Actor Vidya Balan and her Do Aur Do Pyaar co-star Pratik Gandhi graced the inaugural session of Indian Express’s new six-part series Expresso. At the event, Vidya shared how she has faced a witch hunt in the Hindi film industry. She also opened up about being body-shamed, facing criticism for her fashion choices, and more.
During the conversation, Vidya said, “Yes, there was a witch hunt, if I have to be honest. It came from a personal issue that someone was having with me. But it’s okay. I am better for it today.”
She added, “You had to see my mother. Every time I stepped out for an appearance, I would be at the door and she would look me from top to toe and she would ask if it was okay me going dressed like that. Suddenly I would lose my confidence because I would see her nervous. Honestly, it was disproportionate because it was weight on my body, clothes that I wore, kisi ke baap ka kya jaata hai?”
Also Read: Vidya Balan shares she was cheated on by her first boyfriend: ‘I was into a****’
Vidya Balan even shared how she felt attacked by the Page 3 culture where her name was dragged even in articles that were not related to her. She shared, “The Page 3 culture had started and I was appearing in it for all the wrong reasons. People would just mention me in articles not related to me also. That was the time when it was barely two years of being an actor and in films, and I thought I just could not deal with such toxicity. But guess what? I could! Today, I do exactly what I want and wear exactly what I want and don’t care about what anyone has to say. Therefore, everyone has begun to say ‘oh wow’.”
When asked if she ever broke down and how she looked at herself back then when she appeared on screen, Vidya said, “I come from a non-film family, so if there was a costume designer on a film I would not second guess what he was giving me to wear. I would think there were HODs for a reason and I am not going to stand and tell the DOP how they should light the frame. Similarly, I would wear what the costume designer picked for me but obviously, they didn’t know their job. In retrospect, I feel I was sticking out like a sore thumb because it wasn’t challenging me or fulfilling me. I was not okay playing second fiddle. That phase was very crucial for me because that led me to choose an Ishqiya and do a Paa, The Dirty Picture, Kahaani, No One Killed Jessica, and so on.”
Also Read: Vidya Balan says she was replaced from a ‘dozen’ films after project with Mohanlal got shelved, producer refused to meet her after checking ‘kundli’
The Indian Express group, HSBC and Taj Hotels have come together to build a unique platform- The Indian Express ‘Expresso’ with an aim to create content that is eclectic, intimate, intelligent and fun with personalities from sphere of art, culture and entertainment.
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