By Jilawatan

2010 saw some big budget movies with stars in them tanking in the box office, while there were some indie ventures, which tweaked the sensibilities of not only the actors and producers of the film but the critics and audiences alike. Two stars that retained the sensibilities this year in a way by being attached to such films were Aamir Khan and Vidya Balan. Here is a list of three such indie-films that made their mark in 2010.
‘Peepli Live’: Though Aamir Khan produced the film which is India’s official entry to Oscars, but it is Anusha Rizvis film. In a very subtle and unique way the director mocks the broadcast journalism and serious issue like farmer suicide and the politics that the government plays with it.
‘Ishqiya’: Vidya Balan takes on the role of a widow in this Abhishek Chaubey’s directorial venture under the tutelage of Vishal Bhardwaj. The film had an unconventional script and this indie-venture wowed the audience and critics alike as people were able to relate to the small town experiences in India.

‘LSD’: Produced by Ekta Kapoor the queen of saas-bahu sagas of Indian television, this Dibakar Banerjee film had its share of controversies prior and after its release. The director’s take on the voyeurism on Indian television where it has become a prime time show allured the audience to the theatres while the critics had to sit up and take notice of it too.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan has signed up for another film with Saif Ali Khan after five years. The pair was last seen together in Vinod Chopra’s Parineeta (2005).

This time they come together in Balaji Motion Pictures’ Dream Sequence to be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.

Casting change:
Says a source in Balaji, “Initially, Deepika Padukone was to do the role. The casting of the duo together after Love Aaj Kal had its appeal. But the actress begged off when she heard that the chote nawab was having second thoughts and that Abhay Deol would fill in for him.”

However Saif decided to stay with the project after a long discussion with his Omkara director. Meanwhile, with Deepika gone, there was a fresh hunt for the leading lady. Vidya was part of Bhardwaj-produced Ishqiya.

The actress, director and producer are keen to work together in this film and are currently working on the dates.”

Vidya is already doing Dirty Picture with Balaji and Dream Sequence will be her second film with the company.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan showed audiences her sensual side in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Ishqiya early this year. After getting rave reviews for that performance, the actress has signed on to enact the life and times of one of South India\’s biggest sex-symbols, Silk Smitha, in director Milan Luthria\’s next project called ‘The Dirty Picture’.

Vidya recently did a racy photo- shoot for a magazine for which she has received many compliments.

The actress suffered from a nervous breakdown while shooting for Sujoy Ghosh\’s film Kahaani in Kolkata. So busy is the actress that she has yet to throw a housewarming party for her friends after buying a spacious flat in Mumbai’s Khar in February.

She is also miffed with director Rajkumar Gupta about having Jessica Lal\’s sister Sabrina make a guest appearance in her forthcoming movie No One Killed Jessica. She feels that the least the makers could have done is respect Jessica\’s family privacy and not directly involve Sabrina in the movie.

By Jilawatan

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta is pretty pleased with himself. Not only has he got Vidya Balan on board for his film titled Milte Hain, he has also signed Vishal Bhardwaj to compose the music for it. “Vishal agreed to do the film immediately after reading the script. It’s been a while since Vishal composed music for an outside project, the last being U Me Aur Hum and Haal-E Dil. So it is like a coup for me,” said Gupta, adding that Gulzar is writing the lyrics.
The film, which will be directed by Meghna Gulzar, is an adaptation of Barry Creiton’s play Double Act. It is about a couple that meets 15 months after getting divorced and the drama that follows. “It is a highly successful Australian play that has staged shows all over the US and the UK for the last five years. In fact, there has also been an Indian version, Anything But Love, in which Samir Soni and Mandira Bedi play the lead roles. It is Samir who took me to see the play, and that’s when I saw the potential to adapt it for the big screen. I have already purchased the rights,” Gupta disclosed.
The film will take off early next year and will be shot in England. After this film wraps up, Gupta will start work on the remake of the Spanish hit Ladron Que Roba Ladron which is presently in the scripting stage.

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

Vidya Balan will be seen in an ultra-sensuous and bold character named Krishna in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Ishqiya. The character is poles-apart from her shy Parineeta image. The actress has used abusive language, got drunk and locked lips with Arshad Warsi in the film and says she loved every bit of her character.

Vidya Balan exclaims with enthusiasm, “Somebody thought of casting me in this role after writing it which was a huge thrill for me. It feels nice to get a character like this for an actor like me who has a certain image. I must confess this was my finest role till date.”

She goes on to add, “I knew I could do it but I needed to get rid of my inhibitions. I wanted my character to look extremely comfortable even while using abusive language as if she has been doing it for ages. Normally in films women characters are not that well etched out. They are either black or white. Very few people are able to portray women in a grey shade. I loved the character because she is a very believable woman. A typical Indian woman who can play different roles. She is sometimes Kaali, Durga, Rambha and Saraswati. It is one of those rare experiences.”

Ishqiya has turned out to be the most anticipated movie of the year slated to release on 29 January, 2010.

By Jilawatan

If you find Vidya Balan sporting a bright yellow sari with pink or blue flower prints on it, don’t be surprised! No, her fashion sense hasn’t gone a bit more awry; rather the actress has found a unique way to promote her forthcoming film ‘Ishqiya’.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Ishqiya’ has a rural backdrop where Vidya dons a complete deglamorised village belle avatar. She will be seen wearing loud colors in the film. As a part of promotions, Vidya has started the trend of being her reel self in real too. One look at Vidya’s pictures from social events and parties, and you know what she’s up to

By Jilawatan

The last time they were seen together was during Kismat Konnection. Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan were reportedly seeing each other during that phase, but some crossed connections and several misunderstandings later, they weren’t even on talking terms.

Much water has flowed under the bridge since. But when Vishal Bhardwaj happened to see some promos of Kaminey some days ago, he decided to send a congratulatory message to Shahid. The text he sent to Shahid read: ‘You’re looking damn good in Kaminey. I just saw you again. VB.”

Vishal, who messaged from his new number that Shahid didn’t have, hadn’t the slightest inkling he’d reopen a painful old wound. Shahid was stunned when he read the message because VB was the nickname he had given to Vidya Balan in happier days.

So convinced was he that it could only be Vidya, that instead of calling the number the message came from, he dialed her mobile number that was still saved on his phone. Now it was Vidya’s turn to be stunned when she saw Shahid’s number flashing.
They hadn’t spoken in months and Shahid had made every possible effort to make sure their paths didn’t cross after they decided to go their separate ways.

She took the call, not knowing how to react to the situation. Shahid apparently demanded to know why she was messaging him if she had liked the film and didn’t bother to call. Vidya, who had found her voice by now, told him that she certainly hadn’t sent him any message.

A perplexed Shahid didn’t know what to say. If he’s still wondering how that mix-up happened, we hope this will clear the mystery.

By Jilawatan

Call it just a coincidence or comedy of errors as an unidentified number recently left Shahid Kapoor and his former ‘good friend’ Vidya Balan bewildered!

News has it that during the making of ‘Kismat Konnection,’ Shahid and Vidya came close but after their fall-out, both stars weren’t on talking terms.

However, a few days back when Vishal Bhardwaj saw the rushes of ‘Kaminey’, the director decided to send a laudatory message to Shahid which read: “You’re looking damn good in ‘Kaminey’. I just saw you again. VB.”

Incidentally, Vishal messaged Shahid from his new number that the actor did not have. Undeniably, this congratulatory message opened old wounds as Shahid was visibly stunned because VB was the name he had given to Vidya during their good days.

However, instead of calling the number, Shahid called Vidya in order to clear his doubts that left the actress stunned, as she hadn’t spoken with the actor for a long time. When Shahid enquired from Vidya whether she sent him the congratulatory message, Vidya blankly denied and said that she hadn’t sent any message.

Finally, a perplexed Shahid was left high and dry as wondered how such a big gaffe happened!

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan is on a celebration spree nowadays. After celebrating the success of her recent release Paa; she flew off to her native place (Kerala) to celebrate her birthday. Vidya turned 31 this year.

Our reliable sources reveal, “The celebration was a private affair with close family and friend attending the bash. Great food, pleasant music and good conversation was the agenda of the party.”

After garnering loads of applauds for her superb performance in Paa, Vidya has gone experimental with her roles as she will be seen donning a grey shade- of that of a seductress in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Ishqiya.