By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan, who made an award-winning debut in ‘Parineeta’, a movie that premiered at the IIFA weekend a few years ago, continued her magical journey with the event by landing the Best Actress award for ‘Paa’. Though she shared the award with Kareena Kapoor, Balan was overjoyed, but noticeably absent from the celebrations in Sri Lanka. Shlandra Bunseelall spoke to the powerhouse performer.

How does it feel to have won the Best Actress Award?

It feels fantastic as this is the ultimate destination as an actor, I have received a couple of nominations before but it feels gratifying knowing that I have been appreciated for this movie. Everyone poured their hearts into it and God has been kind by giving me so much love and appreciation.

You must have special memories of IIFA considering your debut movie, Parineeta, premiered at the IIFA Awards in Amsterdam.

IIFA is very special to me and I am excited to be at the event again this year. My journey with IIFA goes back to Parineeta and the following year I won the Best Newcomer Award in Dubai. So, I am happy.

How has life been since Parineeta?

It has been unbelievable. You know, I did my very best from my debut movie and I felt fantastic that I was accepted in the industry. I remember entering a cinema when Parineeta was being screened and I was pleasantly surprised about the positive reaction from the audience. At that stage, I really had no clue what life had in store for me.

How did you land the award-winning role in Paa, consider- ing securing your debut was tougher?

You know the director, Balki, wrote the role with me in mind. When he initially approached me, I was sceptical and had a few doubts. I had to play the role of a mother – that, too, mother to Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan.

However, when Balki refused to make the movie without the complete cast, I knew I had to accept the role. I really liked the character and put my trust in the entire team.

What was it like working with the Bachchans? That must have been an experience?

Well, I worked with Abhishek in Guru and he is one of the best co-stars ever. Just sharing screen space with an actor of his calibre is an unforgettable experience.

After working on , what was it like working on an off-beat movie like Ishqiya?

This was another fantastic experience as I broke every rule in Vidya Balan’s rule book. The movie was fun and extremely challenging with a different character to portray. Despite all this, I shed all my inhibitions and it was most exciting.

Are there any directors you still want to work with?

Yes, loads of them – including Imtiyaaz Ali, Vishal Bhardwaj and Yash Chopra.

Any forthcoming projects?

I have just completed the schedule of No One Killed Jessicain Delhi. The movie will be released in December and Rani Mukerjee is my co-star.

By Jilawatan

In an interview done before her splendid and expected IIFA win, Vidya Balan talks about her newly acquired status as a sex-symbol, all the positive feedback and recognition from veterans, being a romantic person and more.

How did you react to Zeenat Aman calling you one of the sexiest actresses?

It is a huge compliment and I was thrilled to bits. Zeenat Aman is one of the sexiest women of all time and if she calls me sexy, I will believe it.

By Jilawatan

Her tinniest gesture contains thousands of expressions and she can gel in any role she is being offered. Vidya Balan has always been able to grab audience’s attention and affection.

By acting in movies like Paa and Pareneeta, she has developed a niche for herself. The present nominations for the ‘Paa’ have added one more feather to her hat.

She quotes, “To get nominated at the IIFA for Paa is like I’ve gotten the world. I think it’s very exciting and gratifying. I like to believe that I am matured in my performances. I am a happy thirty right now (laughs). I’ve played a good variety of roles so far and have tried to do the kind of work and choose the kind of work which has excited me, challenged me and fulfilled me as an actor.”

She can be playfully coy and frisky and at the same time she can be sedate and matured. Her looks can make statements about her beauty and she can look as simple and plain as per her role.
Vidya feels that, Paa has given her a great platform to act differently and feels that she was lucky enough to be supported by legendary Actor Amitabh Bacchan and Abhishek Bacchan.

She feels delighted to get an unexpected overseas feedback and quotes “Paa has made me more ingrained in the West and that’s what I’d like to believe. The overseas audiences have loved Paa. The film was a perfect marriage of a certain sensibility and infidelity and yet it was interesting plus entertaining. The audiences thought that it was a perfect coming-of-age film. Paa made the overseas audience realize about the kind of thoughtful work happening in India.”