Vidya Balan

By Jilawatan

Will Aishwarya Rai Bachchan topple Vidya Balan in the battle to bag the female lead opposite Sanjay Dutt in the remake of Satte Pe Satta? The two heroines were cast together in Guru, where Ash had a bigger role, but Vidya gave a better performance.

A lot of water has flown under the bridge since then. Ash has a disastrous record opposite Sanju. The 2002 film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin, where the two costarred, was a big flop.

And then there was Leena Yadav’s Shabd, another box office disaster. Vidya, on the other hand, has had a good run with Sanju. The first film she did with him, Parineeta, was a critical as well as a commercial success.

Later, Lage Raho Munnabhai was also received extremely well at the box office. Will the makers of the film choose talent over glamour, or cast Ash in the hope of cashing in on her considerable box office clout?

By Jilawatan

She is a powerhouse of talent who stormed onto the Bollywood scene with Parineeta. She later followed it up with some brilliant performances in films such as Lage Raho Munnabhai, Guru, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Paa and Ishqiya. She is none other than Vidya Balan.

Vidya is all excited about her forthcoming film No One Killed Jessica where she plays the role of Jessica Lal’s sister Sabrina. As the film readies itself for a gala release this week, we give you a chance to have a live video chat with Vidya Balan on Thursday, Jan 6, at 1500 hrs IST. Don’t miss!

By Jilawatan

Whenever you see Vidya Balan perform, you tend to believe that she does nothing by the book. Five years on, Vidya’s star has risen yet further, and it is a mark of how untouched she is – how real, if you like – that nothing has changed. Whatever it was, those formative experiences served her well in her chosen career as an actress. Those murky corners where pain, discord and ambiguity are rife have always attracted Vidya, and it’s really the truth if I may exaggerate, that Balan is swallowed by Bollywood and it will be an understatement if I again stress on the fact that Vidya’s portrayal of diverse and distinguished roles is a testament of quality, excelling in range, power and versatility.

Her forthcoming role of Sabrina Lal from No One Killed Jessica is just a few of the many more we will be a witness to in the days to come and in the near future. And as we come to an end of this exhilarating chat with one of India’s finest, I ponder and deliver – ‘What would possibly go wrong if Cleopatra had actually met Vidya Balan?’ I mean, ever wondered how Cleopatra would’ve looked if she was draped in a Sabyasachi’s saree? Our correspondent brings you part two of the exclusive chat with India’s very own – symbol of sexy and simplicity.

“When you talk about Jessica Lal, you talk about Sabrina”

Cinema is all about stirring emotions. For me, that happened in No One Killed Jessica. It was also about an emotional journey of Sabrina who was the face of the case, besides the media. When you talk about Jessica Lal, you talk about Sabrina because it was her bravery that got her sister justice.

“Raj Kumar Gupta saw me in my costume on day one and said, ‘That’s my Sabrina’”

I asked my director why he offered me the role of Sabrina and not the media person played by Rani Mukherjee. It’s an important question for me. He informed me that he needed an emotional graph of a woman and that I was the only one who could pull it off. This is one film that I’ve spoken very less about but yet I want to go on and on about it. The first day I did my costume trial and when my director saw me, he said, “That’s my Sabrina”.

“The promos never favoured Rani Mukherjee”

The promos never favoured Rani Mukherjee. The story is about these two people, played by me and Rani. The purpose of both these women were the same – to give justice, but their approaches were very different. Sabrina is about quiet strength and she looks very timid. Sabrina is almost like a wall flower. The promo can’t have too many silent moments. It has to have frenzy.

“Sabyasachi said that from a sexually aggressive character I’ve turned into an asexual unattractive one”

Sabyasachi went with Rani Mukherjee to London to shop for her clothes for No one Killed Jessica. He is such a designer that he doesn’t see films as a showcase for his clothes. Sabyasachi clothes characters. What took me by surprise is the fact that he came from London and said, “I got your clothes too”. So when I asked him why he didn’t take me along with him to London, he said, “I wanted clothes which were larger and not your size”. He gave me tees that were over sized and completely asexual. He told me, “From the sexually aggressive Krishna in Ishqiya, comes an asexual lady who ain’t pretty”. That was how real Sabyasachi wanted me to be in the film.

“I have pushed my schizophrenia to an unbelievable limit”

Words like ‘commercial cinema’ and ‘art house cinema’ are redundant in today’s time. Categories don’t exist anymore because I feel that a good film will always work. It could be anything. The scale of a film may differ but a good film that recovers its money is a hit. It could be a five crore, fifty crore or a hundred crore hit. Personally, every film I’ve acted in has given me something different to do and I have pushed my schizophrenia to an unbelievable limit (laughs).

“Zeenat Aman is a kind of sexy that is graceful sexy”

With the kind of clothes Zeenat Aman wore, she carried it with so much elegance. You never looked at Zeenat Aman and said ‘cheap’. She was an epitome of ‘sexy’. She is the kind of sexy that is ‘graceful sexy’. Even when you see her in her bellbottoms, she looked classy.

“My director stripped me of all the excesses”

Raj Kumar Gupta is someone who is very instinctive. Ever since I have made my debut, I’ve seen directors vision change and how. One in terms of treatment they give to their scenes. It’s real and not conventional. Directors like Abhishek Chaubey, Raj Kumar Gupta and Sujoy Ghosh are unconventional but very passionate and very high on conviction. That’s why they have the courage to make the types of films they want to make. Secondly, the new directors strip you of all the excesses. When I watched something of NOKJ, I asked myself, “Is that really me?”

“Rani Mukherjee is my favourite actress amongst my immediate seniors”

It’s exciting to work with a good actor and Rani Mukherjee is someone who I’ve always liked. I’ve liked her in Bunty Aur Babli, Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat and Black. Rani Mukherjee is my favourite actress amongst my immediate seniors. Like I said, acting is about reacting and when you work with an actor like Rani, its great fun. We don’t have too many scenes together in the film but we have worked together for a few days. We got along very well.

“I love the song ‘Aitbaar’ which talks about Sabrina’s journey

Amit Trivedi’s music and Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics complement each other. The first time I heard the song ‘Dilli Dilli’ I thought that it had some kind of weird energy about it. There is another favourite track of mine called ‘Aitbaar’ which is really about Sabrina’s journey and there is a crazy song like ‘Saali’. Three diverse songs which has everything to do with the film and its characters – Delhi, Sabrina and Rani’s character.

“One of the newspapers carried a headline – No one killed Jessica, and that became our title”

The title is very ambiguous but it has a deeper meaning to it. The day after the initial court case of Jessica Lal, when everyone got acquitted and the witnesses turned hostile, the conclusion was seen in the next day’s newspapers with a headline saying ‘No One Killed Jessica’. I like this title because it says a lot about the film and yet says nothing. I loved the titles Ishqiya, Dabangg and Lage Raho Munnabhai, not because it had Munnabhai but because it had ‘Lage Raho’. It was simple. I loved Parineeta too without sounding biased.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan is a talented actress who has only been in a few movies so far but she has already earned that stamp of credibility that normally comes with years of experience.
CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand caught up with Vidya Balan to quiz her about movies and marriage.
Rajeev Masand: You have been here only for two to two and a half years. Has life changed?
Vidya Balan: Yes, in some ways it has. I always wanted to act and I was doing my bit in television and advertisements. Finally, the dream of good cinema came through with Parineeta and then Munnabhai. I’m working with a lot of people I always wanted to work with. Then of course by God’s grace there has been a lot of appreciation, awards, recognition and a much busier life.
Rajeev Masand: Have you noticed any change in yourself?
Vidya Balan: Yes, actually I was talking about it to a very close friend and discussing about how people normally tend to look at the external changes. Yes, it’s a busier me and suddenly it’s like there’s a halo around my head and people who may not even know you are looking at you differently. Everyone knows you and still doesn’t know you.
There are internal changes and adjustments that happen. People who don’t know you have expectations and expect you to be a certain way. There are times that are very personal. I am an extremely private person. So to adjust to those things is difficult.
If I am praying in a temple and someone comes up to me, I don’t really know how to react. Some people say that post your success you have developed some kind of an attitude. I don’t think that’s true at all. I’m just taking my time to adjust to the changes.
Rajeev Masand: Is being an actor a tough job?
Vidya Balan: Yes but it is a rewarding job as well. I think actors choose to be so because there is a schizophrenic streak in them. I am an extremely empathetic person and I put myself in another person’s shoes to the extent that that’s what helps as an actor. While all that is great, it does get difficult as an actor. I’m talking purely from the acting point of view. It’s draining at times. A lot of it is instinctive and I’m not a trained actor so I don’t know how much of it to use and how much of preparation I need. I’m still grappling with those things. I’m doing my bit of preparation and going with my instinct but it’s not easy. I marvel at those who give inspirational performances one after the other, effortlessly. It’s amazing.
Rajeev Masand: Who are those actors you look up to?
Vidya Balan: Shabana Azmi. I watched her in Umrao Jaan recently. She is really something else. In each of her performances there is a great deal of honesty and the same deal of dedication. Then Mr Bachchan, who we’ve seen in all kinds of films, not just the big films. Circumstances have not always been perfect and yet, he is so convincing and believes in what he does. It is awe-inspiring.
Rajeev Masand: Has the industry been a welcoming place for you?
Vidya Balan: More than welcoming. I could not have asked for more. They have accepted me with open arms. For someone with no backing in the conventional sense it has been a true blessing. People have been very warm, nice and forthcoming.
Rajeev Masand: It’s believed that to be successful in this business you have to be cut-throat ambitious. Are you willing to play it by the rules?
Vidya Balan: I think it’s not just this place. There is so much competition everywhere but I am personally a slightly laid-back person. I like to enjoy what I’m doing. I don’t like to do too many things. What I do I want to do well. I don’t think I’m fatalistic but I believe that if it’s meant for you it will to come to you. So I won’t run after something so in that sense I’m not a go-getter. But yes, there is a fire in the belly and that passion.
Rajeev Masand: How ambitious are you really? How important is it for you to be good at what you do?
Vidya Balan: I think success is very subjective. For me after a certain shot, I might feel I was successful at it. For me, it’s as momentary as that. Or I may have not been able to deliver what I think is my best at the end of a day’s work. I don’t feel great about it but you move on. The next day you still look forward to it and hope it’s better. It’s not just about the performance, it’s in every area of life. I’m not that ambitious and I take life as it comes. I like to give whatever I do my best but I don’t get weighed down that easily or not at all.
Rajeev Masand: You have already tasted the flip side of being famous and successful. Whether it’s the allegation of having developed an attitude problem or link ups with co-stars. How do you get used to this kind of attention for someone who’s just come in from the cold, so to speak?
Vidya Balan: For some strange reason I always thought that I would never be linked up and there would be no rumours about me. I think everyone has that bubble about himself or herself which finally bursts. There were scores before me and there will be scores after me to face the same fate. But I have no qualms. When I first read something about myself I was very upset. I remember my father telling me that as long as you know and the people who matter to you know, nothing else matters. It is the job of everyone around you, when you are a star and there is intrigue about you. You’re an actor, there is going to be speculation. But if you sit around explaining yourself and even wanting to do that, you are going to spend half your life doing that. So do what you want to, and get on with it. Truth always prevails. Luckily, so far, it’s been okay.
Rajeev Masand: What’s the oddest story that you have read about yourself?
Vidya Balan: I heard that I have a husband and two kids somewhere in the US. I was happy about the husband but not about the kids.
Rajeev Masand: The two kids you thought was a little bit too much?
Vidya Balan: I said chalo koi to hai (There is somebody at least). But no such luck so I don’t know where these stories emanate from. They sometimes come up with bizarre stories and I wonder what inspires people to do that.
Rajeev Masand: You have been linked to several co-stars whether it was Saif during Parineeta, John when you were doing Salaam-E-Ishaq and even one of your directors. Does it ever get weird when you go back to the set and work with them?
Vidya Balan: No. It’s absolutely the same. Like you said about my director, Pradeep sarkar, everybody around us knows what the equation is so nobody is actually whispering and talking about it. We have just been ourselves. But the first time it happened, I was just shocked that someone could write something bizarre about me. But now I have come to accept it. I’m a quick learner.
Rajeev Masand: So why have we not heard about the big Vidya Balan romance? Are you very good at keeping it a secret or is there nothing?
Vidya Balan: No. There is no big romance yet. But when it happens I will surely go around town talking about it.
Rajeev Masand: So it’s not like you have not unearthed it yet?
Vidya Balan: No. I think love is something that should be celebrated. I don’t want to be in a relationship that I should be ashamed of and that I have to hide for any reason.
Rajeev Masand: You have said that you always wanted to be an actress. What were the films that defined your youth?
Vidya Balan: I think once I entered college I was exposed to world cinema. Until then, it was largely Hindi and regional cinema. It was what we would get to watch on television or in the theatre and I wasn’t into English films then. But once I went to college I started watching not just Hollywood films but also world cinema. We had film societies in college and I come from Xavier’s so our department would have film weeks. So we were exposed to all kinds of cinema then. I was also part of the film festival.
Rajeev Masand: Which are your favourite films?
Vidya Balan: The one film that always makes me laugh is Golmaal. Also, Masoom, Arth, Sholay and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. All kinds of films. Then there also some Bengali films that I really like. I love Iranian films as well.
Rajeev Masand: Are these the films that made you want to be an actor?
Vidya Balan: I think the bug was always there. Maybe it was fed by these films.
Rajeev Masand: Was there anyone you wanted to grow up to be?
Vidya Balan: I think Shabana Azmi perhaps is someone who has always inspired me not just as an actor. Not every actor is articulate but I think she speaks beautifully. Plus she has an opinion that she has the guts to voice it. Besides that she takes up for causes and I love the way she carries herself.
Rajeev Masand: Do you believe that films can change the world?
Vidya Balan: I think so. Post Lage Raho Munnabhai I have seen it happening. Even if it is in this day in age, if it makes a difference even for ten minutes, it’s a big thing. With Lage Raho Munnabhai we have got response through emails and calls and interaction with people, it’s amazing the effect that the film has had. A couple in Ahmedabad was telling us how they wanted to buy a house and one wanted to go to a vaastu expert and the other to an astrologer. But after they watched the film they debunked everything and went ahead and bought the house. That’s when you realize the effect that cinema can have on people.
Rajeev Masand: Did you always expect that the film would have the resonance with people all over the country?
Vidya Balan: It had happened with Munnabhai MBBS as it spoke a universal language and I had immensely loved the film. I’m not saying it for the sake of the interview but post that film I started hugging people all the more. I think that jaadoo ki jhappi thing really caught my fancy. So I was really happy to be part of Lage Raho Munnabhai and I did not think about whether it would succeed. We were all happy to be a part of the film and even before it released we were proud of the film. We thought it was an honest effort. The faith has just been validated by it’s success and by the reach that it has had all over the world. I’m happy that this kind of a film has done well. It’s very reassuring.
Rajeev Masand: You’re a Bombay girl. You grew up here. Do your friends tease you and say ‘Arree heroine ho gayee hai’ (Oh she is a heroine now)? Do they rag you as you put on your make-up and get dressed up?
Vidya Balan: No. Except my closest friends haven’t come to terms with it. The other day one of them said ‘lets hop onto a rickshaw and go across’ because my driver had left for the day. But neither I or she realised that post Parineeta, I could do it, but post Munnabhai, the rickshawallah recognised me and when he did, it got a little awkward because I wasn’t dressed like an actor.
I don’t think we’ve come terms with the kinds of changes that being in films has brought about. I think we slowly will. But there are some acquaintances who say star ho gayee hai (she is a star now) so I say Ab kya karein? (what can I do).
Rajeev Masand: Are you enjoying the experience?
Vidya Balan: Absolutely. More than enjoying it.
Rajeev Masand: Best of luck. Let’s hope you always enjoy it. Let’s hope we’ll always enjoy your performances. Looking forward to more exciting stuff from you.

By Jilawatan

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who has recently walked out of the movie ‘Dhamaal 2’, has lost a solo heroine role in ‘Rascals’, which is the first film of Sanjay Dutt Productions (SDP).
David Dhawan is directing ‘Rascals’ and Sanjay Dutt is one of the lead actors of ‘Dhamaal 2’.
Initially, the actress agreed to be a part of ‘Dhamaal 2’ but asked for a whooping amount of INR 1.5 crore as fee. The producers refused to pay such a huge amount and she walked out of the movie. She was replaced by Mallika Sherawat.
It is reported that when Vidya came to know about ‘Rascals’, the actress expressed her desire to be a part of it to the director David Dhawan. But, her refusal to star in ‘Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who has recently walked out of the movie ‘Dhamaal 2’, has lost a solo heroine role in ‘Rascals’, which is the first film of Sanjay Dutt Productions (SDP).
David Dhawan is directing ‘Rascals’ and Sanjay Dutt is one of the lead actors of ‘Dhamaal 2’.
Initially, the actress agreed to be a part of ‘Dhamaal 2’ but asked for a whooping amount of INR 1.5 crore as fee. The producers refused to pay such a huge amount and she walked out of the movie. She was replaced by Mallika Sherawat.
It is reported that when Vidya came to know about ‘Rascals’, the actress expressed her desire to be a part of it to the director David Dhawan. But, her refusal to star in ‘Dhamaal 2’ cost her the movie because Sanjay Dutt was not happy with her decision. Dutt and Vidya have worked together in ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ and her debut movie ‘Parineeta’.
The lead female role in ‘Rascals’ required a youthful charming woman so everyone in the unit wanted a fresh face. Sanjay Dutt, Dharam Oberoi, who is the business manager and CEO of SDP, and director David Dhawan shortlisted Anushka Sharma, Lara Dutta, and Kangna Ranaut for the role.
Kangana Ranaut bagged the role.
David Dhawan said, “Vidya Balan was not suitable for this role even though she is a fine actress. This is the only reason we did not sign her for ‘Rascals’. I am sure Vidya does not mind as she is a good friend, we will work on another film together.”’ cost her the movie because Sanjay Dutt was not happy with her decision. Dutt and Vidya have worked together in ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ and her debut movie ‘Parineeta’.
The lead female role in ‘Rascals’ required a youthful charming woman so everyone in the unit wanted a fresh face. Sanjay Dutt, Dharam Oberoi, who is the business manager and CEO of SDP, and director David Dhawan shortlisted Anushka Sharma, Lara Dutta, and Kangna Ranaut for the role.
Kangana Ranaut bagged the role.
David Dhawan said, “Vidya Balan was not suitable for this role even though she is a fine actress. This is the only reason we did not sign her for ‘Rascals’. I am sure Vidya does not mind as she is a good friend, we will work on another film together.”

By Jilawatan

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who has recently walked out of the movie Dhamaal 2, has lost a solo heroine role in Rascals, which is the first film of Sanjay Dutt Productions (SDP). David Dhawan is directing Rascals. Sanjay Dutt also stars Dhamaal 2 along with few other actors.

Initially, the actress agreed to be a part of Dhamaal 2 but asked for a whooping amount of Rs 1.5 crore as fee. The producers refused to pay such a huge amount and she walked out of the movie. She was then replaced by Mallika Sherawat.

It is reported that when Vidya came to know about Rascals, the actress expressed her desire to be a part of it to the director David Dhawan. But, her refusal to Dhamaal 2 cost her movie as Sanjay was not very happy with her. He did not wish to take her in this film. Earlier Dutt and Vidya have worked together in Lage Raho Munnabhai and also in her debut movie Parineeta.

The lead female role in Rascals required a youthful charming woman so everyone in the unit wanted a fresh face. Sanjay Dutt, Dharam Oberoi, who is the business manager and CEO of SDP, and director David Dhawan shortlisted Anushka Sharma, Lara Dutta, and Kangna Ranaut for the role. However, Kangana Ranaut got lucky finally to bag the role.

David Dhawan said, “Vidya Balan was not suitable for this role even though she is a fine actress. This is the only reason we did not sign her for Rascals. I am sure Vidya does not mind as she is a good friend, we will work on another film together”.

By Jilawatan

Having created a niche for herself in the tinsel town, Vidya Balan has now attracted a prestigious honour.
The charming actress is reported to be given the Smita Patil Memorial Award by the Priyadarshini Academy. She said to have been chosen for her outstanding contribution to the film industry. She said to have been chosen for her outstanding contribution to the film industry. Balan garnered much acclaims with her debut movie Parineeta and later went on to create success with her roles in films like Lage Raho Munnabhai, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Paa and Ishqiya.
Incepted in 1984, the academy is an NGO which is engaged in socio-cultural and educational activities. Earlier the award has been won by several personalities namely Preity Zinta, Yash Chopra, Karisma Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Kareena Kapoor.
Talking on why they chose Balan, chairman of the academy Nanik Rupani explained to sources, Vidya Balan is an excellent actress. She is modern yet contemporary and has done decent and powerful roles. Her performance in ‘Paa’ was outstanding.
The award function is reported to be held in Oberoi Hotel (Mumbai) on 19th Sep.

By Jilawatan

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan will be conferred with the Smita Patil Memorial Award for her “outstanding” contribution to the film industry.
“Vidya Balan is an excellent actress. She is modern yet contemporary and has done decent and powerful roles. Her performance in ‘Paa’ was outstanding. Our jury has chosen her for the Smita Patil Award for her outstanding contribution to the film industry,” Priyadarshini Academy chairman Nanik Rupani told IANS.

Priyadarshini Academy is an NGO which is engaged in socio-cultural and educational activities and has been holding the biennial award function since its inception in 1984.

In 2008, Preity Zinta was felicitated with the award. Other celebrities like Yash Chopra, Karisma Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Kareena Kapoor have also been bestowed with this award.

Vidya Balan made her debut with Pradeep Sarkar’s “Parineeta” in 2005 and later on went to give some outstanding performances in “Lage Raho Munnabhai”, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa”, “Paa” and “Ishqiya”.

The ceremony will be held Sep 19 in Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai.

By Jilawatan

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan will be conferred with the Smita Patil Memorial Award for her “outstanding” contribution to the film industry.
“Vidya Balan is an excellent actress. She is modern yet contemporary and has done decent and powerful roles. Her performance in ‘Paa’ was outstanding. Our jury has chosen her for the Smita Patil Award for her outstanding contribution to the film industry,” Priyadarshini Academy chairman Nanik Rupani told IANS.
Priyadarshini Academy is an NGO which is engaged in socio-cultural and educational activities and has been holding the biennial award function since its inception in 1984.
In 2008, Preity Zinta was felicitated with the award. Other celebrities like Yash Chopra, Karisma Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Kareena Kapoor have also been bestowed with this award.
Vidya Balan made her debut with Pradeep Sarkar’s “Parineeta” in 2005 and later on went to give some outstanding performances in “Lage Raho Munnabhai”, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa”, “Paa” and “Ishqiya”.
The ceremony will be held Sep 19 in Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai.

By Jilawatan

If there is anyone in the film industry right now who loves to go Retro then it is surely Vidya Balan. Recently the actress went to the ‘Radio Mirchi’ event of ‘Purani Jeans’ programme to be a part in anchoring for the show as a promotional for her forth coming film’Ishqiya’. She was dressed in a sari with the desi touch and wore her hair loose and long with the look of a village belle. This is the same look she has sported in the film also starring veteran actor Naseerudin Shah and Arshad Warsi.

Vidya who played the role of a Radio Jockey in the film ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ chose to come to real life radio jockeying, and as she is fond of listening to the ‘Purani Jeans’ Retro programme which is on air late into the night said that she enjoys all the old numbers which are very haunting melodies and thus she thought this was the best way to promote their film as well. According to sources she is also very impressed by the great actor Naseerudin Shah who has done a commendable job in the film as well.

The film ‘Ishqiya’ is already in the news because of its unusual star cast and the song’Iban Batuta’ which has all the three that is Naseerudin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan in a very high form due to the drunken state that they are in. The song has also been captured very well on camera and according to sources; the absolute village backdrop has given a very authentic look to the entire film as well. So, till the film releases enjoy the music.