Vidya loves ‘variety’
Balan says she became an actor to “live different people’s lives”
It has been 12 years since Vidya Balan made her Bollywood debut with Parineeta. Ever since, the actor has gone on to play a variety – happy, intense and comedy – of characters. But for the past couple of years, Vidya has mostly donned intense avatars, which is set to change with her next, Tumhari Sulu. HT Café does a quick chat with the actor about a break from heavyduty parts and more.
This year, you played an intensee part in Begum Jaan, and now you ou will play a vivacious person in your next. As an actor, does it give you a big kick?
Absolutely! I just love the variety of roles that I have been getting to play through these years and I hope that variety gets even more varied. d. What I mean to say is that I hope the variety only increases because just thinking about these two starkly different characters is so exciting. So, while Begum m Jaan was intense with my character being dark and angry, Sulu is positive and quirky. So, these are like two ends of the spectrum. There is nothing common between them, and that’s the reason why I became an actor, so that I could live different people’s lives and tell different kinds of stories. So yes, it’s extremely exciting.
Your last few films such as Begum Jaan, Kahaani 2 (2016), Te3n (2016) and Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015) saw you in heavyduty avatars. Were you looking for a break?
Yes, that’s so true. I can’t tell you how big a joy it was to be able to laugh on screen. Someone who knows me always tells me, ‘Oh my God, you have got such a crazy sense of humour.’ Otherwise also, people tell me, ‘You are so much fun, and why don’t you do fun characters?’ So now in my new film, I am smiling in wholesale [quantities]. And of course, the timing couldn’t have been better. After doing intense films for the past couple of years, I think this was more than welcome.
I just love the variety of roles that I’ve been getting to play through these years and I hope that variety gets even more varied. VIDYA BALAN, ACTOR
You have acted in a variety of films such as Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), Kismat Konnection (2008), The Dirty Picture (2011) and Kahaani (2012) among others. But what kind of parts — happy or serious ones — are closer to your heart? I think honestly, my choice of films or role is very instinctive so I invariably choose scripts that respond to my state of mind. Touchwood, I think, I am in a happy space right now, so maybe that’s why I got drawn to this role. Nothing is easy and, at the same time, nothing is difficult if you enjoy it. So, I have enjoyed every moment of my journey and now playing the spirited Sulu too. Do you still get nervous before a film’s release? Right now, I am kicked that I have done a happy film. In fact, it’s been a while since I have done a bright, happy movie and in Tumhari Sulu, she is an ‘enthu cutlet.’ My character is full of beans, has got a zest for life and is raring to go. I have enjoyed the film. People are going to see me in a different avatar. I will go as far as saying that people may not have seen me in this kind of a mad-hatter role ever and that’s very exciting so, I am not nervous.