Vidya Balan talks to us about women power in Hindi cinema and how she is a part of the new wave of empowering films.
Do you think Deepika, Kangana and you are bringing in a new hope?
Yeah, but I don’t know if we have inspired hope or whether hope is being inspired in all of us with this continues success. The fact that these films are working is going to give more confidence to producers to make such films. Dum Laga Ke Haisha did fabulous business though it had a new actress and NH10 is such an intense film -- I don’t think anyone would have produced a film like this five years ago because it’s too violent, too strong. I think I am very excited by the opportunities that are available to us today.
Is Hamari Adhuri Kahani a women-centric film?
I won’t call HAK a women centric film because it’s actually a love story. We haven’t had an intense love story in a long time. There was Aashqui 2 but it was a younger love story while this is a more mature love story like Silsila and Aandhi.
You are working with the Bhatts for the first time.
When I walked out after watching Aashqui 2, I told Mohit Suri that I wanted to work with him ... this is for the first time that I have said this to a director. He just smiled because he thought I had got emotional after the movie so I called (Mahesh) Bhatt saab and told him I want to work with him. The films I have been doing are very different from the ones Vishesh Films has been making. But one month later, he asked me to hear the story that he had written, saying that if I liked it, he would write the script for Mohit to direct.
What did you like so much about the story?
In Hindi films, invariably the plot is complex, not the characters; you don’t go into human complexity. But Bhatt saab’s films have always done that, so I have always enjoyed his films. Arth (1983) had a strong influence on me. I felt that there is someone who is unafraid to explore human frailty, complexity, insecurity, fears, love in its blossom and its madness.
Of late you have been doing comedies; but now you are back with an intense film.
No, it’s just how the scripts come to me. Intensity is my other name; I am an intense person so I think that comes to me naturally. I don’t enjoy any genre as much as I enjoy intense emotional dramas. I have been through comedies, and I have not figured out comedy yet.
You have been married for two-and-a half-years now. Is the honeymoon period over now?
I am finally getting used to the idea of being married. For the longest time, if Siddharth was out, I would just run away because I am not used to an empty house but now I am getting used to it.
How many compromises should be allowed in a marriage?
I think if it’s a compromise it shouldn’t be made. You can make some adjustments but there has to be a fine balance. I am also learning but I do think that marriage is about two people. It’s not about the woman becoming the Mrs which I always had a problem with because the Mr remains Mr. Marriage has to be about equals. You feel unhappy if you are not treated like an equal.
Have you ever had any adhuri kahani?
I had a crush on this boy who I later got to know had a crush on my sister. Then I saw another cute guy, I forgot about that one.