INTERVIEW: I Don’t Get Films With Male Actors Anymore And I Don’t Miss Them Either: Vidya Balan

BSH NEWS
Q.
There
is
a
lot
of
buzz
about
you
coming
with
Shefali
Shah
in
the
film.
When
did
you
two
first
meet?

A.
Our
first
meeting
happened
during
script
reading
session.
To
be
honest,
I
was
nervous.
We
had
never
worked
together
before.
When
I
spoke
to
Manav
(Kaul),
he
said
that
Shefali
is
very
cool
to
work
with.
But
I
had
no
idea
about
her
process.
When
we
met
for
the
script
reading,
Shefali
gave
me
a
longest,
tightest
hug
and
after
that
I
became
very
comfortable.
I
think
we
have
a
very
similar
vibe.
We
don’t
have
many
scenes
together
in
the
film,
but
the
ones
that
are
there
are
very
important.
By
the
way,
I
would
definitely
like
to
work
with
Shefali
again
because
I
want
to
understand
her
process.

BSH NEWS
Q.
You
had
rejected
‘Jalsa’
earlier.
Then
how
did
your
decision
changed?

A.
Yes,
I
said
no
earlier
because
I
felt
at
that
time
I
did
not
have
the
courage
to
do
this.
It’s
a
slightly
grey
character,
so
I
thought
people
would
probably
judge
me
for
it.
Actually,
I
was
judging
myself.
But
I
really
liked
the
script.
Then
in
2020
lockdown
happened,
and
I
think
that
was
the
time
when
a
slight
change
came
in
everyone’s
thought
process.
What
you
think
of
yourself,
think
of
others,
think
of
the
world;
everything
has
changed.
That’s
when
I
felt
that
I
was
ready
to
play
Maya.

Q.
You
have
played
such
strong
characters
in
films.
Do
you
think
because
of
this
people
have
pre-notions
about
you
in
the
industry?

A.
(Laughs)
Even
if
there
are
any
pre-notions
or
stereotype,
that’s
great.
I
am
not
bothered
by
it
because
I
am
getting
very
good
roles,
strong
characters.
There
are
films
where
I
am
playing
a
central
role.

BSH NEWS
Q.
Has
there
been
any
change
in
your
process
regarding
selection
of
films
over
the
years?

A.
Perhaps
during
the
year
2007-2008,
I
did
some
films,
in
which
I
did
not
give
my
100
per
cent.
Then
I
realized
that
there
is
no
justification
for
this.
If
a
story
isn’t
motivating
me
to
give
my
best,
then
I
shouldn’t
do
it.
Sometimes
it’s
better
to
wait
a
bit.
Often
people
say
that
the
screen
life
of
actresses
is
very
short.
I
don’t
believe
that
at
all.

Q.
With
the
kind
of
characters
being
written
for
actresses
today,
do
you
think
this
is
a
big
positive
change?

A.
Of
course!
This
is
the
best
time
for
female
actors.
So
many
interesting
characters,
so
many
good
stories
are
being
written
for
us;
what
male
actors
are
doing?
I
don’t
want
to
disrespect
anyone,
but
they
are
bound
by
the
same
old
structure.
While
we
are
doing
multilayered,
nuanced
roles.
From
ordinary
to
extraordinary
stories
are
being
explored
by
the
actresses.

BSH NEWS
Q.
Is
this
why,
from
Tumhari
Sulu,
Sherni
to
Shankulata
Devi,
most
of
your
films
are
now
female-centric?

A.
No.
It’s
not
like
that.
Truly
speaking,
I
don’t
even
get
offers
of
films
with
male
actors
anymore
and
I
don’t
miss
them
either.
I
have
worked
with
many
great
actors,
but
I
was
talking
about
alleged
A-list
stars
here.
In
recent
times,
I
did
Mission
Mangal
with
Akshay
Kumar.
But
apart
from
that,
I
haven’t
found
anything
with
any
hero
since
2008,
which
I
find
interesting.
I
am
getting
such
wonderful
stories
and
characters,
so
I
am
not
even
thinking
about
that.
I
am
glad
that
this
change
is
coming
in
the
industry.
But
thanks
to
all
the
actresses
who
paved
the
path
for
us.
From
Meena
Kumari,
Hema
Malini,
Rekha,
Jaya
Bachchan
to
Shabana
Azmi,
Sridevi;
everyone
has
contributed
to
reach
here.
I
remember
in
the
beginning
people
used
to
tell
me
that
actresses
get
one
or
two
strong
memorable
roles
throughout
their
career.
But
today
it
is
not
so.
Change
has
come
with
time.
Today
look
at
every
one,
from
Taapsee,
Kangana,
Alia,
Deepika,
all
are
doing
great
work.

BSH NEWS
Q.
How
do
you
see
the
change
that
came
with
OTT?

A.
I
think
OTT
has
diminished
discrimination
in
many
ways;
from
the
ways
of
storytelling,
to
the
choice
of
actors.
OTT
is
a
huge
space
and
there
is
room
for
all
kinds
of
content.
I
think
it’s
a
very
interesting
time
for
artists.

Q.
Is
it
true
that
once
you
just
walked
from
Marine
Drive
to
Bandra
because
you
had
lost
a
film?

A.
(Laughs)
Yes,
that
was
a
long
time
ago.
Probably
it
was
year
2003-
2004.
What
happened
was
that
I
had
signed
two
films
with
K
Balachander
sir.
And
that
was
a
period
when
I
was
getting
replaced
in
every
film
back
to
back.
That
day
I
came
to
know
that
I
had
been
replaced
in
those
two
films
as
well,
and
they
didn’t
even
inform
me.
We
were
going
to
New
Zealand
to
shoot
one
of
these
films.
When
they
didn’t
contact
me
for
passport,
I
got
the
sense
that
something
was
wrong.
Then
my
mother
spoke
to
K
Balachander
Sir’s
daughter,
she
told
that
Sir
feels
that
Vidya
is
not
right
for
the
film.
Then
neither
did
he
say
anything,
nor
did
we.
But
my
heart
was
badly
broken,
I
just
wanted
to
breathe.
So
I
just
left
the
house.
I
didn’t
even
realize
that
I
had
been
walking
for
over
four-five
hours
in
the
scorching
sun.
Then
I
cried
a
lot.

BSH NEWS
Q.
How
do
you
handle
rejections
today?

A.
Either
way
when
you
have
to
face
rejections
it
hurts,
but
now,
the
bounce
back
time
has
reduced.
Now
it
also
seems
that
after
all
that
struggles,
I
have
come
this
far.
If
I
can
get
out
of
that
time
and
situation,
I
can
handle
this
too!

Q.
The
kind
of
films
you
have
done
in
your
career,
it
has
been
an
example
in
today’s
era.
How
do
you
see
your
journey
so
far
?

A.
I
feel
grateful.
To
be
honest,
for
my
success,
I
feel
I
was
at
the
right
place
at
the
right
time,
because
I
didn’t
write
these
stories,
these
films
were
made
by
someone
else.
But
yes,
as
an
actor
I
am
very
hungry,
so
I
said
yes
to
those
films
and
those
films
worked.
I
am
not
solely
responsible
for
this
change.
But
I
am
glad
that
I
have
been
a
part
of
the
change.