All About Vidya Balan

Parineeta (2005)

2008-03-31T15:29:00.000-07:00

Parineeta (Hindi: परिणीता, Urdu: پرنیتا, translation: The Married Woman) is a Bollywood musical adaptation of the 1914 Bengali novella, Parineeta by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Directed by debutant Pradeep Sarkar[2], the film was based upon a screenplay by the film's producer, Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The movie featured Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan in the lead roles. Sanjay Dutt as the supportive Girish and Raima Sen as Lolita's chirpy companion play supporting roles in the film. Sabyasachi Chakravarthy playing the pivotal role of Shekhar's father, Diya Mirza with a cameo appearance as Shekhar's fiancé and Rekha, a yesteryear actress from the Bollywood, with a cameo performance of a night club (Moulin Rouge) singer are other notable performances from the film.

The film primarily revolves around the lead characters, Lolita and Shekhar. Since childhood, Shekhar and Lolita have been friends and slowly this friendship blossoms into love. A series of misunderstandings surface and both of them are separated with the conniving schemes of Shekhar's father. The plot deepens with the arrival of Girish who supports Lolita's family. Eventually, Shekhar's love defies his father's greed and he seeks Lolita.

The film, which had several notable allusions to the Indian literature and cinema, opened to the Indian audiences on June 10, 2005. Despite the pre-release inhibitions, the film received critical acclaim and praise. It went on the win the Filmfare Awards apart from several prominent awards. The director even went on to win the prestigious National Award for the Best First Film.[2] The film, which also released as a DVD, was showcased at prominent international film festivals.

Plot

This film adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 novella, Parineeta, places the story in the Kolkata of 1962. As the credits roll, scenes from the erstwhile Calcutta are displayed along with the narrator's (Amitabh Bachchan) introduction of the era to the audience. The narration focuses on the night of the marriage of Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan) and Gayatri Tantya (Diya Mirza), a rich industrialist's daughter. The audience is introduced to Navin Rai (Sabyasachi Chakravarthy) as Shekhar's father while we see Shekhar readying himself for the occasion. While he is doing that, images of Lolita calling him by his name flash through his mind. Downstairs, musical celebrations begin as Shekhar meets Vasundhara, a widow from his neighborhood, who is thankful to her son-in-law, Girish (Sanjay Dutt), for supporting their family after the death of her husband, Gurcharan. Lolita, who is present there, playfully confronts Shekhar as to why he is being indifferent to her. Shekhar admonishes her for speaking so in spite of being married.

An angry Shekhar comes back home to play a favorite tune from the past on his piano. The flashback shows a young Shekhar playing the Rabindranath Tagore’s tune on his piano while young Lolita and Koel are around. Lolita, with her parents having died in a car accident, lives with Gurcharan’s family whereas Koel and Charu are her neighbors. As this scene flashes across Shekhar’s mind, he sings a song full of sadness and loss. As time flies, they grow up to become close friends. A rebellious and musically inclined Shekhar, spends his days playing the music of Rabindranath Tagore or Elvis Presley and composing his own songs with Lolita, rather than becoming part of his shrewd father's world of profit and business. Part of this rebellion involves resistance to meeting Gayatri Tantia (Diya Mirza), the beautiful but, devious daughter of a wealthy industrialist, whom his father would like Shekhar to marry into. Meanwhile, Girish, a steel tycoon from London, makes a dramatic entry into Koel’s house. Girish seems smitten by Lolita whereas Koel is by Girish. Shekhar is visibly jealous of Lolita’s close friendship with Girish.

One day, a shocked Lolita, who’s employed at the Rai’s office, realises of a hotel project from Gurcharan’s ancestral haveli (palatial house). On an earlier occasion, Gurcharan had borrowed money from Navin Rai after putting his haveli on mortage. She understands that if the money is not be repayed in a few months, Navin Rai would take over the property. She immediately thinks of asking Shekhar for monetary help. Unforeseen circumstances prevent this and Girish upon realising this, alleviates their problem by making Gurcharan his business partner. Gurcharan repays the debt and the turn of events prompts Shekhar to think why Lolita chose to ask Girish for money instead of him. On one auspicious night, Shekhar and Lolita apparently get married without anyone’s knowledge.

While Shekhar is off to Darjeeling on a business trip, Navin Rai violently thunders on Lolita about the loss of his hotel project embarrassing and humiliating her. Rai gets a wall built between his and Gurcharan’s house symbolizing the end of their association. Gurcharan unable to digest this faces a heart attack. Upon Shekhar’s return, Rai informs him of the ill-health of his mother and Gurcharan and viciously adds a note of Lolita and Girish’s marriage. Shekhar is digusted to hear of the marriage and in the anger he scowls at Lolita, humiliating her like his father. In the meanwhile, Girish assists the Gurcharan family and takes them to London for the heart treatment. Misunderstandings follow and upon the family’s return from London, Shekhar assumes that Girish and Lolita are married and agrees to marry Gayatri. The film returns to the night of Shekhar’s marriage when Girish hands him the ownership papers of Gurcharan’s haveli. He shocks Shekhar by telling him that he got married to Koel because Lolita denied his marriage proposal. As a conclusion, Shekhar confronts his father and symbolically breaks down the wall separating the two families. He then brings Lolita to his home as his bride much to the delight of his mother

Kismet Konnection

2008-03-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

Speculation has been rife with regards to the title of the film starring teen heart throb Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan, directed by esteemed director Aziz Mirza. At times the film was called Lucky Charm and at times Kismet Connection.

But now producer Ramesh Taurani, TIPS Films, has laid all speculations to rest and has officially announced the title of the film as Kismat Konnection.

After the super success and critically appreciated Chalte Chalte, Aziz Mirza, after a long hiatus has taken the directorial baton again with Kismat Konnection.

And also riding high with the commercial success of Vivaah and Jab We Met Shahid Kapur and Vidya Balan with Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiya, are touted to be the new fresh pairing to share great onscreen chemistry.

The industry too is waiting with bated breath for the onscreen chemistry to create magic in the box office stakes, since both are riding the high crest of success respectively, and are bullish that Kismat Konnection will be the much awaited blockbuster for 2008.

Says producer Ramesh Taurani "Yes, I have finalized the title for our Shahid and Vidya starrer, directed by Aziz Mirza, as Kismat Konnection. I am very confident that the fresh pairing of Shahid Kapur and Vidya Balan will sizzle onscreen."

Cast And Crew

* Shahid Kapoor
* Vidya Balan
* Haidar Ali
* Vishal Malhotra
* Aziz Mirza

"I have never gone knocking on anyone's door"-Vidya Balan

2007-09-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

Vidya Balan has clearly been wasted in Guru. But knowing how actors will react when faced with a question like, "How did you agree to do this film, when there was no role in it for you?" I can tell you the answer to this one will be, "How can one refuse Mani Sir's film? It's an honour to be a part of the film!" Well, while it definitely is an honour to be a part of any Mani Ratnam film, Vidya's role could have been done by anybody, really. Looks like the girl requires some solid guidance on which films to sign. However, having said that, for someone who never tried getting into movies, Vidya has stolen a march over her peers. "I was happy doing the ads that kept coming my way. I shot no portfolio. On the basis of my first ad, I kept getting other work and that's how it all happened. I have never gone knocking on producer's or director's doors. As long as I could act, I was happy in whatever the medium was," she says. Let's hope Salaam-E-Ishq gets her undoes the damage of Guru.
Source glamsham.com

Source glamsham.com

Halla Bol - Movie Stills

2007-09-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Halla Bol is a forthcoming Bollywood film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. This film stars Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan in pivotal roles and 11 celebrities as themselves in guest appearances. The film is directed by Rajkumar Santoshi who directed films like Khakee and The Legend of Bhagat Singh and is produced by Samee Siddiqui. The film's score and soundtrack will be composed by Sukhwinder Singh. The film has completed its shooting and is currently scheduled to release on September 7, 2007.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa - First look

2007-09-11T18:07:00.000-07:00

Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a remake of the 1983 Malayalam superhit 'Manichithrathazhu' and has been extensively shot in Jaipur and nearby locales.

Speaking about the film Priyadarshan, who in the past has given us hits like Virasat, Hera Pheri, Hungama and Hulchul said, ""With this movie, I am trying to reveal many dimensions of human psychology."

Synopsis

Siddharth (Shiney Ahuja) returns to his hometown in the interiors of India with his newly wed wife Avni (Vidya Balan).

His large extended family heartily welcomes him back but is very perturbed by his insistences on staying his royal ancestral mansion because they believe that the mansion holds a dark and deadly secret that for generation had caused ruin in the family.

The scientifically inclined Siddharth and his wife Avni brush aside the concerns of the family. However, very soon they are confronted with inexplicable and dangerous happenings in the mansion.

At his wits end, Siddharth turns to his dynamic Doctor friend Aditya (Akshay Kumar) for help. A determined Aditya doggedly investigates and grapples with the mysterious happenings in order to sift reality from myth. He eventually discovers that nothing is what it seems and what seems and the devastating reality is enough to shatter all truth.

Slide Show

Vidya Balan, the bindas college gal

2007-09-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

Sharing her memories is Averyl D'sa, who studied with Vidya Balan

Vidya and I studied together from kindergarten to Standard 10 at St Anthony's Girls High School in Chembur, Mumbai. We were also in the same college, St Xavier's; she was in the Arts stream while I took Science.

When I was scanning my school album some days ago, I was shocked to see the transformation. Nobody would have recognised Vidya in the picture.

She was a bindas girl full of masti and would compere all our major events in school. We knew she would rock in the entertainment industry as she had this spirit and determination.

It was her dream to appear on screen and that is why she enrolled at Prithvi's theatre school. After college, I did not get the opportunity to meet her in person due to her busy schedule but was in touch with her over the phone. I keep track of her performances and religiously send her SMSes before her film releases. I also give her feedback post release.

A very religious girl, I remember bumping into her every Wednesday when she would visit a temple near my house.

She may be a late entrant in the film industry but she made her presence felt in a short time through her hard work and simplicity. A major transformation from her Hum Paanch character to the Parineeta [Images] gal. In fact, it was a delight to see her in the various commercials before her break into movies.

I feel very proud of her whenever I see her onscreen. She has put in so much of hard work and it's finally paid off.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa

2007-09-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a musical, horror, comedy directed by Priyadarshan. The film is a remake of 2005 Tamil movie Chandramukhi, which was the remake of Kannada film Aaptamitra, which itself was based upon a Malyalam film, Manichitrathazhu.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa ventures into one of the confusing yet interesting study of human psychology, that is split personality or multiple personality disorder. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Shiney Ahuja, Vidya Balan, Amisha Patel, in pivotal roles and Paresh Rawal and Rajpal yadav in supporting roles.

Checkout the video of remix version of the title song Teri Aankhe Bhool Bhulaiya, the new trailer for the movie. Say Hare Ram Hare Ram Hare Krishna Hare Ram.. Enjoy!!!

To watch the exclusive promo of Bhool Bhulaiyaa,

Vidya Balan - Fav Food

2007-08-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

The pretty woman insists that contrary to the popular notion she’s not a “foodie” or even finicky about her food. She enjoys even a plateful of rice and boiled dal. However, she does admits that there are some meals that she relishes more than most. A mmmmmouthful of delicacies from Vidya Balan
Parathas:
I absolutely freak out on parathas of any kind. Aloo parathas, gobi parathas, paneer parathas...They’re all yummy! When we were shooting for Bhool Bhulaiya I got hooked on Priyadarshan’s tiffin for its parathas, karele ki sabzi and a raagi sewaiyan that’s like steamed noodles and great for someone on a diet.

Masala chai:
I just can’t do without my masala chai. When I’m travelling I carry sachets so I don’t have to do without my cuppa.

Thai:
I adore Thai food. Steamed rice and green curry is a long-time favourite.
Cakes & pastries: I know I should stay away from them but well, cakes and pastries, specially the chocolate ones, are absolutely irresistible.

Mother’s touch:
I love home-cooked food and if my mother’s made it, it’s heaven. My sister teases me saying that even if mom were to serve me saltless food I’d relish it. I guess, it’s the love that makes all the difference.

Intro to Vidya

2007-08-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Early life

Although born in Palakkad to Tamil Iyer parents in Kerala, Vidya Balan grew up in Mumbai and attended St. Anthony's Girls High School, St. Xavier's College, Bombay and later the University of Mumbai. She graduated from college with a Sociology degree. She speaks several languages including Tamil, Malayalam, English, Hindi, and Bengali.

Career

Vidya Balan, then Vidya Iyer, movie career started when she was signed to appear in the Malayalam film Chakram, alongside Superstar Mohanlal. But the movie was shelved. After that, she was signed in Tamil by Lingusamy for his Run, but for reasons undisclosed, she was dropped after a first schedule and replaced by Meera Jasmine.[1] In the jinx driven industry Vidya was dropped from her second Tamil movie "Manasellam" opposite to Srikanth, on the grounds of 'non-performance' and replaced by Trisha Krishnan.

She then turned to television advertising. From 1998 onwards, she appeared in numerous television ads, many of which were directed by Pradeep Sarkar. She also took supporting roles in music videos, appearing with singers and bands such as Euphoria, Shubha Mudgal, and Pankaj Udhas, and acted in Hindi soap operas like Hum Paanch (sitcom). She portrayed the role of Radhika Mathur in few episodes of season 1 of Hum Paanch which was first aired in 1995. She was replaced by Amita Nangia at the end of the first season.There has been much speculation about her age as she is very reluctant to reveal the year of birth.

In 2005, she finally made her appearance on the big screen, in two movies. She appeared in a Bengali film, Bhalo Theko, for which she won the Best Actress Anand Lok Puraskar award in Kolkata. Also in 2005, Balan made her Hindi film debut in Parineeta. The film was very successful at the box office.

After the success of Parineeta the same producer who dropped Vidya Balan from Manasellam saying that she was not emoting properly & non photogenic, was after her to sign her opposite to none other than Kamal Hassan for Dasavatharam. But Vidya Balan rejected the offer and Asin Thottumkal was signed instead.[citation needed]

In 2006 she appeared opposite Sanjay Dutt in the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. The movie was a major hit within India and was ranked #1 on the box office for eight weeks after its release.[2] Telugu Superstar Chiranjeevi who is enacting the remake of Lage Raho Munnabhai desperately wanted to sign Vidya Balan and the producer even offered her a remuneration of Rs. 1 crore, but Vidya Balan was not tempted to return South again.[citation needed]

Vidya was recently seen in a supporting role in Mani Ratnam's Guru; she played a woman with a physical disability[3] and she played a woman with amnesia in the multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love. Her latest release is Eklavya: The Royal Guard which got mixed reviews.

Vidya's next release will be Priyadarshan's version of malayalam hit "Manichitrathazhu" that roughly translates to "magic lock". The movie is about the mysteries of superstitions, supernatural power and split personality. Vidya essays the role immortalised by Shobana, who had bagged the Best Actress Award in 1990. Priyadarshan worked in the second unit of the original as a tribute to his master Fazil.

Personal lifeHer father, P. R. Balan, is the Vice President of ETC Channel and her mother is a housewife.

In a video interview, Vidya has stated that she is "extremely spiritual", has a "firm faith in God" and visits temples everyday .[4]

Gossip columnists linked Vidya with one of her co-stars, John Abraham. She strongly denied the allegations, saying that the rumors were "vile".[5]

Awards2006: Star Screen Award Most Promising Newcomer - Female for Parineeta 2006: Star's Sabsey Favourite Nayi Heroine for Parineeta 2006: Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female for Parineeta 2006: FairOne Filmfare Face of the Year for Parineeta 2006: Filmfare Best Debut Award for Parineeta 2006: Zee Cine Award Best Female Debut for Parineeta 2006: International Indian Film Academy Awards, Best Female Debut for Parineeta 2003: Anand Lok Puraskar Award, Best Actress for Bhalo Theko

Nominations2007: International Indian Film Academy Awards: Best Actress for Lage Raho Munnabhai