It promises to be a perfectly-designed film. As ace fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee wraps up the script of his directorial debut venture, he only has two actors in mind for the film — Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerji. “I have completed my script with all the finishing touches. And I am very satisfied with the outcome,” says Mukerji. “The only problem is that I have been too busy with my other fashion-related assignments to take up the film,” he adds.
But the designer insists he isn’t worried about the casting. “Whenever I decide to start filming, I will approach Vidya and Rani for the parts. And fortunately, I share very special equations with both of them. And I know I can always bank on their support. We understand each others’ sensibilities very well.”

Money matters
Mukerji, who will be participating in Mumbai as well as Delhi fashion weeks, informs that “certain producers are also ready” to back the movie.

“However, my first set of priorities includes fashion stuff like stores, shows and designing. After all, I can’t deviate from things, which are my primary source of bread and butter,” he adds.

For the uninitiated, apart from designing for his fashion label Sabyasachi, the Kolkata-based designer is also famous for costume design in films.

He has created costumes for movies like Black (2005), Baabul (2006) , Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007), Paa (2009), Raavan (2010) and Guzaarish (2010). “My hands are full right now,” says Mukherjee with a laugh. And I don’t want to mess things up in a hurry. So it’s better I take things up only when I can easily concentrate.”

Claiming that he’s neck-deep in work as he designs several pieces for his multiple fashion shows this season, including the finale at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in Delhi, he adds, “You can understand what my state of mind will be right now. I am running around trying to come up with impressive and different collections for both the fashion weeks.”

Well darlings it appears like Vidya Balan is the one who does everything these days.

The grapevine is buzzing on how Vidya will team up with director Sujoy Ghosh for a film where she reportedly plays a pregnant widow taking revenge on those who wrecked her world. Aditya Chopra has apparently signed Vidya for this film. Remember Adi wanted Vidya for Laaga Chunari Mein Daag? Now he has got her. One filmmaker was heard whispering that the story has similarities to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill where Uma Thurman is also a pregnant widow who swears vendetta.

Vidya Balan is the latest big name being linked to Deepa Mehta’s upcoming film adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s novel, Midnight’s Children.

The actress recently confirmed that she has met with the acclaimed director to discuss the possibility of playing Rani Mukerji’s sister in the film. Balan is reportedly very excited at the prospect of working with Mehta – especially given a previous attempt at collaboration a couple of years ago with a project titled Stella fell through – and though no role is confirmed yet, has put on record her statement that she “would love to work with her [Mehta]”.

However, rumour has it that bad blood between Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerji – who was cast in the film at the wish of Midnight’s Children author, Salman Rushdie – may once again affect Vidya’s dreams of working with Deepa Mehta. Allegedly the relationship between the actresses has been icy ever since Pradeep Sarkar chose Rani over Vidya for a role in his second Hindi film Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, despite Vidya’s stellar performance in Parineeta.

Mehta, it seems, isn’t taking sides, saying: “I see them as sisters. They are both lovely. I am dying to work with them together.”

As reported earlier, Midnight’s Children will also star Irrfan Khan, Seema Biswas, Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. Filming will reportedly start in September.