Manju Warrier a better performer than Vidya Balan: Kamal

Manju Warrier, who replaced Vidya Balan in the Kamala Das biopic, is being asked to put on some weight to fit the character. Her director also believes that Manju will be a better performer to play Aami than Vidya. “Yes, Manju has replaced Vidya, and she knows Kamala Das more than Vidya,” says director Kamal. “I want Manju to put on weight for this character. She’s lean right now, so I asked her to gain weight. And she’s agreed to do so and is trying to put on weight.” He explained the change of events that prompted him to cast Manju in the lead role.

“My feeling is that Vidya was more similar to Kamala Das. That’s why I had roped her in. But as an actor, I indeed feel that Manju is a better performer than Vidya, especially for this character. She’s a Malayali, and she will do complete justice to the role,” he explains. Vidya had abruptly walked out of the project, leaving the filmmakers in a soup, but Kamal says they have no plans to take legal action against the star. “We’re not taking any legal action against Vidya. These are only rumours. But I still don’t know the real reason for her walk out. She said she cannot come to the character, she cannot involve [herself] with the character. I don’t know what that means. Manju also asked me the same thing — how can Vidya say no to such a wonderful character.”