Farhan Akhtar and Vidya Balan pair up for ‘Shaadi Ke Side Effects’

Pritish Nandy’s is all set to start his next project ‘Shaadi Ke Side Effects‘, which will be a sequel to the 2006 romantic hit, ‘Pyaar Ke Side Effects’. The sequel will have the entire crew same as the original one including director Saket Choudhary and music director Pritam. Only the lead pair will be a fresh one where Vidya Balan and Farhan Akhtar will be paired together for the first time in Bollywood.

The original film starring Rahul Bose and Mallika Sherawat depicted the problems associated with love and the sequel will portray the problems which crop up after they get married.

Elaborating the story of the film, Pritish Nandy said,”We have been planning the sequel for about three years or so. We have never compromised on script; hence we took time while writing. The story moves ahead from where Trisha and Sid left…they get married…what changes come in their married life, the transformation in a relationship. And how they tackle the changes…”

Pritish is very hopeful that the new pair of Farhan Akhtar and Vidya Balan will go down well with the cine lovers.

“We thought of a fresh cast. so finalised Farhan Akhtar and Vidya Balan for ‘Shaadi Ke Side Effects’. Both have signed the film. It is an unusual pairing and we were looking at one. Both are talented actors.

They are natural and their level of performance is authentic which is what we required for this film,” Pritish said.

Vidya Balan performs lavani on stage to perform ‘Ferrari Ki Sawaari’

Actress Vidya Balan looked ravishing in a red saree as she joined lavani dancers on stage to perform her latest item number Mala Jau De from ‘Ferrari Ki Sawaari’ live for the audience, on May 25. On public demand, she was asked to repeat the performance.

From a simple girl-next-door in ‘Parineeta’, to the challenging multi-faceted role in ‘Ishqiya’, from re-living the role of South sex siren Silk Smitha in ‘The Dirty Picture’, to the die-hard Vidya Bagchi in ‘Kahaani’, Vidya Balan has done it all.

Next, Vidya tries her hand at shaking it for a lavani item number in forthcoming film ‘Ferrari Ki Sawaari’, but the actress says the act didn’t come easy as she isn’t really a dancer.

“I think I enjoyed this dance a lot. I have enjoyed all the roles I have played, but I didn’t think I would enjoy dancing so much because I am not really a dancer, I have to put in a lot of effort,” said Vidya adding, “But we worked hard, and when I reached the set we went mad dancing.”

Vidya undertook three weeks training with a troupe from Kolhapur before giving the final Lavani shot. When asked who her inspiration was for lavani songs, Vidya said: “Madhuri Dixit of course. I really liked Madhuri’s song in ‘Sailaab’ and ‘Sangeet’. I also admire Smita Patil in ‘Bhoomika’.”

I like curvaceous Indian women: Vidya Balan

Size zero may be a fad, but actress Vidya Balan, who flaunted her curves unabashedly in “The Dirty Picture”, says she is all for the Indian woman’s curvaceous body.

“The only zero I am associated with is the zero cholesterol and zero trans-fat that are feature of Aliva snacks… and yes, the zeroes that come in my cheque,” Vidya quipped on being asked if she would ever endorse the size zero figure.

“I like the curvaceous Indian woman’s body. And if I may say so, I am well-endowed,” she added.

The 33-year-old was here Thursday for the official announcement of her appointment as brand ambassador of a new range of snacks brand Aliva, from the Pepsico stable.

Dressed in a shocking pink sari teamed with her trademark elbow-length sleeved blouse, Vidya looked elegant, and her vibrant, fun-loving mood justified her choice of colour.

Vidya says she likes to flaunt a mix of traditional and modern.

“A part of me is very traditional, which is why you see me wearing a lot of saris. But a part of me will always wear these low-back blouses,” she said, as she sat up to show her deep cut back of her blouse to the audience. – IANS

Vidya Balan: A winning combination

Produced and directed by Sujoy Ghosh, this will be Balan’s fourth woman-centric film after Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica and The Dirty Picture. The film also features Bengali actor Parambrata Chattopadhayay and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in prominent roles.

Kahaani tells the story of seven-month-pregnant Vidya Bagchi, who flies down to Kolkata in search of her missing husband Arnab Bagchi, all alone in the festive city. With nothing to rely on than just a fragment of her memories about him, Vidya begins her relentless search for her husband. However, all clues seem to be in vain when everyone tries to convince her that her husband does not exist after the police fails to find any record of him.

Soon she realises that things are not as they seem. She is determined to unravel the truth about her husband — for herself and her unborn child — even if it puts her life in danger. Balan says that she considers herself lucky to be a part of the film and has been aggressively promoting the movie, while remaining in character and even sporting a baby bump.

Balan has become one of the most bankable actors ever since the success of films like Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica and most recently The Dirty Picture. Since 2009, these have earned her five Filmfare Awards, including two for Best Actress and one Critics’ Choice Award, as well as three consecutive Screen Awards for Best Actress and only recently, she won her second National Award at the 59th National Awards — this time for playing the Southern sex siren in The Dirty Picture.

With her next woman-centric film’s trailers already making waves, Balan hopes to continue her winning streak with Kahaani.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2012.

Vidya plans a break and some dirty dancing

Bollywood star Vidya Balan wants to improve her vocabulary, on the one hand, to express her feelings towards the success of "The Dirty Picture". On the other, she is looking forward to a break and says post that she will do some "dirty dancing".

After working non-stop for more than two years, she now wants to take a break.

"I am close to saying yes to a film which will not start for another three months. So I really think I need that break because for the past two-and-a-half-years I have been busy with my films. So now I do need that time off to soak everything in. Then I will probably do some dirty dancing," the 33-year-old talented actor told IANS.

An unofficial biopic of southern sex siren Silk Smitha, "The Dirty Picture" saw Vidya shedding all inhibitions to get under the skin of the character and said: "I have become unapologetic about being myself. Probably others think that I don't breathe the same air (laughs). I just take that as a compliment, but I have a long way to go but yes god has been kind."

"I was hoping the film would do well, but I had no idea that the film would do so well. I feel blessed and I am looking for new words for blessed, humbled and overwhelmed."

Unwilling to get typecast or repeat same roles, Vidya will soon be seen stepping out of the sex icon image by playing a pregnant woman in director Sujoy Ghosh's "Kahaani", a thriller that will show what all her character goes through when she flies down to Kolkata to find her missing husband.

"I can't do the same thing again and again. When I am getting variety, then why will I not take that advantage? This woman (in 'Kahaani') is a vulnerable woman who is searching for her husband, but she has not lost her sense of humour. She is a woman of today."

Vidya has been extremely choosy with scripts, but clarifies that it doesn't mean she is narrowing down her options.

"The proposition of success has been humongous, thankfully. But even after 'Paa', 'Ishqiya' and 'No One Killed Jessica', people said what next? Are your options narrowing down? I don't think about these things. If god has brought me so far, he will take me further.

"I am here to act. I am not saying I will do only solo heroine projects or like that. I want to do different genres of films," she said.

Ghosh was shouldering the burden of two flops - "Aladin" and "Home Delivery " - when he approached Vidya, but she was not sceptical about the director and took the plunge.

"When Balki came to me with 'Paa', I had a 'Kismat Konnection' and 'Heyy Babyy' behind me. And when Sujoy came to me, my films were doing well. But he is an intelligent man he is one of the most intelligent men I have met. Two of his films didn't work, but he has put things together this time around. I am hoping it will work out. But I think the intention is right," she said.

Vidya Balan says she is the face of modern cinema

Vidya Balan says she is the face of modern cinema

Aftab Alam

Mumbai, Saturday 25th of February 2012 (BSNS) Vidya Balan, whose stars are on high with back-to-back hits, says over the years film industry has shifted many angles and the recent change coincides with her mega-hits female-centric films.

Vidya Balan in a recent interview said that she is glad to become the face of the eventual change that has arrived in the film industry.

The 33 year old actress was expressing her views on an increasing number of filmmakers that are now working on female-oriented ventures.

Balan, the Trend setter
Vidya Balans overwhelming screen presence and grand acting talent has added to her profile a number of female-oriented hits like Paa, Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica and The Dirty Picture.

Vidyas forthcoming movie Sujoy Ghoshs Kahaani also has a female-oriented storyline revolving around a pregnant London-return woman in search of her missing husband in Kolkata. Vidya said that she is glad to be in the time when such interesting stories are being written.

I am lucky to be a part of Indian cinema at a time when such stories and roles are being written and I am getting a chance to be a part of such good films. I try to do my work honestly. It feels great to get so much love from the people, said Vidya.

Bollywood eventually shaping up
Over the years Indian Cinema has evolved and matured significantly after passing a number of phases. Today we are in the era of realism in cinema, with more and more audience seeking a slice of life from the films they watch.

Film critics express that changing trend in Indian Cinema is helping actresses weighing equal gravity in the film with the male actors. bollywood actress

Vidya paired opposite Emraan in Ghanchakkar

After sharing screen space in last year's super-hit The Dirty Picture, Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi will be seen once again together in Rajkumar Gupta's quirky comic thriller Ghanchakkar. Incidentally, this is the first film that Vidya has signed after the stupendous success of The Dirty Picture. The film also re-unites Vidya with her No One Killed Jessica director Rajkumar Gupta.

While Emraan plays an ex-con in the film, Vidya plays his better-half. The film has a lot of comic elements narrated in a unique way.

Ghanchakkar, produced by UTV, goes on floors in August this year.

Vidya Balan in magic of lyricist-poet Gulzar

Mumbai: Bollywood Actress Vidya Balan, who is not only super gorgeous but also a great actress Indian cinema has today, is in utter magic of the renowned lyricist-director-writer and poet Gulzar. She openly admits that it is Gulzar Sahib who introduced her to Urdu Literature and she is now completely mesmerized by the magical beauty of the literature.

Balan was there at the album launch titled ‘Tera Bayaan Ghalib’ where she shared her thoughts about the legendary lyricist and filmmaker who is also an Urdu poet and story writer. Gulzar is a true creative genius. His movies are based around the sensitive issues of the society since he very closely observes the society in particular the minor things which we often ignore. Gulzar always says that he makes movies for sensitive people. His movies and poetry is what simply penetrate into souls and the magic oozes out of them is what one loves to enjoy with.

Vidya told that she watched Gulzar Sahib reading the Karadi Tales a few years back at the Kalaghoda Festival. Balan went on mentioning and admitting that she got simply enthralled and found herself wrapped up with Gulzar Sahib’s magical voice and creativity. She added that due to his reading out tales, she started loving Urdu Literature.

Vidya was there at the album launch with Gulzar. Vidya, 33, told that Vishal Bhardwaj, for him Gulzar often writes songs for his movies, called him ‘Safed Sufi’.

The album is a marvelous and classy piece and a real magnum opus in every sense of the word. It consists of Mirza Ghalib’s letters and poems recited by Gulzar. It also carries Ghazals sung by Jagjit Singh with whom Gulzar has recorded several albums in past. Gulzar Sahib had produced a television serial on Ghalib titled ‘Mirza Ghalib’ way back in 1988 starring Naseeruudin Shah in the character of Mirza Nosha (Mirza Ghalib).

Shekhar terms Vidya Balan ‘female hero’

Mumbai: Shekhar of Vishal-Shekhar musicians’ duo has coined the term ‘female hero’ for none other than Vidya Balan, who has been on way fetching awards at all awards’ functions for her power-packed performance in Ekta Kapoor’s production ‘The Dirty Picture’. Vidya has recently emerged as a name to be proud of! The entire nation simply loves her. Balan showed off her class in the female-oriented films, which really put her on the success ladder and turned her as the biggest name of the Bollywood fraternity.

Shekhar, at a recent event, uttered that the industry now had a female hero in shape of Vidya Balan who looted the audiences’ hearts with her recent powerful performance in The Dirty Picture. Shekhar even went on talking big about the babe mentioning with all Khans and Kapoor, the industry was now laced with another big female hero called ‘Vidya Balan’.

Shekhar Ravjiani was sharing his thoughts with the media at the music launch of the upcoming film ‘Kahaani’. The film is directed by Sujoy Ghsoh and Vidya plays the main lead as a pregnant woman who is on search for her missing husband. Vishal-Shekhar compose the music for this soundtrack.

Vidya, who launched herself brilliantly in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s classic ‘Parineeta’, initially faced ups and downs in career but then she oozed out with the successful movies – Ishqiya (opposite Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Wrasi), Paa (opposite Abhishek Bachchan and along with Amitabh Bachchan), No One Killed Jessica (along with Rani Mukherjee) and The Dirty Picture (opposite Emraan Haashmi and along with Naseeruddin Shah). Post these flicks, Vidya at once shot to higher fame and got the top notch position in film industry.

Vishal-Shekhar had also scored music for The Dirty Picture and for this flick’s music, they got much applauds and success. Kahaani is scheduled to hit the screens on 9th March all over.

From Vidya to Ali Zafar, it's time for 'Ooh La La

Guess 'Ooh La La' may soon stake claim for being the newest anthem in the B-town. Last year it was the turn of Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah to first go 'ooh laa laa' for The Dirty Picture. Circa 2012 and it is none other than Ali Zafar who is presenting his own take on 'Ooh La La'.

"For his upcoming film London Paris New York where he has composed, written and sung all the songs, there is one that goes by the title 'Ooh La La'", informs a source, "It is an entirely different song though with just the key words being similar. While Vishal-Shekhar had given a fun flavour to 'Ooh La La' which was presented as a 80s song, Ali's song is very contemporary. The song has been very interestingly collaborated as it sees the coming together of trance and underground house with a mix of sufi and pop. It would be an unforgettable affair for sure."

Incidentally, this isn't the only USP of 'Ooh La La'. The song is also special since it brings two female vocalists from Pakistan - Hadiqa Kiyani and Sanam Marvi.

"Though there have been quite a few male singers from Pakistan who have found popularity in Hindi film music or pop circuit, there haven't been many female singers who have made a cut in Bollywood. However, Ali plans to change that with 'Ooh La La' by bringing Hadiqa Kiyani and Sanam Marvi. They are very popular singers out there in Pakistan and come with a very good training background. Both of them have collaborated on 'Ooh La La' where some parts have also been sung by Ali", the source continues.

When contacted, Ali couldn't shy away from the irony of the situation. He said, "You know what, I had actually put together this song much before 'Ooh La La' from The Dirty Picture started making waves. In any case our song is totally different. It is set in Paris and is basically on the lines of 'Ooh La La', the commonly used phrase in Paris. When you would hear the song, you would realise that it has its own identity."

Gutsy Vidya Balan makes ‘Dirty Picture’ watchable

Bollywood Movie Reviews: Bollywood Actress Vidya Balan goes where few have gone before, putting it all out there, literally, for the sake of her art. Pity it’s for a film as unremarkable as ‘The Dirty Picture’.


Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture

At one point in this movie, her character, a titillating dancing star of the 80s, says there are only three ingredients in a film that can guarantee its success: “Entertainment, entertainment, and entertainment.” It’s a point director Milan Luthria and his writer Rajat Arora seem determined to beat into our heads. For The Dirty Picture seems to have been made specifically to shock you.

All those lured in solely by the promise of skin-show are unlikely to complain. Yet, despite its masala scenes, heavy dialoguebaazi and liberal sexual innuendo, in the final analysis, this film is far from perfect. The Dirty Picture takes an unconventional idea and bakes it in a predictable oven.

What it suffers most from, unfortunately, is lazy writing. With a plot straight out of a Madhur Bhandarkar film, and a screenplay that follows a familiar graph, The Dirty Picture offers a superficial, simplistic view of the seamy, exploitative side of the 80s film business. There is little attempt to treat this material with sensitivity and depth. No sir, this film unfolds as a series of provocative scenes strung together on the strength of their sexually loaded dialogues.

Despite repeated testimonials on the part of its makers that their inspiration isn’t Silk Smitha, The Dirty Picture still comes across as a thinly-veiled life-story of the famous South Indian screen siren. In typical filmi fashion, the story opens with Reshma, a village girl, running away to Madras to realize her impossible dreams. Reshma is a Plain Jane, but she wants to be a star. Grabbing an opportunity with both hands, Reshma gyrates seductively in her first break before the camera. She acquires the name Silk, falls into an affair with a much-married superstar, and a siren is born. Her downfall, incidentally, is as quick as her rise – Silk’s recklessness makes her overdose on a cocktail of disastrous love affairs, alcohol, bad debts and excess.