Latest news with #Parineeta
Pink Villa
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
20 Years Of Vidya Balan: From Parineeta to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, celebrating the glorious box office run of one of India's most successful actresses
Today, Vidya Balan is celebrating 20 years in Bollywood. She continues essaying commanding roles in a fiercely competitive industry and it goes to show her longevity as an actress. From her subtle and endearing performance in Parineeta (2005), to her spooky and powepacked performance in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024), Vidya has come a long way. In her winning journey, she has made herself, innumerable fans who continue to be enamoured by her work after two decades. Over the last two decades, Vidya Balan has not only carved a niche as one of India's most versatile actresses but also established herself as a rare star who can carry films on her shoulders, delivering box office hits along with critical acclaim. Her journey, driven by iconic roles and bold choices, reflects her growth as an actor and her ability to redefine the narrative of the Hindi film heroine. Vidya essayed the role of a poised Bengali girl, Lalita in Parineeta (2005). The film was praised for its aesthetic and it earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Although it was not a major box office success, it netted around Rs 17 crore; a significant number given how poorly films performed, then. Vidya's enchanting screen presence signaled the arrival of an actress who could take up complex roles. Vidya's early years showed her versatility, with roles like a radio jockey in the blockbuster Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), which netted Rs 75 crore, and the iconic Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), which amassed a staggering Rs 49 crore net in India. These films, along with other successes like Heyy Baby, Paa, Ishqiya and No One Killed Jessica, established her as a recognised actor whose movies people would want to watch in theatres for what she brought onto the table. The turning point in Vidya's career came with The Dirty Picture (2011), a bold biopic inspired by Silk Smitha. Playing an unapologetic starlet, Vidya delivered a career-defining performance that earned her a National Film Award for Best Actress. The film was a game-changer, proving that a female-led film could dominate the box office. It collected Rs 80 crore net in India, a staggering figure for a woman-centric film at the time. Vidya's fearless portrayal shattered stereotypes and cemented her as a box office queen who could drive a film's success. Following this, Kahaani (2012) further solidified her ability to shoulder a film. As Vidya Bagchi, a pregnant woman searching for her missing husband in Kolkata, she delivered a gripping performance in Sujoy Ghosh's thriller. The film, made on a modest Rs 8 crore budget, became a surprise hit, grossing Rs 58 crore net in India. Vidya's box office draw and the film's word-of-mouth drove it towards emerging a cult success. Vidya Balan Has Had An Inspiring Journey In Bollywood Vidya Balan did have a lul phase in her filmy career where films didn't live up to the standards of a film featuring her. However, there never was a film where Vidya's performance was pointed fingers at. She has always given a 100 percent to the films she has acted in. It's because of the different kind of films that she has done over the last 20 years, that she still continues to be exciting to an average moviegoer. Actors have gotten typecasted for playing similar looking roles, but that has never been the case with the Tumhari Sulu actress because of her conscious choices. In the post-pandemic world, apart from being instrumental in the mammoth success of 2024's 2nd highest Bollywood grosser Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Vidya experimented by being in a very varied list of films like Neeyat, a murder mystery, Jalsa, a psychological thriller and Do Aur Do Pyaar, a mature rom-com. It's her security as an actress that allows her to take films that are non-commercial in nature. We wish Vidya, many more years of delivering audience-pleasing as well as clutter-breaking cinema.
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Vidya Balan says Vidhu Vinod Chopra cast her as Parineeta after seeing anger in her eyes, thought she was giving him gaali: Parineeta turns 20
Over two decades ago, Vidya Balan was at an Enrique Iglesias concert in Mumbai when she got a call from producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra. He said he wouldn't wait till the concert was over and instructed her to walk out. When an irritated Vidya complied, she heard the words, 'You are my Parineeta,' as Hero played in the background. 'I can be your hero, baby' has been Vidya's motto ever since, as the actor has headlined films at a time when her contemporaries were happy playing the second fiddle. In fact, she's the first female actor after Dimple Kapadia (Bobby, 1975) who was launched into the movies as the titular character. 'I'm not complaining,' she says, laughing, in an exclusive interview with SCREEN on the 20-year anniversary of her debut film, late Pradeep Sarkar's 2005 period romance Parineeta. Pradeep Sarkar had worked with you on three music videos before he launched you in his directorial debut Parineeta. He was your mentor, and wrote the script with you in mind. Did you feel then your debut would be a cakewalk? I didn't know how it worked. I didn't come from the business. I didn't have any friends here who could tell me the producer also had a say. I didn't know what the role of a producer is, besides putting in the money. Studios were new at that time, so I didn't know what their contribution was. In Dada's very first meeting with Vidhu Vinod Chopra, he told him, 'I want to cast a star. it's the title role. Are you crazy? You want to cast a newcomer?' So Dada came back to the office. We were one big team and we had this shared dream. So when he told me, I was heartbroken, but I didn't let him see that. I told him, 'If you're going to make the film you wanted, you should go ahead.' Then I came out of the office and cried. It came so close, and it's not happening again! They spoke to a lot of actors. They showed great interest, but Dada wasn't convinced. And Vinod Chopra is also a director, right? He understood Dada's conviction and said, 'Okay, I'll give you a chance to audition her.' You gave quite a few auditions then. Did you get frustrated of why Vinod Chopra can't see what Pradeep Sarkar did in you? No, I didn't. As a matter of fact, I had gone through a spate of rejections in the South, where I'd signed the films and then they didn't materialize. So I thought maybe this isn't going to work out for me. But with every audition, I was giving my best. It's rubbish that I gave some 40 auditions and 17 makeup trials. That's far from true. There were three or four tests. But I was a bit frustrated because at one point, they wanted to do a modern take on Parineeta so we did a scene in that setup. Then they said they wanted to see it in a traditional setup. And Saif Ali Khan was also there because they wanted to see our chemistry. He had just had Hum Tum (2004) so it was amazing Saif did this. They even got me to do a lip-sync test. Then they changed the hairstyle. Then Binod Pradhan, the cinematographer, came to me and said, 'I've shot you in so many ad films. When the camera comes on, you always enjoy yourself. But I'm not seeing that enjoyment in you. You're not being yourself. Forget about it, film hui ki nahi hui, you just enjoy yourself. Baki dekha jayega. And actually in that test, I did that and that was the clincher. So I'll always be grateful to Binod Pradhan for saying that to me at the right time. Have you asked Vinod Chopra after that what was the clincher for him? The first shot of Parineeta has me turn into the camera and the title appears. We were trying to do that shot for the audition because they wanted an indescribable emotion there. I was so frustrated by then because it wasn't just Parineeta, but also three years of not working before that. I'd reached my wit's end. Vinod Chopra said he saw anger in my eyes in that shot. He said, 'Tu mujhe gaali de rahi thi, mujhe dikh raha tha' (laughs). That's not true, but my frustration and anger would've shown. That's the reason he gave me the part. I believe Saif was also not convinced of a newcomer being cast opposite him initially. Did you feel that while working with him? I was just happy Saif and Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) agreed to do the film with me finally, whatever their reasons. But I have to say Saif and I didn't have any conversations on that film. We hardly spoke with each other. Also, Saif was going through some personal stuff then (divorce with Amrita Singh) so he was preoccupied between takes. It's not like we struck a friendship. I think maybe that also helped the chemistry in the film. I've said a million times, and I'll say it a million times again, when I say superstar, for me, it means Sanjay Dutt. He's just larger than life. He's just so wonderful, I absolutely love him. Is there anything common between you and your character Lalita? The fact that she's very patient (laughs). I don't know if I'm as patient 20 years since, but at that time, I was definitely a very patient person considering all that I was going through. I've got a lot of resilience in me. And when I love, I love deeply. How much do you miss Pradeep Sarkar today? He was my mentor in every way. I never thought he'd not be around for the 20th anniversary! It's crazy when you think of it. He went very young. I feel angry and frustrated sometimes because he would never took care of his health. His wife kept doing her best to keep him healthy, but there's only so much one can do, right? But he was so obsessed with his work. Parineeta also established your image as a deeply rooted Indian actor. Had they gone ahead with the modern take, do you think your career would have shaped differently? I don't know if it'd have been different, but I like the path my career took and the kind of work I got. I played an author-backed role in my first film, that's a big deal! For someone who doesn't belong to this business, I got the opportunity to do this! So they saw what I could do with that. I may not have gotten the opportunities I did had I started any other way. Also, at heart, I'm most comfortable being an Indian. I don't know how to describe that adequately, but I romanticize everything that's Indian. So I'm very glad they went that route. I love the way the women dressed in that era, in the 1960s. We didn't see being feminine and sensual as being weak in cinema at that time. I was getting to explore that. Since it was a love story, and I was being wooed by two men, they had to really make me look my best. Every strain in Parineeta is like a painting. Since you got such a grand debut, did you struggle with sustaining your momentum post Parineeta? Not at all! I had Lage Raho Munna Bhai, which was a massive success. I did seven films in the next two years. I worked with some of the biggest filmmakers — Mani Ratnam (Guru, 2007), Nikkhil Advani (Salaam-E-Ishq, 2007), Rajkumar Santoshi (Halla Bol, 2008). I was working with some big actors and banners. I was over the moon! I also got substantial parts. Some of those films worked, some didn't, but I was still receiving a lot of love. Then in 2007-08, I realized I needed to now take the next leap in my career. I don't think it was a conscious decision, but I responded to the opportunity that came my way. When Ishqiya (2010) happened, I jumped into it head long. I really enjoyed it. And that pretty much set the tone for the rest of my career. In these 20 years, what have you learnt about how the film industry works? And what have you learnt about yourself? I remember Siddharth (Roy Kapur, producer, husband) told me a few years ago, and it struck me that it's so true. The film industry is the most accepting of places. It doesn't matter what your religious belief or sexuality is, where you live, what you eat, what the colour of your skin is, or the size of your waist is. Nothing matters. It's a place of equal opportunity. I hope we never lose that and become a political place. We're above that. I know people talk about nepotism, but that's not been my reality. If you let something affect you, it will. I have come to love and accept myself the way more and more with each passing day and year. I don't have to try to be anyone else, but myself. There were a few years where I was at my biggest, and I was still playing the lead in films. So this really is a place that doesn't discriminate. What's the ambition for the next 20 years? I just want to do out-and-out entertainers right now. That's my current state of mind. I don't know main kal kya bolungi. But for the past couple of years, I've been feeling I want to have fun while telling stories. Every two years, that state of mind changes and that dictates the kind of genres I do. Is this because of the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3? I think Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 happened because I was feeling this way. Also Read — Anil Kapoor on 10 years of Dil Dhadakne Do: 'My son Harshvardhan Kapoor convinced me to play Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra's father' Finally, do you think today, a female actor can be launched as the titular character by a big production house with a theatrical release? Oh, absolutely. That's hugely possible. It's just that we're going through a tough time at this point because a lot of films haven't been working. But I do think it's a phase. And we should use this phase to rediscover ourselves and the kind of stories we're telling and how we're telling them. But there will come a time when we'll make all kinds of movies. The theatre-going experience is not going anywhere.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive! Vidya Balan on 20 years in Hindi cinema: I don't think I was a game-changer, I don't carry that baggage
Vidya Balan The world may hail her as a game-changer, a sherni who roared her way through Bollywood's rulebook — but Vidya Balan doesn't see it that way. Twenty years in Hindi cinema, and she is still dancing to her own rhythm. The actor, who defied norms, wants to be free of those tags and labels – free of that baggage. There's a newfound lightness about her, yet she's just as fiercely passionate about her craft as she was two decades ago. In this deeply personal interview with us, she talks about her inner battles, her evolution shaped by heartbreak and healing – and all the joy that went into it. If you could relive one moment from your 20-year journey in Hindi cinema, which one would it be? The premiere of Parineeta in Amsterdam. I don't remember watching the film, as that memory is a blur. It's like your wedding day ( laughs ). What I remember is standing up on that stage along with the cast and looking at the world. It was a full house. It was something about that moment – this is what I had always wanted. I didn't know if there was a road ahead, but I felt I had reached the summit. That moment has stayed with me. It's like I walked up with my back to the audience, and when I turned to the world, my world had changed. Vidya Balan played a range of characters in films like Kahaani, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, The Dirty Picture, Parineeta and Tumhari Sulu In your early days, how did you deal with stereotypes and industry expectations of how an actress should be? You've never been apologetic about the characters you've played – whether it was flawed, sensual, loud or silent. How did you stay so true to your choices? I don't think I did anything consciously. It's just the way I am made. I am shamelessly accepting of my dreams and aspirations. I don't think anything was stopping me from being a conventional heroine. Also, I never thought of myself as unconventional and different – these were the tags given to me. I wanted to be like all the actresses I had admired over the years. With every opportunity I got, I made the most of it – whether it was Guru with Mani Ratnam , Halla Bol with Rajkumar Santoshi or Salaam-E-Ishq with Nikkhil Advani. I played the lead in these films, but they were all different. That is who I am and that began to find expression. When there is success, you are okay being seen for who you are. There are two films where I feel I didn't do my best – Heyy Baby y and Kismat Konnection . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Wien: Hansaton sucht 250 Testhörer vor 1972 geboren Hansaton Jetzt anmelden Undo People enjoyed those films, but I got a lot of criticism for it. Vidya Balan's first photoshoot with Bombay Times It must have been shattering at that point. Would you say there were many such breaking points in your career, from where you had to rebuild your confidence, renew your spirit and rise again? It happened at various points. After The Dirty Picture and Kahaani , many of my films didn't work and I was going through a persecution complex. I felt everyone was out to get me. I began to assume a certain kind of self-importance thinking everyone was talking about me. Everyone is not talking about you, but you feel that because you are only looking at yourself. I thought, why is my dressing such a problem? Today, when I look back, yes, it was a huge problem, as I was not doing anything that I liked doing. I am so grateful for that period, those films, the criticism, the nasty things that people said and the humiliating experiences – it made me realise what is the kind of work I want to do. Who am I really? I slowly started embracing myself. It was tough and it came with a lot of heartbreak. I feel my father has given me a certain fearlessness to be myself and my mom has given me faith and that has taken me a long way. When did the feeling of being comfortable with who you are — your work, your body — finally come in? After The Dirty Picture, I was going through some health issues and the weight kept going up. I had also got married, so people thought that I was taking it easy. Every few months, there'd be a rumour that I was pregnant. I wanted to be invisible in those days, and that is a horrible place to be in. I was at my lowest professionally and personally because of the way I was viewing myself. I've been with a healer for the past 14 years, and that has been a huge help. It is a lifelong process. I feel now everyone goes through it and a lot more. At that point, I felt that I was being singled out and judged for everything. Today, I am more in touch with who I am. If you met the Vidya of 2005 today, the Vidya who was on the cusp of becoming a star, what would you tell her? I would say don't try too hard. I've spent a lot of time trying too hard. Be yourself and go with the flow. Don't think of where, what, when and how it will happen. It will all happen. Deep down, even I knew that, yet I needed life to teach me that through my journey. Siddharth Roy Kapur and Vidya Balan on their wedding day In 2012, when your career was soaring, you married Siddharth (Roy Kapur) — despite having once said that marriage wasn't really on the cards. Thirteen years in, has the experience changed your perspective? Yes, I didn't want to get married at all. Even today I don't think partnerships are easy and I don't think marriage is easy. But the fact that we both are from the industry is a blessing, because if anyone can understand our work and life, it is people from the same business. Now I've come to understand that marriage is always work in progress, it's learning, unlearning, relearning and growing together. Siddharth and I never give each other advice, but we are fully supportive of each other and respect how passionate we are about what we do. I feel blessed to have a partner who lets me be. He is my anchor. Your perspective on marriage has changed, but what were the beliefs or fears that made you resist it initially? Earlier, I could never see myself getting married because I felt marriage was about domestication. I often wondered who my mother would have been if she hadn't been married. I don't know if she wondered that though. I always felt ki mujhe shaadi nahin karni hai. Also, I have always wanted to be better than the boys, so a long partnership with a boy seemed impossible. Come to think of it, maybe I never competed with the girls because I always thought the boys were my real competition. At the gym, I would lift heavier weights than the boys. We are two sisters, and I do think that my mom subconsciously wanted a boy, as she already had a girl. In our extended family, there were mostly girls, so the ones with boys were given that much more importance. These are very subconscious things, and I picked up on all those cues and I thought I will be better than the boys. Maybe that explains my career, too, in a way… don't you think? Perhaps, a lot of my hormonal issues were an outcome of this rejection of the feminine part of me and I fought it, as I wanted to constantly prove that I was better than the boys. But marriage has allowed me to accept that side of me. Maybe, it has made me realise that I'm not lesser and don't need to be better than the boys to be good enough. I'm good enough just being me…wholly me!
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukerji rejected THIS film, was then offered to..., made lead actress overnight star, earned Rs..., film is...
Vidya Balan is undeniably one of Bollywood's most exceptional actresses, with a career spanning decades. She's carved a niche for herself with her remarkable talent and bold, unconventional roles. But it's her iconic performance in Priyadarshan's 2007 thriller-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa, where she played the dual roles of Avni and the seductive Manjulika, that catapulted her to stardom overnight. Vidya Balan in Bhool Bhulaiyaa Vidya, who made her highly acclaimed debut in Pradeep Sarkar's Parineeta, dazzled viewers with her faultless performance. She costarred with Akshay Kumar, Ameesha Patel, and Shiney Ahuja in Bhool Bhulaiyaa two years after her debut. In this film, which is a remake of the 1993 Malayalam classic Manichitrathazhu, Vidya played a nuanced and difficult role. Vidya Balan wasn't Priyadarshan's first choice? You might be surprised to learn that Vidya Balan wasn't filmmaker Priyadarshan's first choice for Bhool Bhulaiyaa, even though it is difficult to picture another actress playing the parts of Manjulika or Avni nowadays. Aishwarya Rai was initially offered the part, but she turned it down because she wasn't sure she wanted to portray a haunted figure. The role, then, was offered to Rani Mukerji as well, but she showed little interest. Ultimately, Vidya Balan was cast in the part, and her natural portrayal brought her international acclaim. About Bhool Bhulaiyaa When Bhool Bhulaiyaa was released on October 12, 2007, it was a critical and financial triumph. The movie made nearly Rs 82 crore globally on a stated budget of Rs 32 crore. Paresh Rawal, Manoj Joshi, and Rajpal Yadav had important parts in the horror comic drama as well.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vidya Balan reveals how Akshaye Khanna once ‘fired' her. Actress asked John Abraham to 'save' her
Sometimes, even the most seasoned stars have awkward beginnings, and Vidya Balan 's journey is full of charming, funny missteps. In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, the acclaimed actress recalled one such light-hearted incident from her early days, involving co-star Akshaye Khanna and a moment of rookie panic that led her to seek rescue from none other than John Abraham . Vidya shared that she had once turned down a film opposite Akshaye Khanna because she didn't connect with the script, but felt too nervous to decline it herself. Instead, she asked her manager to do it on her behalf. The awkwardness came full circle when the two later met on the sets of Salaam-e-Ishq . 'Akshaye fired me,' Vidya said, for rejecting his script. She admits running to her co-star, John Abraham and said, 'Please save me!' She also added that she was new and didn't want a confrontation. It was only later that she realised that Akshaye was only teasing her. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like I lost my wife, now my son is in danger, please help him! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo When Vidya and Akshaye shared screen space The two eventually worked together in Salaam-e-Ishq, a romantic drama directed by Nikkhil Advani . The 2007 film is an unofficial adaptation of Love Actually, and features six interwoven love stories played out by a star-studded ensemble cast including Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan , Priyanka Chopra, Govinda, Juhi Chawla, and others. Vidya Balan's journey so far From her early days on the sitcom Hum Paanch to making a powerful Hindi film debut with Parineeta, Vidya Balan has built a stellar reputation for choosing strong, meaningful roles. Known for hits like Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Kahaani, and The Dirty Picture, she is celebrated for portraying layered female characters in mainstream cinema. After a brief hiatus, she made a successful comeback with Tumhari Sulu and Mission Mangal. Most recently, she was seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 .
