Latest news with #KismatKonnection
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
‘You have to look young if you want to work': Vidya Balan on being asked to lose weight to look younger than Shahid Kapoor
Vidya Balan is among the most talented female actors in the industry. A couple of months ago, Vidya talked about how she lost a considerable amount of weight by eliminating inflammation-inducing food. In a recent chat with Filmfare, the actress shared how she was once asked to shed weight to look younger than the male actor. While recalling her experience of working with Aziz Mirza on Kismat Konnection opposite Shahid Kapoor, the actress revealed that she was asked to lose weight. She mentioned that someone told her Shahid is "younger than her, so she has to look younger than him in the movie." Vidya Balan said, 'There was this chatter that you have to look young if you want to work with some of the actors. I remember before I did Kismat Konnection, someone called me and said Shahid is two years younger than you. And you are being cast opposite him. Therefore you have to shed weight and make sure you look even younger than him. And of course the world has changed now.' Though the movie didn't work at the box office, its music emerged as massively popular among the audience. Presently, Shahid Kapoor is 44 years old, while Vidya is two years older than him. Vidya Balan's weight loss journey: How did the actress lose 10 kgs without exercise? In an earlier interview with Galatta India, Vidya Balan revealed following a nutritious diet by eliminating inflammation-inducing food items. The actress mentioned a Chennai-based nutritional group, Amura, which asked her to stop working out and to include anti-inflammatory food items in her diet. 'They eliminated food that was not suiting me. They asked me to stop working out, and I haven't worked out all year,' said the actress. The Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 actress mentioned that following the particular diet has worked efficiently for her. She further stated that she lost kilos of weight, for which she struggled all her life. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vidya Balan recalls the shocking advice she got before starring opposite a younger actor
Pressured to Look Younger Facing Criticism, Finding a Turning Point Despite her talent and acclaim, Vidya Balan has faced constant scrutiny over her appearance throughout her career in Bollywood. One such instance came to light recently when she opened up about being asked to lose weight for her role in the 2008 film Kismat Konnection, where she starred opposite Shahid Kapoor. Her revelation sheds light on the long-standing pressures female actors face in the industry—where looking younger and thinner often takes precedence over in an interview with Filmfare, Vidya Balan recalled being advised to lose weight before filming Kismat Konnection. She shared that someone had informed her Shahid Kapoor, who is two years younger than her, was cast opposite her—implying she would need to appear younger than him on screen. The advice wasn't subtle: she was told directly that shedding weight would help her look more suitable for the the time, such requests were not uncommon. Balan noted that there was widespread chatter in the industry that actresses needed to look younger if they wanted to be cast opposite certain male stars. While such comments might be less acceptable today, they were an industry norm for issue didn't end with a single film. Vidya explained that up until 2019, almost every movie project began with a conversation about weight loss. Directors and producers would ask her to attend meetings, only to suggest she slim down—even for roles that did not necessarily require it. She admitted that these conversations became mentally exhausting. Despite maintaining a demanding fitness routine, she often felt that her body was being pushed beyond healthy one point, she was working out rigorously and eating very little, yet saw no results. Looking back, she recognized that her body was under distress and that the extreme efforts were doing more harm than 2007 and 2009, Balan faced heavy criticism for her fashion choices and weight, especially during films like Heyy Babyy and Kismat Konnection. This period made her question her place in the industry. But everything changed with the release of Ishqiya in 2010. Playing a femme fatale for the first time, she rediscovered her love for acting. The film's success not only shifted perceptions but also gave her the confidence to take on more diverse and unconventional credited Ishqiya as a defining moment that helped her rise above the noise. The collaboration with director Abhishek Chaubey and co-stars Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi gave her the space to perform without the usual pressures tied to the incident from Kismat Konnection occurred over a decade ago, Balan acknowledged that some things have changed. The rise of body positivity and increasing awareness of mental health have made it easier for actors to speak openly about unrealistic expectations. Social media has also played a role in allowing artists to connect directly with their audiences, pushing back against harmful industry Vidya Balan is seen as one of Bollywood's strongest voices for body acceptance. Her recent appearance in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, alongside Madhuri Dixit and Kartik Aaryan, was well received. Around the film's release, she drew attention once again for her physical transformation, but this time it was on her own terms, achieved through a health-focused anti-inflammatory Shahid Kapoor is currently working on his upcoming film Arjun Ustara, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, with Triptii Dimri as the female lead. The film is reportedly based on the life of gangster Hussain Ustara.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Vidya Balan Recalls Feeling Pressured To Lose Weight For Roles: "I Was Training Like Crazy, Barely Eating"
Vidya Balan has always been a vocal advocate of body positivity. She is unafraid of speaking her mind, often weighing in on the beauty standards in the film industry. Recently, the 46-year-old recalled the time when she was asked to shed weight for her 2009 film Kismat Konnection. Vidya Balan, in a conversation with Filmfare, revealed, 'There was this chatter that you have to look young if you want to work with some of the actors. I remember before I did Kismat Konnection, someone called me and said Shahid is two years younger than you. And you are being cast opposite him. Therefore, you have to shed weight and make sure you look even younger than him. Till 2019, every film came with a side note of, 'Can you shed some weight?'.' The actress, who was last seen in the 2024 film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, added that the constant negative remarks took a toll on her mental and physical health. She said, 'There was a phase where I was training like crazy, barely eating. I had chronic body pain and swelling but I kept going.' Vidya Balan added that even her trainer could not explain what was going on in her body, which later turned out to be a hormonal issue. Eventually, Vidya Balan came with a stern response to the body-shaming. She used to tell them, 'If you want someone else's body type, cast them. If you want me, take me as I am. 'Previously, Vidya Balan talked about how she turned a deaf ear to naysayers giving her weight loss 'gyan'. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor shared, 'I think I'm shamelessly optimistic. I've so much self-belief. I've put myself out there at my biggest and not batted an eyelid. I've had people tell me I should work on myself, that I should shed weight. But I actually believe there's nothing wrong with me." Read all about it here. Workwise, Vidya Balan is currently seen in the Marathi television series, Kamali.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vidya Balan reveals she was asked to look younger than Shahid Kapoor in Kismat Konnection: ‘You have to shed weight'
Fresh onscreen pairs are always welcomed with open arms in Bollywood. Back in 2008, we were introduced to one such unexpected jodi when the film Kismat Konnection released, starring talented actors Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan in the lead. The Aziz Mirza directorial followed the story of Raj Malhotra aka Shahid, an out-of-luck architect, and his lucky charm Priya, played by Vidya, who was an out-of-love social activist. Sadly the film flopped at the box office, but the music emerged as a big hit amongst fans. But did you know Vidya was asked to shed weight before shooting? Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan in Kismat Konnection In a recent chat with Filmfare, Vidya Balan got candid about the same and shared, 'There was this chatter that you have to look young if you want to work with some of the actors. I remember before I did Kismat Konnection, someone called me and said Shahid is two years younger than you. And you are being cast opposite him. Therefore you have to shed weight and make sure you look even younger than him. And of course the world has changed now.' For the uninitiated, Shahid Kapoor (44) and Vidya Balan (46) have a two year age gap. Currently, Shahid is busy gearing up for his next titled Arjun Ustara. Also starring Triptii Dimri in the lead, the action thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj is rumoured to be based on the life of Hussain Ustara, a gangster known for his rivalry with Dawood Ibrahim. Vidya, on the other hand, was last seen in Anees Bazmee's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 alongside Kartik Aaryan and Madhuri Dixit as Manjulika. Around the release of her horror comedy, Vidya was in the news due to her significant weight loss all thanks to an anti-inflammatory diet which the actor followed. She is yet to announce her next project.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Vidya Balan Recalls Being Asked To Look ‘Younger' Than Shahid Kapoor In Kismat Konnection
Last Updated: Vidya Balan revealed that before she did Kismat Konnection, she received a call from someone asking her to lose weight and ensure she looked younger than Shahid Kapoor. Bollywood actress Vidya Balan recently opened up about experiencing body shaming in the film industry. While acknowledging that things have improved over the years, she recalled she was once asked to look 'younger' than her male co-star Shahid Kapoor for the 2008 film Kismat Konnection. She said that she received a call from someone who reminded her that Shahid is two years younger than her, and that she would have to lose weight to make sure she looks younger than him. While speaking with Filmfare, Vidya Balan said, 'There was this chatter that you have to look young if you want to work with some of the actors. I remember before I did Kismat Konnection, someone called me and said Shahid is two years younger than you. And you are being cast opposite him. Therefore you have to shed weight and make sure you look even younger than him. And of course the world has changed now." She further added, 'Until 2019, on every single film, I'd get a call from the producer, director. They would ask for a meeting and they would say 'Can you shed some weight?' I would be like 'Listen, I am not sitting on my haunches doing nothing. If I could, I would do it for myself, forget any film!' But those things are not nice. If you want someone with a different kind of body, go to that person. You want someone like me with my kind of person, then come to me. Because even for the most regular character, they would want me to be thinner." She further added that there was a phase when she had put on a lot of weight. 'And I was exercising like a beast. And today there is the awareness that I was actually harming myself., My body was in distress. I was so frustrated. I was barely eating. I was killing it in the gym. And I kept feeling like Oh maybe I am not pushing myself enough," said Vidya Balan. Kismat Konnection, starring Vidya Balan and Shahid Kapoor, was directed by Aziz Mirza. The film was released on July 18, 2008. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
