Thanksgiving time again?
Vidya Balan says she's grateful to get a Mani Sir film two years
Subhash K Jha
Shukriya meherbani, Sir: Vidya Balan
Rumours regarding her supposed unhappiness about the length of her
role in Mani Ratnam's Guru has Vidya Balan flummoxed.
"I can't even begin to imagine where these rumours started. Do these
people realise what getting a Mani Ratnam film means to someone who
started her career barely two years ago? I got into Guru with my eyes
wide open and I'm very happy being part of it. According to me there
are no first leads and second leads in a Mani Ratnam film. Everyone is
a character, period," she says.
The rumours of her displeasure gathered momentum when Vidya failed to
turn up for the music event of Guru. "That was a totally unavoidable
circumstance. When I was told the event was on November 5, I informed
them immediately that it would be impossible for me to be there. I had
already committed myself to a very important family function outside
Mumbai. There was no way I could make it back in time for the Guru
event. Now I can either focus on my work, or spend time fighting the
rumours," she says.
Vidya has the fondest memories of Guru. "It was one of the most happy
and comfortable shootings I've ever gone through. It was so relaxed.
The way Mani works there's no stress on the sets. Although most of my
scenes are with Madhavan, I had a couple of scenes with Abhishek, and
one scene with Ash. Abhishek is a livewire, and lots of fun to shoot
with. And Ash is dignity personified. As for Madhavan, I've known him
from my modeling days. In fact I was supposed to do a South Indian
film with him once. We finally worked together in Guru."
Mani Ratnam
Vidya is often accused of having changed and acquired an 'attitude'.
"That surprises me," she says. "I've always made a conscious attempt
to remain unaffected by the ups and downs in my career. I've not
become self-conscious about the demands on me. But yes, I'm a person
who likes to do her own thing. A lot of people think I'm stubborn. So
be it. I don't think it's wise to do something just because it's
expected of you because if you do it once you end up doing it all the
time."
Two hits old, and Vidya is all set for two more releases, Guru and
Salaam-e-Ishq. After Parineeta, Vidya is happy to have another hit in
Lage Raho Munnabhai on hand. "No one calls me a one-film wonder any
more. Now I'm much clearer in my head about my priorities. It's very
important for me as an actor to connect with what I'm doing. It
doesn't matter which era or period the film is set in, you have to
identify with the situations."
* A lot of people think I'm stubborn. So be it. I don't think it's
wise to do something just because it's expected of you. If you do it
once you end up doing it all the time." Vidya Balan
http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=30&contentid=200611150237266719554bb42
--- In [email protected], "vinodraju2k" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
> Vidya was extremely happy when she was first approached to do a role
> in Mani Ratnam's `Guru'. Vidya claimed that she had a small but
> pivotal role in the film. However now that the film has been completed
> Vidya is unhappy about the way her small role was further slashed. In
> fact she has been relegated to the background while her co-star Ash is
> busy hogging the limelight. Sources claim that Vidya is unhappy with
> the way her role has finally shaped up in the film and she is
> extremely hurt and upset that a director of Mani Ratnam's caliber has
> given her such a raw deal. In fact even during the music launch of the
> film Vidya's absence from the event was quite prominent.
>
> http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/1388_miss-universe-smitten-with-salman-
> khan.html
>
