Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 22, 2014)

Vidya Balan opted out of Sujoy Ghosh’s film last week, but she is definitely not in the mood to quit Mohit Suri’s love triangle Hamari Adhuri Kahani. After a holiday in the US with husband Siddharth Roy Kapur, the actress returned to Mumbai on Tuesday and immediately had a long chat with the film’s head honcho Mahesh Bhatt. Mahesh asserts, “All is well, Vidya and Vishesh Films are on board together.”

 With the pregnancy rumours squashed, Vidya will continue with her break with a trip to Sydney for a film festival, before moving on to Delhi to accept the Padma Shri. She’ll be back in the city on April 3 and will meet Mahesh again to discuss the details of the film.

 According to a close friend, during her break Vidya will catch up on her reading, learn to cook and work out. “She will continue to do commercials and has just finished dubbing for one and signed up for a big endorsement deal which might require her to travel abroad for a few days,” says the friend. “She also wants to renovate her home where she’s hardly spent time since her wedding.”

 However, since the Bhatts are in no hurry to flag off their film, Vidya’s break could get extended unless she signs another film. Explains Mahesh, “Portions of Hamari Adhuri Kahani will be filmed in the Middle-East and you cannot shoot there throughout the year. Also, Emraan’s son Ayan is still undergoing treatment and the film won’t start till he completes Vikram’s (Bhatt) Mr X. He won’t shoot for more than one film at a time till June.”

 Talking about Vidya’s decision, his brother and the film’s producer Mukesh Bhatt says, “I think it’s great that Vidya has decided to take some time out for herself. Why should she do back-to-back films? A break will do her a world of good.”