Showing posts with label Vidya Balan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vidya Balan. Show all posts
I begged for an audition for Lust Stories 3 and by God’s grace, I got it-Radhika Madan
9:47 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 22, 2026)
Actor Radhikka Madan says she still “begs for auditions” despite earning praise for her performances, admitting that every project feels like a “do or die” situation. The actor, recently appreciated for her work in Subedaar by filmmaker Hansal Mehta, will next be seen in Lust Stories 3 in a segment directed by Shakun Batra alongside Ali Fazal.
“I have been a huge fan of Shakun’s work and when I got to know about the film, I begged for an audition for Lust Stories 3 and by God’s grace, I got it,” says Radhikka, who made her acting debut with TV show Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi before transitioning to films with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Pataakha in 2018.
Despite building a credible body of work, the actor says she cannot afford complacency. “I can’t afford to give an average performance. There are a lot of people in line for every role. Every work is a do or die situation for me. If I need to survive, I need to kill it,” she says.
Radhikka adds that she has no hesitation in chasing opportunities. “Even now, if there is a project people are not thinking of me for, I beg for an audition and I’m very comfortable with it. I don’t have that ego. I have a problem when I don’t even get the opportunity to audition and am crossed off because of my last name,” she says.
Radhikka also credits “actors like Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Tabu ma’am” for paving the way for stronger female-led roles in Bollywood.
I almost threw Irrfan Khan-Vidya Balan’s film away-Saarthak R Dasgupta
3:13 PM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 7, 2026)
Six years after actor Irrfan Khan’s passing, an unreleased film featuring him finally saw the light of day. The Last Tenant, co-starring Vidya Balan, premiered on YouTube on his death anniversary (April 29). Directed by Saarthak R Dasgupta the 43-minute film was shot 26 years ago.
He tells us, “Those days, you didn’t have digital backups… One beta got lost, the other one was full of fungus. I forgot about the film all this time.”
But things changed just two weeks ago, during a house move: “I found an unlabelled VHS tape and assumed it was my wedding video... I was about to throw it away, but then I decided to check what was on it, and that’s when this film appeared.”
Since the video quality was not up to the mark, he was apprehensive about releasing the film: “(But) I felt I needed to pay tribute to Irrfan... So I decided to upload it on April 29. I didn’t even speak to Vidya before, as it was such a quick turnaround.”
But Vidya was “very excited” about the retrieval. “I messaged Vidya after putting it out... This is the only film where these two legendary actors share screen space. So it’s special for her too,” he signs off.
My son was scared of Vidya Balan for six years after watching Bhool Bhulaiyaa-Akshay Kumar
8:47 AM
Compiled By Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 15, 2026)
It was a regular evening for movie buffs in the Capital — until it wasn’t. The cast of Bhooth Bangla, which is set to release this week, starring Akshay Kumar, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Rajpal Yadav, turned the latest session of Stars in the City into a truly memorable affair as they dropped by HT City’s office in Delhi to promote their upcoming film.
In conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment at Hindustan Times, the trio kept things lively with candid conversations, witty banter, and entertaining anecdotes that had the audience thoroughly involved.
What are your thoughts on reuniting with director Priyadarshan after a 14-year gap?
Akshay: He has a great past. Priyadarshan has done almost 98 films and world mein aisa koi aadmi nahi jisne itni films banayi hai and out of that 87 are hit. Agar ek word unke liye aata hai, woj hai ‘genius’. I have seen him work. Actually puri kahaani wo batate hain but jo actual kahaani hoti hai, wo unke dimag mein hai. He is an editor by nature and he edits his film’s so far and so beautifully.
How do you cope up with the jibes made at you in the recent past?
Rajpal: I once saw myself drowning when I was a 6-7 years old. I was saved by someone and I thought I am almost gone. I say I have been given life twice, once by my mother and once by Ganga maiyaa. Just like that main uljha pacchaso baar, dooba kabhi bhi nahi because of you guys (fans).
How do you feel about being part of this film?
Wamiqa: There was only excitement. I was very lucky. Yej film mere paas aane se kuch mahine pehle maine saari films (of Akshay and Priyadarshan) binge watch ki thi starting from Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and De Dana Dan (2009). I called my management and asked, ‘Why are Akshay sir and Priyadarshan sir not working together?’. I love these films, I laughed so hard. They told me ‘no they are coming together after some 14 years for a new film and abhi casting shuru hui hai’. Right after sometime, I got to know that Balaji Films (production house) se call aaya hai and wo narrate karna chah rahe hain ye film. I got called and it was such an overwhelming experience and I was like, well talk about manifestation!”
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"My son shared recently that after watching Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), he was scared of (actor) Vidya Balan for six years!"
- Akshay Kumar
I’m not trying to recreate what Vidya Balan did in The Dirty Picture-Chandrika Ravi
10:28 AM
International model Chandrika Ravi insists she is offering her personal take with the Silk Smitha biopic, amid comparisons with The Dirty Picture
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 28, 2026)
A trailblazer is how international model and actor Chandrika Ravi views late Silk Smitha. For the past eight years, the Australia-born actor of Indian origin, has been developing a biopic on Smitha, who was one of the biggest sex symbols of South cinema in the 1980s. To her, the project feels personal. “She left an impact on many people like me. Much like Silk Smitha, my craving to be seen as desirable was gravely misunderstood in India,” Ravi told mid-day.
In 2018, Ravi made her Tamil film debut with Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuththu, and followed it up with several dance numbers. Despite her successful international modelling career, she hasn’t been able to break into the Indian film industry.
Drawing parallels between Smitha and her own journey, she reflected, “I can do justice to her story because I too know what it’s like to be an outsider and fight for recognition in an industry where it’s often who you know, not what you know [that matters].”
To be directed by Jayaram Sankaran, the biopic will roll later this year. Comparisons with Vidya Balan’s The Dirty Picture (2011) are inevitable. But Ravi is unperturbed.
“Every film’s take is different. What Vidya Balan did in The Dirty Picture was incredible, but I’m not trying to recreate that. My journey with Silk is personal, and I want to tell her story in my own way.”
Akshay Kumar to shoot for a Holi song with Vidya Balan for Anees Bazmee's next amid Bhooth Bangla promotions
9:51 AM
Sources say Akshay Kumar to squeeze in the shoot of a Holi song for his next with Anees Bazmee, amid Bhooth Bangla promotions
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 12, 2026)
Akshay Kumar may be currently promoting his upcoming release, ‘Bhooth Bangla’, but he will soon trade fear for festivities. mid-day has learnt that in the last week of March, the superstar will squeeze in the shoot of a Holi song for his yet-untitled film with director Anees Bazmee.
Ganesh Acharya will choreograph the number that will be shot in a Mumbai studio where a set depicting a bustling mohalla will be created. Kumar will be joined by leading lady Vidya Balan in the song.
An insider shared, “It’s a full-blown Holi sequence, the kind that brings together a lot of colour, dancers, and celebratory energy. The plan is to have around 300-400 background dancers on set, as Akshay and Vidya’s characters lead the celebrations in the gully. The mohalla-style set also includes balconies and terraces from where revellers will join the celebration. Ganesh has also designed a hook step that he hopes will catch on.”
OTT platforms only want box office hits-Taapsee Pannu
11:02 AM
Taapsee Pannu, who champions the rights of women onscreen, talks about choosing the right films in an industry that strictly banks on box-office numbers
Sonal Kalra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 28, 2026)
Bold, fearless, bindaas: few in the industry can be summed up like this. Actor Taapsee Pannu embodies these traits both off and on the screen. She talks about what works and how she functions, with her recent film Assi spotlighting the sensitive subject of rape. Excerpts from her chat on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra:
With big-scale films like Dhurandhar, how do you get the conviction to bring an ‘uncomfortable watch’ about rape to theatres?
If people like to watch violence on screen, let’s not demarcate it as ‘this violence is okay, but this violence is not’. We all enjoy big films, but all types of cinema have their own palate.
If one decides to only watch a certain kind of films, our cinema will start looking like a template. Then we as an industry will not be able to produce the kind of variety we are capable of.
There is also a notion people have about a film being okay to watch on OTT, but not in theatres. But the reality is that OTTs also don’t want films that are not big-scale event-based. Their mandates clearly state that they only want films that are box office successes. Soon, there will be a time when movies like Assi will not be released even on OTT platforms.
Does it worry you that the industry prides itself on saying you are only ‘as good as your last hit’?
A decade ago, it was believed that women-led stories didn’t have space in theatres. Then came Vidya Balan and Kangana Ranaut-led films, changing the definition of ‘mainstream’. The industry was flourishing before Covid, when a film like Saand Ki Aankh (2019), in which Bhumi Pednekar and I played 60-year-old daadis, ended up earning Rs. 21 crore. There was that time, too.
Change is the only constant. I am going to be optimistic about the future. My only insecurity as an actor is that if that (mentality) continues, I will have to change the kind of films I take up. I would have to either disassociate totally or change my path and the kind of films and roles I do, which will be slightly painful for me.
When will your fans get to see you in a comedy role like Khel Khel Mein?
I am waiting for a good comedy. I don’t want to be the object of comedy; I want to perform. Mudassar Aziz (director) personally knew me and what kind of comedy I could pull off. People who know me don’t associate me with something so serious (Assi). I am really hoping that after Khel Khel Mein, I find my footing as a bankable actor and find the right script. It takes a while. We don’t have that many comedy films where women can enjoy doing comedy and not be the object of comedy. It’s a rare sighting.
There is a fight between producers and actors: producers say that if an actor leaves a film, they should be compensated; actors feel that they are not compensated when a film is shelved or postponed, or if they are replaced. What is your view?
If both sides decide to spend money on recces and block dates without signing any papers purely on trust, then in what capacity can one try to go and fight for it? It happens all the time.
I have wasted months trying to make a project happen. It happened when a filmmaker, who was a friend of mine, told me that our project had been indefinitely pushed because the investors pulled out, just two weeks before it went on floors.
For an actress, it’s extremely harsh because we don’t get paid as much. There is a limited time of the year that is good to shoot in. And three months of my peak shooting time got wasted like this because we had not signed any papers. We can only feel guilty about it, but we won’t have the authority to seek compensation. That’s how the business works.
Have you ever lost out on work because of being a bindaas, outspoken person?
I might have, but I don’t get this information firsthand. What I do get to hear is, ‘The hero doesn’t want you to be in the film.’ Heroes decide the heroine in a film, unless you have a director who is the biggest star who asks for a particular person. When Raju (Rajkumar Hirani, director) sir wanted me in Dunki (2023), I was in the film. It might just be a big shock for everybody because I am not in the quintessential circuit of those films, or Shah Rukh (Khan, actor) sir’s regular pair on screen. The director was sure he wanted me.
The other thing I sometimes hear is that I am a little too difficult to work with. But I fail to understand that. Anyone who looks at my filmography, directors who worked with me have repeatedly cast me, and that cannot happen with someone who’s difficult to work with. Nobody wants trouble again and again in their films.
If the people who have not worked with me say that I am not a very social person, I cannot go out of my way to show them how I am. I let my work do the talking. It’s the harder route, but I am saner that way.
Akshay Kumar reunites with Anees Bazmee after 15 years for untitled comedy; to start filming from January 20
9:13 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 19, 2026)
If 2025 saw Akshay Kumar reuniting with director Subhash Kapoor for Jolly LLB 3 and Priyadarshan for the upcoming projects Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan, the superstar has carried the spirit into 2026. On January 20, the actor will kick off his yet-untitled next with director Anees Bazmee, marking the duo’s reunion 15 years after their last collaboration Thank You (2011). The first day of filming will take place at Royal Gold Studios in Goregaon, where an elaborate indoor set has been erected.
Insiders describe the movie as a high-energy, laugh-a-minute entertainer, typical of Bazmee’s style.
“It’s a classic Anees Bazmee comedy with fast-paced scenes, and confusion born from multiple characters and hilarious situations. The shoot was originally scheduled for February. While other actors, including leading lady Vidya Balan will join later, the film rolls on January 20 with the superstar,” revealed a source close to the production.
During the five-week schedule at Royal Gold Studios, Bazmee will film many indoor scenes, before heading to Delhi for the second leg.
Delhi itself was a character in No One Killed Jessica-Raj Kumar Gupta
11:11 PM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; January 8, 2026)
Released in the first week of January 2011, No One Killed Jessica became a film audiences returned to each time the case saw a new turn. At the time, director Raj Kumar Gupta was warned that January releases rarely worked and that films led by women didn’t work – his had two. Yet the filmmaker says his faith in the film never wavered, a belief shared by everyone involved in the project.
A decade and a half on, the film remains iconic – for its hard-hitting subject, its authentic portrait of Delhi, its grounded courtroom sequences, and for helping open doors to female-led cinema at the time. Raj Kumar Gupta, who also wrote the film, looks back at the project that quietly reshaped the space for women-centric narratives in Hindi cinema.
‘There was no agenda behind the film’
“I wanted to tell the story, there was no agenda,” asserts Raj, adding, “I chose to tell it through the eyes of the two protagonists. One was Sabrina’s perspective and another perspective came from a character (of Rani Mukerji) who represented the media and, more broadly, the people who were seeking justice – those who wanted to see that justice was done. That is how the narrative came together. My approach was to stay focused on these viewpoints. Of course, many other characters came in and out of the story, but the core always remained centered on these two perspectives.”
‘It was a long and hard-fought battle for justice, and that was deeply inspiring’
Raj says, “When this incident happened in 1999, I was in college, so I remember it very clearly. This case was stuck in my head. Later, when we were discussing possible subjects, it came up again, and I felt it was something worth pursuing. I had lived in Delhi during my graduation, I had seen the city up close, and I had a certain point of view – both about Delhi and about the case. That perspective is what brought everything together.”
He reflects, “It was a long and hard-fought battle for justice, and that was deeply inspiring – a sister who refused to give up, who kept fighting for justice. The way the media and others collectively came together to support the cause was also powerful. This reflects society at large and is inspired by real events, and that is what ultimately compelled me to tell it.”
For the character of Jessica, Raj shares that he had Myra in mind. He says, “She was my friend. I also clearly remember the iconic smile of the real Jessica – I could see that smile in Myra, and that was extremely important for me to get it right. Although it was her first film, Myra did a great job in it.”
‘Filming the scene when Jessica was shot had an emotional complexity’
Raj recalls, “While we were shooting the first party sequence, it was one of the most complex scenes in the film not just technically, but emotionally as well. In many ways, the entire argument of the film rests on that scene. How it was shot was crucial, because later in the film, this is the very sequence that would be discussed in the courtroom.”
Shooting in real spaces
Raj Kumar Gupta wanted to shoot the film largely on real locations in Delhi. He says, "Delhi had a certain grit, a certain rawness, and that feeling was essential to the film. We had to have Delhi in the film. In many ways, Delhi itself was a character in the story. In the opening of the film, we talk about Delhi almost as if it’s a living presence."
Because of that, it was important for me to shoot across the city and the film was shot at locations like ITO, Tees Hazari, the streets of Delhi, Chandni Chowk, and other real locations.
He says, "I wanted the film to feel as authentic as possible, to be filmed in the real spaces where these events unfolded."
India Gate protest scene
Back in 2006, on Republic Day, Rang De Basanti hit the screens and gave Indian cinema one of its most unforgettable protest scenes. A couple of weeks later, what India witnessed was the RDB effect when the film served as a catalyst for civic justice in the Jessica Lal case when thousands of people, including students, gathered for a candlelight rally at India Gate.
Raj Kumar Gupta shares, "While there are many places in Delhi, when we have to think of a place in Delhi, we think of India Gate. It became a place of collective rebellion. In No One Killed Jessica, we incorporated the protest at India Gate because in reality, people protested at India Gate after Manu's acquittal. I think India Gate is one of the locations in Delhi which evokes strong emotions."
He shares, "India Gate scene was the climax of the film. That sequence had a very strong emotional arc, and logistically it was a huge challenge. We were shooting at India Gate and had permission only for certain hours. On the same day, there was a major sports event happening, so teams were being shuttled through the area. That meant we had to finish the shoot within a very tight time frame. There was also a massive crowd present during the shoot, which added to the difficulty. Despite all that, the sequence was extremely emotional. It was designed to represent the end of the film through a song, and the light, the atmosphere, and the setting all had to come together perfectly. The challenges were many - managing the crowd, executing the scene within the limited time, and ensuring that the emotional weight came through. Most of the characters seen in that sequence are people the audience has already watched fighting for justice throughout the film - friends, supporters, and allies, so it was important to bring them together in a way that felt truthful and earned."
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"The story is about hope and justice. In real life also, people came together and justice was done. The story itself is driven by a tragedy; it should not have happened. I wanted to tell the story in a format where the story never goes dark. It was a very conscious effort. We were telling the story about real people. Life is about hope. The world runs on hope. I took a hard-hitting approach, but I also took an approach where it never gets too heavy to handle." - Raj Kumar Gupta
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Raj Kumar Gupta says, "Vidya and Rani come from different schools of acting. Vidya is very meticulous; she prepares for her character and is very methodical about her approach. With Rani, she is very spontaneous. You will not believe that five minutes back, she was laughing and joking. I got to work with two contrasting and opposite actors, and the character was also such that it gave me a wide range. Vidya Balan met Sabrina, but not before the film."
Raashii Khanna joins Akshay Kumar-Anees Bazmee film
3:25 PM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (January 9, 2026)
After much speculation around the casting, HT City has learnt that Raashii Khanna has come on board Akshay Kumar’s next film, which will be directed by Anees Bazmee.
The film, which also stars Vidya Balan (as exclusively reported by HT City earlier) had been on the lookout for another leading female actor. After considering several names, the makers have finalized Raashii for the part.
A source tells us, “The team was deliberating on the right fit for the role, and the search ended with Raashii. Her recent choices, including impactful roles in 120 Bahadur (2025) and The Sabarmati Report (2024), impressed the makers. She has now signed on the dotted line.”
The reunion of Akshay and Anees has already generated excitement among fans, given their 2007 cult hit Welcome, which continues to enjoy popularity nearly two decades after its release.
Meanwhile, Akshay is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Bhooth Bangla, which has now been pushed to May 15. He also has Welcome To The Jungle slated for release later this year.
Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan reunite for Anees Bazmee’s next
10:28 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 19, 2025)
Actor Akshay Kumar’s search for one of the leading ladies for his next film has come to an end. HT has exclusively learnt that actor Vidya Balan has been roped in for the Anees Bazmee directorial.
A source tells us, “Akshay and Vidya share effortless chemistry as actors, as has been evident with films such as Heyy Babyy (2007), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and Mission Mangal (2019). Off-screen, too, they share a good equation, which is why it was a resounding yes from everyone in the team when Vidya’s name popped up. The story will see two female actors, and one of them will be her.”
The film will see Akshay and Anees reunite 14 years after their last project, Thank You (2011). It will also see Akshay and Vidya share screen space again after six years (Mission Mangal).
I feel sad seeing kids spend more time on their gadgets today-Vidya Balan
9:17 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 15, 2025)
On the occasion of Children's Day yesterday, Vidya Balan opened up about the urgent need to prioritise children’s safety, the lack of film content made specifically for young audiences, and the nostalgia she carries from her own carefree childhood. The actress is the face and voice of the #POCSOPakadLega campaign, part of Arpan NGO’s 7th Edition of Child Safety Week 2025, dedicated to the elimination of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA).
Stressing the need for open conversations around child protection, Vidya said, “I think what we are hoping to do is transform the way society talks about child protection. You know, from hushed whispers and helplessness to more collective dialogue. And I think talking about child safety should no longer be treated as a taboo, but as a shared responsibility woven into everyday conversations – whether it’s at home, schools or within communities. So, through this campaign, we want to make child safety a visible, urgent and actionable issue.”
‘I feel sad seeing kids spend more time on their gadgets today’
Recalling the innocence and beauty of her growing-up days, on a nostalgic note, she recalls, “When I think of cherished childhood memories, I think of how we would all go out to play every evening with our friends in the compound of our building. I was born and brought up in Chembur, and it was a very safe environment. We would be loitering on the streets. It didn’t matter that we were girls. You just felt safe. Everyone was looking out for you. I feel so sad to see kids spending more time on their gadgets today, and also parents being so anal when they send their kids out for physical play.”
‘When you see the kind of things happening, you feel grateful for the childhood you’ve had’
Taking a nostalgic turn, Vidya reflected on the simplicity and freedom of her childhood. She shares, “I had a happy, secure and protected childhood, thankfully. And you realize this more in retrospect, because when you see the kind of things happening around us, you feel grateful for the childhood you’ve had, because that really forms the base for who you end up becoming. My upbringing was very simple and we were content. While certain traditional values were ingrained in my sister and me, we were also given the freedom to fly. I had absolutely no pressure on me to get a certain grade or marks. I did my best, and that’s what mattered to my parents. Today, when I see the kind of pressure that kids face, I’m like… wow, they’re constantly doing something. We had so much free time, and I really value and cherish that.”
‘I’ve wanted to do a children’s film forever’
Reflecting on the glaring absence of children’s films in mainstream Bollywood, she says, “I’ve wanted to do a children’s film forever. I’ve always wondered why I don’t really get offered children’s films or why children’s films don’t get made that much. I remember going for a film a few months ago, the content of which seemed fairly adult, but there were lots of kids in the audience who were having a great time. So, I think they invariably end up consuming adult content because of the dearth of children’s films here.”
She noted that OTT platforms have partly filled this gap by giving Indian children access to diverse global content. “Thanks to OTT platforms today, so much of children’s content produced all over the world is accessible to our children here, which is a wonderful thing.”
Divya Dutta and Manoj Bajpayee to star opposite each other for the first time in upcoming project
3:39 PM
Komal RJ Panchal (MID-DAY; November 2, 2025)
They’ve shared screens, sets, and soirées — but never the same frame. After three decades in the industry, Divya Dutta is finally starring opposite Manoj Bajpayee in their yet-untitled upcoming film — a wish long on her list. Although they’ve shared credits in four films, “this will be the first time we’re truly featured opposite each other”. “It was lovely because half my year was spent working with him,” she says.
Describing her interaction with Bajpayee, Dutta says that whenever they discussed work, they would often digress towards food, a love they both share. “It’s nice to have known him more closely now, beyond being co-actors who would just cross paths on set. We have a certain relatability and connect, and he’s a fabulous actor. Even when we were exhausted from shooting late nights, both of us would stay back to give cues to each other. And if you ask what we discussed the most — it was food! He’s such a foodie. He loves to cook and feed people, and he cooked a lot for me,” shares the actor.
After wrapping up her collaboration with Bajpayee, Dutta will be seen in the romantic drama Tum Rahe Na Tum, opposite Jimmy Sheirgill. She’s also working on a new project with Neeraj Pandey. But what excites her most is Echoes Of Valour, co-starring Neeraj Kabi, a festival favourite that premièred at Venice Film Festival.
“It’s a beautiful love story between a husband and wife. Jimmy is a terrific actor. Working with such co-actors is always enriching,” she adds thoughtfully. She also has a big show coming up with JioHotstar. “I can’t talk much about it yet,” she teases, “But I’m very excited. I feel like I’m doing everything an actor should be doing.”
Reflecting on her journey with quiet gratitude, Dutta believes that “enjoying in the now gave her a lot”, but that doesn’t dim her hunger for better roles. The actor is especially pleased with the changing narratives around women in cinema.
She elaborates, “There was a time people said married actresses couldn’t romance heroes or look glamorous. But look at Kareena [Kapoor Khan], Vidya [Balan], Alia [Bhatt] — they’ve changed that narrative. We’re now telling stories about what happens after ‘happily ever after’. Women in their 30s and 40s can play both younger and mature roles — it’s a beautiful phase..”
Vidya Balan to play Mithun Chakraborty’s daughter in Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2
9:04 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 25, 2025)
Recent reports had suggested that Vidya Balan will be sharing the screen with Rajinikanth (74) in Jailer 2. HT City has now confirmed the news; the 46-year-old will indeed be a part of the film, marking her full-fledged Tamil debut after a brief appearance in Nerkonda Paarvai (2019). The film has reportedly completed more than half of its shoot.
A reliable source from the production reveals, “Vidya plays the role of (actor) Mithun Chakraborty’s eldest daughter. Mithun is the leading antagonist in the film and will be seen alongside (actor) Rajinikanth sir.”
The source further adds, “The film is currently being shot in Chennai and will move into post-production by January.” After wrapping up the Chennai schedule, the team will reportedly move to Goa for the remaining two months of shooting starting late October.
The makers of the Nelson Dilipkumar directorial are aiming for an August 2026 release. Attempts to reach Vidya and her team went unanswered but a representative from the film shared, “It’s too early to say anything.”
I got my big movie break at Enrique’s concert-Vidya Balan
8:41 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 28, 2025)
Spanish pop sensation Enrique Iglesias has been to India twice before in 2004 and 2012 but has performed in Mumbai only during his first visit to the country. So, the Latino sensation will be returning to the maximum city on October 29 and 30 after 21 years.
Interestingly, not many know that Vidya Balan, who is also a diehard Enrique fan, shares a heartfelt connection with his return to Mumbai after two decades. In an exclusive interaction with Bombay Times, the noted actress went down the memory lane and shared some precious trivia and why she’s looking forward to his Mumbai show on Wednesday.
Beaming with excitement, Vidya recalled, “My friend and I, we were at Enrique’s concert in Mumbai in 2004, when Pradeep Sarkar called me to offer Parineeta. We were trying to inch closer to the stage, my phone was off and Enrique had gone off the stage between the songs. We were hoping to get to the front by the time he comes back to perform. I was hoping he waves at me and pulls me on stage (smiles)… all these were young girl fantasies. Around this time, Pradeep dada (Sarkar) must have called me but he couldn’t get through so he called Pavitra my friend, the two of us had gone to the concert. He asked her ‘Vidya kaha hai’? Pavitra said she is right here and handed the phone to me. Dada told me Vidhu Vinod Chopra wants to talk to you. I told him I am at a concert and can talk to him once I get out. By then Mr Chopra came on the line. I wondered if he wanted to say, you are really good but it’s not going to work out because I had gone through a series of tests and auditions before that. I didn’t know what to expect. VVC told me, “Vidya Balan you need to get out of that venue and reach a quieter place where you can speak.” Grudgingly I dragged Pavitra along and we reached the gate. VVC told me then that, ‘you are my Parineeta’ and by then Enrique had come back on stage and sang Hero. While the song was always special to me, this moment sealed the deal for me. For me to receive this news when that song played, I couldn’t stop crying. I don’t remember what happened after that. My hands and legs were trembling. It is undoubtedly one of the most special moments in my life and it was quite cinematic.”
The actress confesses to crushing on the singer like every girl her age did. She expressed, “Enrique embodied what every young girl my age wanted and hoped for in their boyfriend. There was something raw about him. He was cool and effortlessly sexy. He seemed like a passionate lover. He embodied the pain that love brings along, one romanticizes this feeling at that age. You see glimpses of the feeling when someone is madly in love with you in ‘Addicted’ and ‘love to see you cry’. He’s just too sexy. I was definitely crushing on him. I won’t say obsession but he was a rage… bad boy played to the hilt. I remember back then everyone wanted to be at his concert.”
Vidya believes nostalgia plays a huge role in making the singer relevant even today. “MMRDA is going to be filled with people my age who are nostalgic about him. People who have grown up dreaming of him and fantasizing about him. He’s so unapologetically private about his life which I deeply admire. He is true to who he is. His voice resonates the pain of youthful love, where you feel everything intensely.”
On a parting note, the actress shared, “I got my big movie break at Enrique’s concert and that was my first concert experience as a young girl. Not many concerts happened in those days. Michael Jackson happened but I was younger then. So when people ask me are you going to his concert, which I am, I joke around and say, I complete 20 years in the movies. No wonder he’s come back to celebrate that. It almost felt like the birth of me as a heroine happened at his show while he sang Hero. You feel these moments happen only in the movies but it happened to me in real life. I am looking forward to reliving that moment and time hence watching him live again will be special. I am so grateful to what has happened since. If I were to dedicate one of my songs to Enrique, it would be Piyu Bole from Parineeta. That would be poetic justice.”
Boney Kapoor to throw a lavish party in Bandra's Pali Hill for Shabana Azmi as she turns 75
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Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 15, 2025)
Grand birthday celebrations are admittedly not Shabana Azmi’s style. But when it’s your milestone birthday, your family and friends will certainly make it an affair to remember.
mid-day has learnt that producer and close family friend Boney Kapoor is hosting a big bash to mark Azmi’s 75th birthday on September 18. On the guest list are the veteran actor’s family — Javed Akhtar, Zoya and Farhan Akhtar, Baba and Tanvi Azmi — as well as her friends Vidya Balan, Urmila Matondkar, Richa Chadha, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Anil Kapoor, Karan Johar, and more.
Many don’t know that Boney and Azmi go back a long way. The two collaborated on his first production, Hum Paanch (1980).
A source shares, “They struck up a friendship then, and over the years, have become almost family. So, when the discussion about celebrating Shabana’s birthday came up, Boney said he would host it. The bash will be held at his Pali Hill address on September 18, and will see Azmi’s friends from films and theatre in attendance.”
Before that, her group of friends — which calls itself Dher Saara Pyaar and comprises Tanvi, Balan, Matondkar, Chatterjee, Chadha, Divya Dutta, Dia Mirza, and Konkona Sen Sharma — has a girls’ day chalked out.
The source says, “On September 17, they will have a spa day, pampering themselves. Their celebration already started over the weekend as Sandhya Mridul launched her book of poems, Untamed. That was followed by dinner.”
The group is excited to meet Azmi’s other girl gang, Carpe Diem — with whom the actor recently took a trip to Iceland — at the birthday bash (Zindagi na milegi dobara, Shabana style, Aug 21).
I always thought the boys were my real competition-Vidya Balan
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Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; June 10, 2025)
The world may hail her as a game-changer, a sherni who roared her way through Bollywood’s rulebook — but Vidya Balan doesn’t see it that way. Twenty years in Hindi cinema, and she is still dancing to her own rhythm. The actor, who defied norms, wants to be free of those tags and labels – free of that baggage. There’s a newfound lightness about her, yet she’s just as fiercely passionate about her craft as she was two decades ago. In this deeply personal interview with us, she talks about her inner battles, her evolution shaped by heartbreak and healing – and all the joy that went into it.
If you could relive one moment from your 20-year journey in Hindi cinema, which one would it be?
The premiere of Parineeta in Amsterdam. I don’t remember watching the film, as that memory is a blur. It’s like your wedding day (laughs). What I remember is standing up on that stage along with the cast and looking at the world. It was a full house. It was something about that moment – this is what I had always wanted. I didn’t know if there was a road ahead, but I felt I had reached the summit. That moment has stayed with me. It’s like I walked up with my back to the audience, and when I turned to the world, my world had changed.
In your early days, how did you deal with stereotypes and industry expectations of how an actress should be? You’ve never been apologetic about the characters you’ve played – whether it was flawed, sensual, loud or silent. How did you stay so true to your choices?
I don’t think I did anything consciously. It’s just the way I am made. I am shamelessly accepting of my dreams and aspirations. I don’t think anything was stopping me from being a conventional heroine. Also, I never thought of myself as unconventional and different – these were the tags given to me. I wanted to be like all the actresses I had admired over the years. With every opportunity I got, I made the most of it – whether it was Guru with Mani Ratnam, Halla Bol with Rajkumar Santoshi or Salaam-E-Ishq with Nikkhil Advani. I played the lead in these films, but they were all different. That is who I am and that began to find expression. When there is success, you are okay being seen for who you are. There are two films where I feel I didn’t do my best – Heyy Babyy and Kismat Konnection. People enjoyed those films, but I got a lot of criticism for it.
It must have been shattering at that point. Would you say there were many such breaking points in your career, from where you had to rebuild your confidence, renew your spirit and rise again?
It happened at various points. After The Dirty Picture and Kahaani, many of my films didn’t work and I was going through a persecution complex. I felt everyone was out to get me. I began to assume a certain kind of self-importance thinking everyone was talking about me. Everyone is not talking about you, but you feel that because you are only looking at yourself. I thought, why is my dressing such a problem? Today, when I look back, yes, it was a huge problem, as I was not doing anything that I liked doing. I am so grateful for that period, those films, the criticism, the nasty things that people said and the humiliating experiences – it made me realize what is the kind of work I want to do. Who am I really? I slowly started embracing myself. It was tough and it came with a lot of heartbreak. I feel my father has given me a certain fearlessness to be myself and my mom has given me faith and that has taken me a long way.
When did the feeling of being comfortable with who you are — your work, your body — finally come in?
After The Dirty Picture, I was going through some health issues and the weight kept going up. I had also got married, so people thought that I was taking it easy. Every few months, there’d be a rumour that I was pregnant. I wanted to be invisible in those days, and that is a horrible place to be in. I was at my lowest professionally and personally because of the way I was viewing myself. I’ve been with a healer for the past 14 years, and that has been a huge help. It is a lifelong process. I feel now everyone goes through it and a lot more. At that point, I felt that I was being singled out and judged for everything. Today, I am more in touch with who I am.
If you met the Vidya of 2005 today, the Vidya who was on the cusp of becoming a star, what would you tell her?
I would say don’t try too hard. I’ve spent a lot of time trying too hard. Be yourself and go with the flow. Don’t think of where, what, when and how it will happen. It will all happen. Deep down, even I knew that, yet I needed life to teach me that through my journey.
In 2012, when your career was soaring, you married Siddharth (Roy Kapur) — despite having once said that marriage wasn’t really on the cards. Thirteen years in, has the experience changed your perspective?
Yes, I didn’t want to get married at all. Even today I don’t think partnerships are easy and I don’t think marriage is easy. But the fact that we both are from the industry is a blessing, because if anyone can understand our work and life, it is people from the same business. Now I’ve come to understand that marriage is always work in progress, it’s learning, unlearning, relearning and growing together. Siddharth and I never give each other advice, but we are fully supportive of each other and respect how passionate we are about what we do. I feel blessed to have a partner who lets me be. He is my anchor.
Your perspective on marriage has changed, but what were the beliefs or fears that made you resist it initially?
Earlier, I could never see myself getting married because I felt marriage was about domestication. I often wondered who my mother would have been if she hadn’t been married. I don’t know if she wondered that though. I always felt ki mujhe shaadi nahin karni hai. Also, I have always wanted to be better than the boys, so a long partnership with a boy seemed impossible. Come to think of it, maybe I never competed with the girls because I always thought the boys were my real competition. At the gym, I would lift heavier weights than the boys. We are two sisters, and I do think that my mom subconsciously wanted a boy, as she already had a girl. In our extended family, there were mostly girls, so the ones with boys were given that much more importance. These are very subconscious things, and I picked up on all those cues and I thought I will be better than the boys. Maybe that explains my career, too, in a way… don’t you think?
Perhaps, a lot of my hormonal issues were an outcome of this rejection of the feminine part of me and I fought it, as I wanted to constantly prove that I was better than the boys. But marriage has allowed me to accept that side of me. Maybe, it has made me realize that I’m not lesser and don’t need to be better than the boys to be good enough. I’m good enough just being me…wholly me!
Jyotika adopts the anti-inflammatory regimen; sheds 9 kilos in 3 months
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Actor Jyotika, recently seen in Dabba Cartel, adopts the anti-inflammatory regimen being widely discussed on social media to shed nine kilos in three months
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; March 26, 2025)
South actor Jyotika’s fitness regimen is not for the faint-hearted. Pulling off the kind of high-intensity plyometric workouts that would make those in their 20s raise their eyebrows, the actor, at 46, is easily an inspiration to women across the globe.
“Though I felt great and knew I was fit, I wanted to lose about 10 kilos, and wasn’t able to. Regardless of the diet I followed, I was able to shed only two kilos, which I would gain again if I ate even one meal [that wasn’t made at home]. It’s also due to how one’s metabolism [is affected] after they turn 40,” says Jyotika, who heard about a holistic approach from actor Vidya Balan’s interviews.
Jyotika, who lost nine kilos within three months, says the journey laid emphasis on gut health and began with a food-elimination process.
“[They’d add] one food each day to the diet and see how the body would react. If certain food would make you feel bloated, [they’d eliminate it]. Interestingly, certain foods that are considered ‘fattening’ weren’t leading to weight gain for me. But I was surprised to know that sweet potato doesn’t suit me. So, the programme is created based on how your gut reacts.”
Asserting that the company lays emphasis on enhancing health instead of encouraging weight loss, she says they encouraged her to eliminate inflammatory foods from the get-go.
“These include milk, gluten, peanuts and cashew nuts, sugar in every form, including fruits and organic sugars, soy and corn products, dals, and bread. As soon as you eliminate them, you lose about two kilos within the first few days. Over three months, I was made to add one food item each day and notice how my body was reacting. If I gained weight the next day, that was [an indicator] that the food wasn’t suiting me. By the end of three months, I could identify what suits me and what does not.”
Ask her what her diet comprises nowadays, and she says, “There’s so much to eat apart from these items. There’s rice, curries, non-vegetarian foods, and black coffee. You can have curd and paneer too, if they suit you. It wasn’t tough to adjust to the changes because you’re given an antidote for everything that is being eliminated. Almond milk can replace regular milk. If you must have dals, you are encouraged to have sprouted dals, because doing so rids them of their inflammatory properties. Food science is absolutely magical.”
Jyotika admits that with exercise being considered an inflammatory activity, she was encouraged to avoid practising it in the last few months. “But I haven’t felt my energy drop. They’ve also told me that I should be able to return to training within two weeks.”
I’d feel Salman Khan is as much our superstar as India’s because we also watched all his films-Mawra Hocane
9:01 AM
As Sanam Teri Kasam mints Rs. 65 cr on its re-release, Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane discusses cherishing Vidya Balan’s recent compliment, and her hope to feature in the sequel
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 3, 2025)
Over the past three weeks, one question has puzzled the industry—how has an obscure 2016 film gone on to make Rs 65 crore on its re-release? That’s the first thing we ask Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane when we call the Sanam Teri Kasam star.
“It re-released around the time I was getting married. When my social media blew up, I thought it’s just wedding wishes,” she laughs. “I’ve been receiving love for it all along. So, it’d surprise me that if I was getting so much love, how did the film not work?”
Over the past three weeks, one question has puzzled the industry—how has an obscure 2016 film gone on to make Rs. 65 crore on its re-release? That’s the first thing we ask Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane when we call the Sanam Teri Kasam star.
“It re-released around the time I was getting married. When my social media blew up, I thought it’s just wedding wishes,” she laughs. “I’ve been receiving love for it all along. So, it’d surprise me that if I was getting so much love, how did the film not work?”
After the 2016 Uri attack, the Indian film industry stopped collaborating with Pakistani artistes. A lot of hurdles would have to be crossed before Hocane is cast in the sequel.
“We all grew up watching Bollywood films. I’d feel Salman Khan is as much our superstar as India’s because we also watched all his films, be it Andaz Apna Apna [1994] or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam [1999]. Our emotional connection is because of not just Bollywood, but also art. I think the producers or the audiences don’t discriminate, but the technical issues hamper the process [of collaborating].”
After Sanam Teri Kasam’s re-release, Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan put up posts praising Hocane’s acting. “Mr Bachchan is a legend and he saw my movie! It will always be a cherished feeling. Vidya-ji has my heart. She did women-oriented roles when no one was doing them. It was my wedding reception and my husband [Ameer Gilani] told me that Vidya-ji has praised me. I was over the moon. They say, waqt se pehle aur naseeb se zyada kuch nahin milta. It has stood true for Sanam Teri Kasam.”
Not me, says Vidya Balan on AI-generated, deepfake videos of her
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BOMBAY TIMES (March 3, 2025)
Vidya Balan has warned fans against several inauthentic “AI-generated” videos featuring her likeness that are circulating on social media, saying she has no involvement in their creation or dissemination.
“There are multiple videos currently circulating on social media and WhatsApp, which appear to feature me. However, I want to clarify that the videos are AI-generated and inauthentic. I have no involvement in its creation or dissemination, nor do I endorse its content in any way (sic),” the actress wrote in a post.
“Any claims made in the videos should not be attributed to me, as it does not reflect my views or work. I urge everyone to verify information before sharing and be cautious of misleading AI-generated content. #FakeAlert #StayAware (sic),” she added.
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (March 3, 2025)
Vidya Balan has become the latest celeb to fall prey to the growing menace of deepfake videos. The actor issued a clarification, stating that she has no involvement in the creation or dissemination of such content. She shared a deepfake video on Instagram along with a note that read: “There are multiple videos currently circulating on social media and WhatsApp, which appear to feature me. However, I want to clarify that the videos are AI-generated and inauthentic.”
Vidya added, “I have no involvement in its creation or dissemination, nor do I endorse its content in any way. Any claims made in the videos should not be attributed to me, as it does not reflect my views or work. I urge everyone to verify information before sharing and be cautious of misleading AI-generated content.”
In the past, many Indian celebrities have been the victims of deepfakes, including Rashmika Mandanna, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Sachin Tendulkar.
Varun Dhawan, Vidya Balan on the guest list for Prajakta Koli’s wedding
8:17 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 25, 2025)
YouTuber-actor Prajakta Koli is set to marry long-time partner, lawyer Vrishank Khanal today. HT City was the first to report that the wedding would take place in Karjat, Maharashtra, and we have now learnt more details ahead of the nuptials.
A source close to the actor reveals to us that several Bollywood A-listers are expected to attend the ceremony. “Prajakta’s JugJugg Jeeyo (2022) co-star Varun Dhawan, actor Vidya Balan and rappers Badshah and Raftaar, are on the starry guest list,” the insider says.
The source also shares, “Prajakta’s bridal ensemble has been customised by designer Anita Dongre,” adding that the actor will be repurposing her mum’s wedding day saree and jewellery for the festivities.
The couple’s pre-wedding functions kicked off on Sunday with a mehendi ceremony. Pictures from the event showed the bride and groom-to-be shaking a leg with their families; in another picture, Vrishank could be seen planting a kiss on Prajakta’s cheek.
The couple, who reportedly met through a mutual friend, have been dating for years and got engaged in September 2023.
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