January 1 is not just the start of a brand new year for Vidya Balan but also her birthday. However, this time around, it’ll be a different kind of celebration for the actor on her special day, as she rightfully notes how the world itself has changed amid the pandemic.

“This year, obviously we won’t have a party, it’ll just be family because no one feels safe stepping out,” shares Balan, who turns 42.

There may not be a grand celebration but that does stop the actor from having a birthday wish. “It’s going to be a different start to the year but there’s hope that the year is going to be kinder. I feel the new year will be gentler,” she adds.

And Balan is not giving up hope. “Normally, they say there is a lull before the storm but I hope 2021 is going to be the lull after the storm. It’s all going to be sunshine and happiness again,” she says.

While the actor is looking forward to the new year, she says there are important takeaways for her from the year gone by. “Who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, that’s what the pandemic made us realise that we must live in the moment. There has been a recalibration of life in general. Facets of our lives have changed. We’re all trying to go back to what used to be normal to us but we are still not there,” she explains.

Balan also feels that there has been a change in priorities in our lives. “We’re capable of so much more than what we thought we were, and that’s a huge realisation. Despite everything, we’ve seen the spirit of human resilience rise and shine.”

Last year, Balan had an OTT release with Shakuntala Devi, a short film Natkhat and she also shot for her film, Sherni amid the pandemic.

“We were trying to do all that we could to normalise the situation. I shot for Sherni. I started the film before the pandemic and finished it when things opened up and I’m very proud to say that we didn’t have a single Coronavirus case. That wasn’t easy, to follow so many protocols. Ab kaam ho raha hai toh hum kaam karenge, whatever it takes,” she concludes.