‘I would love to do a comedy or a negative role next’
Vidya Balan, who is basking in the success of Bhool Bhulaiya 3’, talks about what success means to her
By : Lipika Varma
Update: 2024-11-11 20:21 GMT
Padma Shri awardee Vidya Balan, known for pioneering a change in the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema, has tasted success before too, but she feels success tastes sweet every time. She is also keeping her fingers crossed for the next franchise of BB, if there is one.
Excerpts:
On the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3:
“We were positive about the film but didn’t expect this much success. Everyone showed interest right from the time it was announced. They kept saying — ‘Bahut achha lag raha hai aap wapas aa rahe ho. (It feels good that you are coming back).’ I had a feeling that the film would do well. This character and that song have given me so much. It’s been 17 years and even today people are heard quoting Aami Manjulika…Aami je tomar. I have earned it with great difficulty. God has not only blessed me but has multiplied the love of the audience.
Siddharth (my husband) absolutely loved the film. We all went to Gaiety Theatre in Bandra with my parents, sister, her husband and her kids. This time my mom said, “Tum bahut achchi lagi ho”. My nephew and his friends watched the film repeatedly and loved it. God is kind.
Is BO success An important parameter:
Yes, box office success is an important parameter for all of us. It’s the business of cinema and when you invest money, you wish to get profit from your investment. Success is very important, especially in today’s times as films have not been doing well at the BO. Nothing tastes as sweet as commercial success.
Her definition of success:
I don’t know what the definition of success is. But for me, even if a shoot is completed successfully, I feel nice at the end of the day. I also feel loved when the audience chooses to watch my movie again.
When films do not work:
We do feel low as all of us work very hard. My last movie, Do Aur Do Pyaar didn’t work. My heart was broken. I feel every film has its own luck. I keep telling Siddharth Roy Kapur (husband) and he patiently lends his ears to my agony about the film not working. He lets me say whatever I feel. I remove it from my system and then move forward.
On reviews:
I don’t read reviews. I am not being disrespectful. However, as an actor, to keep going with a belief is important to me. At a later stage, my father who reads all the reviews will send me some to read.
The climax of BB3:
I loved it. It was new, fresh and unexpected. We feel that this kind of newness is the best way to go forward with the BB franchise. Also, the audiences are loving it. Extending forgiveness is a huge thing. Knowingly or unknowingly, we may do wrong to someone or the other. But when we forgive and say sorry, it’s such a big thing. It was the highlight of the film for me. He getting moksha through the forgiveness granted to him — this felt like a massive thing.
On comedy genre:
I have not decided what I am doing next, but I would love to do a comedy film next. I don’t like to be part of movies that show too much bloodshed and crime. There is so much we human beings are facing, so I want to entertain and make people laugh through my films. Also, I would love to portray a negative character.
“We were positive about the film but didn’t expect this much success. Everyone showed interest right from the time it was announced. They kept saying — ‘Bahut achha lag raha hai aap wapas aa rahe ho. (It feels good that you are coming back).’ I had a feeling that the film would do well. This character and that song have given me so much. It’s been 17 years and even today people are heard quoting Aami Manjulika…Aami je tomar. I have earned it with great difficulty. God has not only blessed me but has multiplied the love of the audience.
Siddharth (my husband) absolutely loved the film. We all went to Gaiety Theatre in Bandra with my parents, sister, her husband and her kids. This time my mom said, “Tum bahut achchi lagi ho”. My nephew and his friends watched the film repeatedly and loved it. God is kind.
Is BO success An important parameter:
Yes, box office success is an important parameter for all of us. It’s the business of cinema and when you invest money, you wish to get profit from your investment. Success is very important, especially in today’s times as films have not been doing well at the BO. Nothing tastes as sweet as commercial success.
Her definition of success:
I don’t know what the definition of success is. But for me, even if a shoot is completed successfully, I feel nice at the end of the day. I also feel loved when the audience chooses to watch my movie again.
When films do not work:
We do feel low as all of us work very hard. My last movie, Do Aur Do Pyaar didn’t work. My heart was broken. I feel every film has its own luck. I keep telling Siddharth Roy Kapur (husband) and he patiently lends his ears to my agony about the film not working. He lets me say whatever I feel. I remove it from my system and then move forward.
On reviews:
I don’t read reviews. I am not being disrespectful. However, as an actor, to keep going with a belief is important to me. At a later stage, my father who reads all the reviews will send me some to read.
The climax of BB3:
I loved it. It was new, fresh and unexpected. We feel that this kind of newness is the best way to go forward with the BB franchise. Also, the audiences are loving it. Extending forgiveness is a huge thing. Knowingly or unknowingly, we may do wrong to someone or the other. But when we forgive and say sorry, it’s such a big thing. It was the highlight of the film for me. He getting moksha through the forgiveness granted to him — this felt like a massive thing.
On comedy genre:
I have not decided what I am doing next, but I would love to do a comedy film next. I don’t like to be part of movies that show too much bloodshed and crime. There is so much we human beings are facing, so I want to entertain and make people laugh through my films. Also, I would love to portray a negative character.