was presented the best actress trophy at FICCI FRAMES 2011 Business Excellence Awards by Hollywood star and ‘the sexiest man on the Earth’ Hugh Jackman.

Her idea about the unique international casting for ISHQIYA 2 found instant approval from Jackman and Shahrukh Khan who were all ready to sign up for the project there and then in the presence of industry stalwarts like Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, and ‘the most beautiful woman on the Earth’ Aishwarya Rai Bachhan. However, there was a hitch. Jackman had to prove his ‘Bollywood quotient’ before landing up the role and was called upon by the hostess of the show Minnie Mathur to demonstrate his booty shaking skills by dancing to a Bollywood tune along with SRK. And thus happened a hilarious ‘sangam’ of Bollywood and Hollywood, which looked more like a ‘sandwich’ with Vidya Balan acting as a thick slice of juicy cheese of ‘Silk Smita variety’ between the two dancing stars – the ‘Wolverine’ and ‘Whose Name is Khan’ who performed an impromptu jig with her in the middle. Hugh Jackman, SRK, and Aishwarya Rai were also honoured on the occasion and were presented awards.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan refused to step into Hema Malini’s shoes in the remake of the 1982 blockbuster Satte Pe Satta. She will definitely not be the one to yet again reform the seven untamed brothers living on a ranch.

“Vidya didn’t want to do this film simply because she feels that Satte Pe Satta should not be tampered with. That film is too iconic to be copied or revised,” explains a source about the actress’s reason for turning down Sanjay Dutt’s offer.

While Dutt will essay the role that Amitabh Bachchan played in the original film, he is having difficulty casting the female lead. Balan has point-blank refused to take on this challenging project, which will be directed by Soham Shah.

When the filmmakers spoke to Vidya’s manager, she did not make them wait too long for a reply. We last heard that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan might do the film. Let’s wait and watch.

Both, Balan and Bachchan, remained unavailable for comment.