Rekha says she ‘found a daughter in Vidya Balan', Parineeta was the first film she ever auditioned for: ‘Vidhu Vinod Chopra said you are out if you don't audition'

Indian Express

a day ago

Actress Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan's film Parineeta completed 20 years. To celebrate the milestone, the film's producer, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, hosted a special screening in Mumbai on Monday. The event was attended by Vidya Balan, Rekha, Diya Mirza, and others. While Vidya and Rekha's interaction at the screening won over the internet, Rekha even went on to share an amazing trivia on how she auditioned for this film for the first time in her career.
At the event, she thanked everyone for joining them and showed such a lovely response to the film after 20 years and said, 'This is something we never imagined, we prayed for it, and deep down I knew it, but I never knew that I'd be alive to see this day.' Rekha later went on to share a trivia about bagging the song in Parineeta and said, 'This was the first film in my life, I ever gave an audition for. I didn't even know what it meant back then. Vidhu Vinod Chopra told me that if you don't audition, you are out. Honestly, I am here because of Vidya. When I asked Vidhu who was in the film, he told me Saif, Sanjay, and Vidya, and I asked, 'Who is this Vidya?' Then he said he will send me some footage and I should see it, and only if I felt like doing the film, I should do it. He sent me the song, I saw it, and called up Farazanaji and told her we are doing this film.'
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Also Read: Vidhu Vinod Chopra told Vidya Balan to get a nose job before Parineeta, she was terrified: 'Tera naak bohot lamba hai, surgery karte hain'
Rekha also went on to praise Vidya Balan and said, 'I couldn't take my eyes of Vidya, I couldn't believe she has gotten such an unconventional beauty and approach towards her craft. She was there already before she was born, she was Parineeta. I didn't know the film was made earlier too, for me Parineeta is Vidya Balan. I gained a daughter in Vidya, throughout the making of Kaisi Paheli she sat there without flinching her eyes. After the whole song was done, she came to my vanity van, held my hand and kissed it, saying she has learned so much. But seeing this film, I want to say today, I don't think I have learned as much as I learned watching her.'
In a few paparazzi videos, Vidya Balan was seen sharing a warm hug with Rekha on the red carpet and even during the event. She touched Rekha's feet, winning over the internet. Commenting on Vidya's gesture, a fan wrote, 'Dil jit liya Vidya mam ne (Vidya Mam won hearts).' Another fan commented, 'She has received good values from her parents.' A third user commented, 'Isko kehte hai sanskar (These are called true values).' In another video, Vidya Balan was seen rushing excitedly towards Rekha to greet her, where she kissed her hand and welcomed her to the event.
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Vidya was seen sporting a red saree for the event, and she also performed the Dhunuchi dance at the re-release event.
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In another video, Vidya Balan was also seen dancing with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
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Parineeta will be exclusively re-released in theaters for a week starting August 29th. Parineeta, which was released in 2005, was also Vidya Balan's debut film in Bollywood. Directed by the late Pradeep Sarkar, Parineeta also had Sanjay Dutt, Diya Mirza, and Saif Ali Khan in important roles.
On the work front, Vidya Balan was last seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Do Aur Do Pyaar last year.