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

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

Kamal Haasan misses his space at FICCI Frames 2010 but Vidya Balan, Yash Chopra & Sanjana Kapoor lead the talk about cinema’s future.

Vidya Balan Sanjana Kapoor Future of Film marketing, future of music industry and the challenges of developing Animation / Gaming industry in India, Day 3 of FICCI Frames 2010 saw expert panels discussing the future.

On one such panel, comprising personalities like filmmaker Yash Chopra, actress Vidya Balan, theatre person Sanjana Kapoor, music composers Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani; the topic of discussion was ‘Entertaining India in the next decade’. Unfortunately, Kamal Haasan and Resul Pookutty, who were also to join the panel, had to give FICCI Frames 2010 a miss.

Though the panel was a diverse one, there was a common point voiced from across the board. All agreed that the audience’ acceptance to newer ideas has given rise to experimentation with filmmaking techniques and stories which will continue motivating directors and producers to chose diverse subjects and take entertainment to the next level.

Vidya Balan initiated the discussion by throwing light on some important points. She said, “India is a diverse nation and our cinema in the future will reflect the same diversity in filmmaking too. Indian audience’ has matured and is now accepting films like Dev.D. This acceptance will only strengthen the conviction of the new age directors,” noted Vidya.

Talking about technological advancements, Vidya said, “Animation movies have a great market in India. We have seen that with the recent ‘Avatar’. For now, the animation we see in India is mostly imported; I see animation and 3D films becoming a big source of entertainment in the future.”

Yash Chopra, who is also the FICCI chairman, added to Vidya’s thoughts. He said, “Our industry today is full of young boys with brilliant ideas. Audience is accepting newer subjects and 3D and digital is the way to go in the future,” Chopra said further adding, “The medium might change though – from theatre, TV screens, mobile devices and so on, but what will win is ‘Content’. If the content is good, your film will work.”

Also touching upon the ever increasing piracy, Yash Chopra said, “When a person makes a movie, he wants his movie’s worth. But our movies, our content is available for free due to pirates. Filmmakers are losing out on their legitimate money. This is something the film fraternity, government of India and internet companies should come together and fight against.”

Seconding the opinion, Vidya said, “Indian audience goes to the theatres for the cinematic experience. With more and more 3D films being made in the future, piracy will come under control. People won’t like to see a 3D movie at home and miss out on the visual effect they can enjoy in a theatre,” Vidya observed.

The discussion then shifted from the future of films to the future of theatre in the next decade with celebrated theatre artist Sanjana Kapoor taking the lead. Sanjana said, “The thirst and need of the audience and of artist’s to see and perform live will keep theatre alive. With the ever booming technological environment, theatre will change too,” said Sanjana highlighting a very interesting aspect, “With the help of technology, in the future you might see theatre floors made touch sensitive that can play sound, change light and effect other such changes as the artist performs on stage.”

But all is not rosy for theatre. Sanjana pointed out, “Just like more screens in a multiplex has provided for exhibiting space for small budget films, theatre needs space too. Right now theatre is simply surviving, but to thrive, we need more space. Government should come forward and intervene,” Sanjana signed off.

Concluding the discussion, Yash Chopra summed up that with innovative story ideas and technological advancement Indian cinema is not far away from making a major breakthrough in Hollywood and other western markets.

By Jilawatan

There is a strong buzz in the industry circles that Vidya Balan has been signed by Yash Chopra for his directorial next. It is the same project which was supposed to star Aamir Khan along with Preity Zinta.

By Jilawatan

Vidya Balan has always faced criticism for her weight and lack of fashion ssense, but this time Balan is out to give an answer to the critics.

Not only she has lost ten kilos but has also decided to move to Sabyasachi for her own styling.

Her new avatar was just too adorable as she appeared at hotel Ramada Plaza for the launch of an all-new brand Dabur Uveda – Skincare Expert from Ayurveda. She looked slim and in shape in her red and black salwar kameez.

Her career is also on a roll. She stars opposite the junior and senior Bachchan in ‘Pa’ and also has Vishal Bharadwaj’s next called ‘Ishqiya’, where she will be seen opposite Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi.

She has also been signed by Yash Chopra’s next to be directed by Yash Chopra himself. It is the same project which was supposed to star Aamir Khan along with Preity Zinta.

By Jilawatan

Rumours are rippling through the hills of Mumbai suggesting that Yash Chopra himself has approached Vidya Balan to star opposite Aamir Khan in a love story that will hit the floors early next year aimed for a heavily-promoted Diwali release. It’s a sign of Vidya’s growing stature in the industry that she seems able to be walk effortlessly from a Bachchan project – Pa – into such a prominent project.

Meanwhile, Vidya has dropped her stylist Manish Malhotra for Sabayachi, the one the cast used for Pa. “Sabya has styled my look in Pa,” she explains, “It’s a very organic look. But organic or ayurvedic, I am all for it.”

With the shooting for Pa behind her, Vidya is now working with Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi on Ishqiya- a love triangle with a difference as Arshad plays Naseer’s nephew in the movie. For the first time on screen, Naseer has dyed his hair to fit the part. “That’s right,” he confirms, “I’m supposed to be this 40-year-old rake doing naughty things, like wooing the neighbourhood widow Vidya Balan. Giving me competition in the endeavour is my screen nephew Arshad Warsi. So my character has to really pull up his socks to vie for the lady’s attentions.”

By Jilawatan

Yash Chopra has taken hi vow back that he would never cast Vidya Balan in his films.

The damsel seems to have refused the earlier tow films Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Laga Chuni Mein Daag.

Vidya after hearing the script of these two films had refused to act in them. This refusal had infuriated Yash Chopra to vow of not taking her in any of his films.

But as a script came up that was suitable to Vidya’s preference, the older Chopra called her himself and offered the role.

And this time, Vidya got third time lucky and accepted the offer. She would be starring opposite Aamir Khan in the film.

Now, that something none of our heroine in the industry can do, we bet!