Among other things, Vidya Balan wants to play negative characters. Preferably Indrani Mukerjea. Anybody listening?
Upala KBR (DNA; October 1, 2015)
Vidya Balan seems to know her mind. The actress has been around for fairly long to be able to do that. She knows when to sign on a project and refuse it and then live with the consequences thereof. She admits to taking risks and pursuing passions and paying the price for both (and reaping the profits as well). Tad picky about her roles, she admits she’d like to be able to play any sort of character, even negative ones. Read on for more of what she had to share...
Why are we seeing so little of you on screen? Taking it easy now?
Not at all (laughs). As a matter of fact, I was taking it easy for a bit for a year in between when I was going through some health issues, which is why I had to opt out of Sujoy Ghosh’s film. But after that, Hamari Adhuri Kahani. I was close to signing a couple of films, but for some reason, they didn’t work out,. Then, Ek Albela happened which was just six days of work. I have reached a stage where unless I am fully, passionately madly in love with what I am doing, I don’t want to do it. It’s not about being selective. I give all of myself, so unless I am completely sure of what I am doing, I won’t sign on.
Have you decided to do very few films after marriage or has it turned out that way?
No. I didn’t need to. Like Siddharth has not cut down on his work (laughs). Last year, when I had that health issue I realised that I had let myself reach that phase by working relentlessly. Actually, I am someone who has always taken it quite easy. I don’t drive myself crazy by having three releases a year but having said that I give so much of myself to everything that I do that I end up not having time for myself. Maybe it was a physical and mental break that I needed. I am not in a hurry to get anywhere as I know I am here for a lifetime. After The Dirty Picture released, when most people would have gone on a signing spree, I took a break. I just like to take things as they come at my space. I have always done that. There’s no set agenda. I like to enjoy every moment that I am doing things at a pace that I know I will be able to enjoy.
How do you pass your time when not working?
At least thrice a week, I end up doing script narrations (laughs) and the rest of the time I spend with family, catching up with old friends, watching films at home, reading; though largely, I have been reading only scripts. Since I became an actor, my time spent reading books has reduced tremendously.
How driven are you on a scale from one to 10?
It could vary anywhere between zero and 10 because when I like something I am driven beyond 10. But I am not driven to grab and sign as many films as possible. I am driven about my performances because when I like something and I commit to a film then I am giving it my all but when I am not, I am not fidgety saying what film am I doing next or I have no films at the moment. I have never called a director to cast me in his film and not good, bad or otherwise, I just have never been able to do that. To each his own but I have never done that. Of course, it’s another thing if I meet someone and like their work — like I remember I met Mohit (Suri) after Aashiqui 2 and told him that I wanted to work with him. That’s how Hamari Adhuri Kahani happened.
Are you superstitious? Would you change the name of your spelling or wear stones that attract good luck, etc?
No. I don’t believe in superstitions at all. I do pray and I have my own little rituals, but I am not a ritualistic person. I am not the kind to stick to vrats and go to a particular temple on a particular day. I need my food every day! (Laughs) I pray, but in a language that only I can understand. That’s it.
Are you lazy when it comes to ambition?
(Laughs) I don’t know if I am lazy but I am laid-back, I think. I am not a go-getter, yet I do exactly what I want. I define ambition as in it’s all about me. I am self-consumed or self-centred. For me no one else exists on that planet. The killer instinct happens only when something excites me and I have to dive into it. Do I make things happen? No. I never really have. Maybe that’s a drawback though I have never seen it like that as it’s always worked for me. Though I would love for people to come and watch me in the theatres and go crazy about me like Salman Khan — let’s hope the Universe is listening (laughs) — I am very realistic, I know that’s not the real reason that people came to watch those films. I am grateful for the love I got, but I did what I felt instinctively as an actor. In fact, some of the films I said no to during that time went on to do very well but I have no regrets that I wasn’t part of them. I really believe that daane daane pe likha hota hai khaane wale ka naam.
All actresses are expanding their horizons — production houses, fitness DVDs or online shopping avenues. What might you pursue someday?
I don’t have any talent besides acting. If there’s any iota of talent I have, it’s in this department (laughs). I know nothing besides that.
ROLE PLAY
If you were offered something glamorous and sizzling again, would you do it?
I am hoping it’s not like The Dirty Picture or Kahaani because I have done that, but I am a hungry actor. That beast in me is just waiting to devour an exciting role and the moment I find that role that will satiate me, I am going to just fall on it and gobble it up! (Laughs) If you had met me a month ago, I would have said I am not excited about anything, but suddenly, now, I don’t refuse anyone and read every script that comes my way. You never know what could excite you and that’s what’s really interesting me at this point. Now, I feel again that something new is emerging.
Upcoming directors of chick flicks find it hard to find finance for their films if they don’t have big actresses. Would you do one if it wasn’t a big director/banner?
I think I did that with Bobby Jasoos. I invest my faith in a script and people (smiles). Of course, it’s collaborative and you have to take those risks — sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes even the biggest films and best teams don’t work, so you can’t really determine these things. I go purely by instinct.
Any Hollywood film you would love to do?
Last week I was watching Before Sunrise... I wish someone would make Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight — the entire series... I am dying to make a film on that. I have been watching a lot of international TV series like The House Of Cards and the crime-drama Luther. But I can’t think of a Hollywood film that’s really inspired me in recent times. I have to mention here that I loved Mad Max: Fury Road and I would love to do what Charlize Theron did as her character Imperator Furiosa. I am dying to do an action film but it HAS to be a high-octane, intense, feminist action film movie! And of course, Woody Allen if you are listening (laughs). I will fly to wherever you are! I would love to act in one of his films. The only time in my entire career that I felt jealous of someone when I heard that Frieda Pinto had been signed by Woody Allen. I read that and I was like OMG! No! Why couldn’t he have asked me?
But you are perceived as sensitive and vulnerable, rather than the tough-talking Imperator Furiosa!
No one thought that I would do a Dirty Picture, no? I am also waiting when I talk of something new emerging, it’s also new kind of opportunities, it’s not the same rehashes of the kind of work that I have done. In which case, it’s not exciting for me. It has to be unpredictable enough for me to exclaim that OMG! Really? I can do this? I would love to play a dark character — just to explore the dark side of a person and discover the complexity and various shades of the character! I don’t know whether this is a politically correct thing to say — the matter is sub judice — but I would love to play someone like Indrani Mukerjea as I find her really intriguing.
Sounds interesting!
Of course, there are many films being made on her, but she’s the most recent reference. I am not talking about killing someone but each of us has a dark side; and now, I feel ready to explore that. Until now I have always shied away from playing negative characters. I remember Anurag Kashyap spoke to me about a film and I told him it was too dark and that I couldn’t do it. I said no to Vishal Bhardwaj, too. I couldn’t do that, but now I feel it’s the time to do those kind of roles. I am ready to explore the dark side. Vishal would tell me, “Vidya you have reached the top now. As an actor now I want you to tip over and bounce back.” He meant that I have done a great variety of roles, but I should do something that completely tips me over... I am waiting for a role like that.
GHAR KI BAAT
Do you and your husband talk films?
Yes, of course. We watch a lot of films almost every weekend. If there’s a new release we go to the theatre and watch the film. We avoid film screenings because I like to watch it with the real audience. We watch it on Saturdays as he is working on Fridays.
What about your scripts?
No. Where signing films are concerned, that decision is purely my own because I want the credit for it (laughs). Choosing a script is a very private, personal and selfish decision for me. I don’t take feedback from anyone. People tell me I don’t share what I am reading, I don’t discuss scripts with other actors. I don’t discuss my work with Siddharth but once I have decided, I may take him through it and similarly with my family, and even before I was married. It’s my madness more than my passion as an actress! (laughs)
Does he bring his work home?
Yes, specially because our common connect is films we invariably end up discussing a lot, but Siddharth is also a very private individual. It is work, but there are boundaries. We do discuss films but not so much the content in them, more about the happenings of our day.