When Arundhati Roy wrote The God of Small Things way back in 1997, the novel created a stir. People around the world found resonance in the theme that it was the small
instances and experiences in life that went into making the larger picture. Vidya Balan does a similar retrospect of 10 moments that made her decade long career memorable. These brief moments have become precious recollections in her life. The highs of her professional and personal life. So whether it’s her first tryst with fame at the premiere of Parineeta in 2005 or her icon Shabana Azmi calling her to congratulate her for Hamari Adhuri Kahani in 2015, Vidya’s moments are about exhilaration and a sense of gratification. Wearing those joyous moments on her sleeve, Vidya recounts those ineradicable memories...
1. The premiere of Parineeta (2005)
The premiere of Parineeta remains a special memory because it was the first time that I was introduced to the film world. Parineeta was released on June 10 and till June 30 that month, my phone didn’t stop ringing. Not only me, people were calling my mother, father, sister, brother-in-law. I was giving almost 15 interviews in a day and
travelling as well. It was crazy. In those 20 days my life changed forever. And I was lovin’ it.
2. Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
The film was a huge hit. We had been to Nagpur for the release. A huge crowd had gathered outside the theatre. Director Rajkumar Hirani, Boman Irani, Dia Mirza and I stood in front of them. For the first time I realised what mass hysteria, mass adulation is... jab log aapko dekhne ke liye ikattha hote hain. I had never experienced that before. Everyone was shouting my name and waving. Boman said, “Don’t feel shy, you also wave out!” It was first time I interacted with the public.
3. The premiere of Paa (2009)
The premiere of Paa was memorable because all the big shots of the industry were present – it was an Amitabh Bachchan film! After the screening, everyone began complimenting me. The next day the media – particularly on TV - was all praise for my performance that I had dared to play a mother and that too to Amitabh Bachchan (played a 13-year-old suffering from a rare disorder, progeria).
4. Best actress award for Paa (2010)
I won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Paa (director R Balki) that year. When I stepped on the stage to accept the prestigious trophy, I couldn’t believe it. I thought of my best friend Pooja Mehta with whom I have grown up with, whose brain I used
to chew saying mujhe actress banna hai. I called her up at 2 am and shared this joy with her. She was part of my journey. I wanted to thank her for her important presence in my life. It was a surreal moment.
5. Mobbed by women after Ishqiya (2010)
I had visited a theatre after the release of Ishqiya (director Abhishek Chaubey) to gauge audience reaction and interact with them. The women wanted to touch me, they were pulling me, hugging me, kissing me and saying, “Achcha kiya, maar diya usse!’’ The security team had to rescue me and escort me out to safety.
6. During the shoot of The Dirty Picture (2011)
At the shoot of The Dirty Picture, director Milan Luthria remarked I had lost weight. My character of Silk required me to be on the heavier side. So losing a few kilos was
disturbing the continuity. He wanted to spotlight on my belly for a scene. It was getting late and we were losing light. I turned my back to the camera, tightened the belt
around my skirt and out popped my stomach. Milan said, “Are you mad? You’re doing this on set in full view!” I turned around to him and said, “Main Silk hoon!” As Silk I had become audacious. I had stopped feeling conscious of my body. That day I felt absolutely free of inhibitions. And we canned the shot.
7. The trial of the Dirty Picture (2011)
I was nervous how my parents would react to my role in The Dirty Picture. During the interval at the trial, when I was interacting with the media, my parents messaged me
saying, “We can’t see you, where are you? There is only Silk here!” That made me cry because I never wanted to do anything that would make my parents, my family feel
embarrassed. They shouldn’t say aisa nahin karna chahiye tha. I was so relieved that I ran into the theatre to be with them. Because Silk dies in the end, my parents
couldn’t help crying. They said my portrayal was beautiful and graceful. It made me happy.
8. Promoting Kahaani (2012) at Khar railway station
When we were to promote Kahaani, I suggested to the team that I carry a poster saying, “Kya mere husband ko aapne kahin dekha hai?” at the railway station. The team got excited. The campaign was even announced on radio. We went to Khar station and on seeing the crowd there I got the jitters. At that moment, I wanted to flee. A train was just about to come in. People were hanging out from the train in anticipation of seeing me. I feared what if someone fell off on the track. But thankfully, no untoward incident happened.
9. When I won the national award
One day before the release of Kahaani, I was in Dubai promoting the film. I was about to attend the press conference when I received a call saying that I had won the
National Award for The Dirty Picture. It was such a wonderful thing to hear. I just couldn’t believe it. At the press conference, the press gathered there already knew about
it.
10. When Shabana Azmi called me
I did Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015) with Mahesh Bhatt saab recently. And you know what; I got a call from Shabana Azmi saying she had liked my work. Way back her performance in Arth (1982), directed by Bhatt saab, had influenced me to become an actor. Life came full circle when I got a call from my favourite actor. Aur kya chahiye!