BOMBAY TIMES (July 2, 2014)

The first time Vidya Balan played a man was at the age of 15 at a children's workshop at Prithvi theatre. She played an old scientist, who creates a time machine.

The actors loved their character's homes in the film so much that the producers, Dia Mirza and Sahil Sangha, plan to gift all the actors one object from their characters' homes as a memento.

Ali Fazal played a prank on Vidya by slipping a `love letter', signed by 'Babban', under the door of her hotel suite. Worried, she called the hotel staff about it and they organised to check the footage on CCTV. Although Ali had worn a hoodie, the actress identified him immediately on seeing his shoes. Later, during the shoot, Vidya whispered into Ali's ear ­ 'What's up, Babban?'

For Vidya's disguises, Thea (stylist) bought clothes and accessories from real people. They borrowed a taveez from a real beggar.

Zarina Wahab approached Vidya to work in this project as the prospect of being part of a movie set in her hometown excited her. Supriya Pathak, on the other hand, was shooting in Hyderabad after three decades. Her critically acclaimed film Bazaar was shot there.