By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan is getting used to focused and sophisticated male attention. In Pennyslvania she was in the company of Anil Kapoor. They both shared the same forum at Wharton last month to lecture on the subject of the globalization of Indian cinema.

Buzz up!
Laughs Vidya, “Anil Kapoor was very charming and gracious. No doubt today he’s the global face of Bollywood. The others on the Bollywood panel were Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Shankar Mahadevan and Namit Malhotra(CEO Prime Focus). So I was quite happy getting all the attention.”

Vidya enjoyed the process of academic interaction. “It reminded me of my days in college at St Xaviers when we had endless discussions on books and social issues. But it was minus-2 degrees in Pennsylvania.”

At one point Vidya had to stop the discussion and ask for the temperature to be increased in the room. The next day she jetted drove down to New York to spend a day with a school friend. She laughs, “I won’t tell you who it was. But I had the most awesome day . It was one of the most memorable days of my life.”

After her lecture at the Wharton Business School in Pennyslvania for a day, then New York Vidya headed for Delhi for the second schedule of Rajkumar Gupta’s No One Killed Jessica.

By Jilawatan

One has often wondered why actors are called to give their views on everything from economics to a cure for cancer. But they invariably are.

Well, Vidya Balan the flavour of the current season — thanks to Paa and Ishqiya was invited to the Wharton School in Pennsylvania and she spoke of mainstream Indian cinema attempting to cross over. Vidya gave gyaan on how Indian cinema was watched in 90 countries across the globe and how Bollywood was poised for bigger and better things. Applauding her were a foreign audience and our very own Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and music director-singer Shankar Mahadevan. Chalo after her foreign stint, it is safe to assume that Vidya now knows a little more about the business of cinema than she knew before. Incidentally, the actress is said to be waiting with bated breath for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Chenab Gandhi that also stars Amitabh Bachchan to start. Actually, why isn’t he starting?

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan spoke on the Globalization of Mainstream Indian Cinema at the14th Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF). Balan, who has never failed to deliver a brilliant performance in her films, was recently invited to the prestigious Wharton School in Pennsylvania to be part of the 14th Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) to speak on the subject of Globalization of Mainstream.

The actress spoke on moving beyond parallel and cross-over films, and how mainstream Indian films are now making their mark on international audiences.

Reveals a source, “Vidya Balan spoke on how mainstream Indian Cinema is going global in every way possible as international production houses including Warner Bros and Disney are producing Indian films, and how Indian movies are being watched by over 90 countries and are consistently recognized across international film festivals.”

Vidya was part of a panel that discussed the achievements, shortcomings, and future prospects of the Indian film industry as it scales new global heights. Others on the panel included Anil Kapoor, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Shankar Mahadevan, and Namit Malhotra.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan is surely going places. The actress has been invited to Wharton to attend the 14th Wharton India Economic Forum (WIFE).

Balan, who is one of the panel member, will be speaking on Film: Globalization of Mainstream Indian Cinema, along with actors Anil Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Prime Focus CEO Namit Malhotra and musician Shankar Mahadevan.

The 14th WIEF will be held at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia on 27 March, 2010. Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor is also among the panel speakers and will be speaking on the topic: Women in India: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.

Balan has just completed one schedule for her forthcoming film No One Killed Jessica, where she plays the character of Jessica’s sister Sabrina Lall. According to information available with Businessofcinema.com, Balan will be at Wharton for the next three days after which she will be finishing some personal work there and will return to Mumbai on 1 April.

Balan has all the reasons to be elated, with critics raving about her roles in films like Paa and Ishqiya and forthcoming films like Chenab Gandhi and No One Killed Jessica to look forward to in 2010.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan has been invited to speak at the prestigious 14th Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF), at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA).

The actress will share the stage at Wharton with the likes of Anil Kapoor, Shankar Mahadevan and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra in a keynote session on ‘Film – Globalisation of Mainstream Indian Cinema’ today (March 27). The WIEF is an annual India-centric conference hosted by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

By Jilawatan

The Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh, is in the news for the film inspired by his life, Bhag Milkha Bhag. It seems Milkha wants the best for the film, which is being directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. He wants Vidya Balan to play his wife.

And before we jump to the conclusion that he is interfering in the film’s making, Milkha gives us an explanation.

The legendary Indian athlete says whenever he looks at his wife, he thinks of Vidya. That’s why he is insisting Vidya should play his better half Nirmal’s role in his biopic.

“Nirmal is a very strong woman and I feel Vidya can portray the character of my wife on screen with dignity. My wife has been instrumental in my life and we have been through lots of ups and downs together. I think only Vidya can do justice to the role,” Milkha says.

He has made his wish known to the director. But Rakeysh doesn’t want to look into the casting till Prasoon Joshi and he finish the final draft of the script. Both Prasoon and Rakeysh strongly feel that since it is a very intense and dramatic story, they would need a performer and not just a good-looking actress.

A source says a lot of unknown facts about Milkha’s personal life will be revealed in the biopic.

The film will depict how a hero was born out of a common man whose parents were killed during the Partition riots.

Milkha ran away from Pakistan in 1947 after witnessing the carnage, which left him orphaned.

When he came to India, his wife played a crucial role in helping him shape his career and become a sports icon.