Kahaani (2012) marked Sujoy Ghosh’s first successful film after projects like Jhankaar Beats (2003), Home Delivery (2005), and Aladin (2009). Made on a tight budget of just Rs 15 crore, the film went on to earn Rs 79.20 crore globally, according to Sacnilk. Reflecting on the shoot, Sujoy recalled the challenges his team faced, including the inability to afford a vanity van for lead actress Vidya Balan. Due to budget constraints, she often had to change clothes inside an Innova parked on the roadside.
In an interview with Mashable India, Sujoy claimed Vidya saved him. “After Aladin’s failure, Vidya could have easily said no to Kahani. But, I have seen that generation of actors…Sir (Amitabh Bachchan) even till Khan saab (Shah Rukh Khan)…are very zubaan ka pakka. If they commit to something, they do it. Vidya also falls under that category. She stuck to Kahani.”
He added, “You have no idea. We didn’t have any budget to even afford a vanity van. We didn’t have the luxury of pausing shoot because we were on a tight budget. So, every time she had to change, we used to cover her Innova with a black cloth, in the middle of the road, and she used to change inside and come out for shoot.”
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Sujoy Ghosh also shared the story of how he cast Vidya Balan. He had seen her in an ICICI advertisement and had resolved to work with her someday. Their paths crossed at Sanjay Gupta’s office, where Vidya was there for a narration by Meghna Gulzar. Sujoy recalled, “That day, we made a pact, exchanging Rs 1 coins, promising to collaborate in the future. It took years, but despite my previous films, she remembered that promise.”
Kahaani ultimately garnered critical acclaim and became a hit. It was widely praised for its screenplay, cinematography, and powerful performances. The film also starred Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a key role.
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