This critically acclaimed actress with her roots in Kerala, born and raised in Chembur (Mumbai), has had our undivided attention since her captivating role as Lalita in Pradeep Sarkar’s Parineeta (2005). Often gorgeously draped in a sari, this National Award winner went on to effectively woo us with Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006), Guru (2007), No One Killed Jessica (2011) and The Dirty Picture (2011). Yes, we are talking about Vidya Balan. The actress won hearts with her women-centric roles in films like Kahaani (2012), Paa (2009) and Te3n (2016), to name a few. The 38-year-old actress, who made her television debut as Radhika Mathur in Hum Paanch, will be next seen as a middle-class housewife in Suresh Triveni’s Tumhari Sulu.
Vidya, who plays the central character in the film — Sulochana Rao aka Sulu, says that there isn’t much of a difference between her real and reel life. “Sulu is a housewife and homemaker, who has a zest for life. She wants to explore the world and there is a childlike enthusiasm in her, which makes me call her an ‘enthu cutlet’. Apart from this, she is spontaneous, doesn’t think before she talks, has a great sense of humour, and she’s happy-go-lucky. Basically, she wants to make the most of life,” says the Mumbai-based actress.
Speaking about what made her sign up for the film, Vidya says, “The mantra that Sulu follows in life is ‘Main Kar Sakti Hai’ (I can do it) and that is what appealed to me about Tumhari Sulu. She’s very happy in her life, but there’s nothing that she won’t try — right from participating in a radio contest to hosting a party. For me, the character was irrepressible, unputdownable and unstoppable. There is a lot of Sulu in Vidya and vice versa.”
This is Triveni’s directorial debut in Bollywood, and Vidya shares how she was highly impressed by his ability to observe even the smallest of the things. “The whole experience working with him was unique. He is someone who writes beautifully, and is able to translate an idea into a script, and a script into a film. He has a great sense of humour, which he is able to translate into his writing and direction. However, for me, the most interesting thing was how observant he was, how he sees the smaller moments in life, and how he has put all of it together in this movie,” she elucidates.
It is after a decade that Vidya will be seen as a Radio Jockey again. The first time, she had everyone’s attention with her cheery ‘Good Morning Mumbai’ in Rajkumar Hirani’s Lage Raho Munnabhai. Speaking about how observant Triveni was, Vidya shares a few funny moments about her on-set experience with Triveni. “The way he used to aptly point out what was required during the shoot of late night radio shows, I used to tease him saying that he was the most avid late-night radio show listener, and may have been a caller, and that is why he knew all the RJs and the callers really well. But jokes apart, he used to narrate ‘Hello, aapki raaton ko jagane...’ and all I had to do was follow him, in all honesty,” she adds.
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From anchoring the role of a nerdy Radhika Mathur in Hum Paanch, to capturing the box office with her role as Silk in The Dirty Picture, Vidya has been a part of many successful films over the years.
When asked about changes that she has witnessed in the industry, she remarks, “As far as films are concerned, I think we are getting more professional, the writing is getting better, people are investing more in development, and we’re exploring different subjects. I’m a living example of the fact that a lot of experiments are going on, and they are paying off, even commercially. Not every film may work, but the great thing is that now all sorts of content is being offered to our audience.”
Indian cinema, be it regional or mainstream Bollywood, has been an integral part of our society, and lately, many actresses have voiced their concerns about the male domination in the industry. Vidya, despite having carved a niche for herself within the fraternity, believes that things are changing at a slow pace.
“Cinema is a small part of society. Films always reflect the reality around us, even if they’re told in the most entertaining fashion. We have come a long way in terms of female characters on screen. And we are undoubtedly in a better position today — at least we are able to use our own voices, that itself is a major shift. However, it is a long journey to touch the sky,” she affirms.
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Vidya recently made the headlines after a reporter asked her if she would lose weight. Even though she calmly silenced the query, she admits that there were days when she could not accept herself.
“A few years ago, I came to accept who I am, and that I don’t have to strike a balance. It’s not like I am accepting of myself every single day, but I do take one day at a time, and I am more accepting now than I ever was before. And yeah, I do feel sexy,” she says with a laugh.
Married to producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vidya, who has a way of taking criticism in her stride, says these changes didn’t happen overnight. “This did not happen in a single day. It happened over time, and I think it was after all the backlash that I received for Heyy Baby and Kismat Konnection. Something altered in me that time, and things began to change around Ishqiya, Paa, The Dirty Picture and Kahaani. I think Dirty Picture was the peak of that (stage of) acceptance of my body. Not to say that I wake up every morning absolutely accepting my body, but most often I do and that, for me, is a huge step forward.”
Tumhari Sulu releases November 17th