People’s person

Until a year ago,the media attention Vidya Balan was receiving was often negative. After a fallout with stylist Manish Malhotra over the criticism she received for her look in Heyy Babyy,all that people were focusing on was her appearance. Soon things started changing for the better. She lost many a kilo,stocked up her wardrobe with Sabyasachis,and bagged lucrative roles alongside veterans like Naseeruddin Shah in Ishqiya and Amitabh Bachchan in Paa. Two hit films and a slew of awards later,this beauty is now the one having the last laugh as directors,including the legendary artist-filmmaker M F Husain,are vying for her attention. “The last year has been eventful indeed. All the negativity is behind me and this is the best phase of my career. It allows me to choose the projects I wish to do.”

Seated on a couch by the window in her recently-acquired apartment in Khar — another significant achievement — she glances at the traffic and the lights below. The room is tastefully done and a touch of ethnicity —that also dominates her new wardrobe — is evident in the elegant cane single-seaters,the old-world study table and the warm green,yellow and red tones of the upholstery. “My sister is the one more aesthetically tuned in. So I would often consult her in Delhi while deciding how we wanted the house done up.” But unlike many of her contemporaries,Balan has chosen to move into her new apartment along with her family. “My loved ones consider this house as a huge achievement on my part but I am just not the kind of person to live alone if my family is in this city. I get all the independence living with them,so why live alone?” she quips.

Having recently wrapped up the shooting of Rajkumar Gupta’s No One Killed Jessica alongside Rani Mukerji,she is now back in the city. The movie,she confesses,is one of her most important films. “It’s a very different experience since it has an element of realism in it. And to work with Rani has been gratifying.”

The last few days have been exceptionally busy as she has had non-stop script reading sessions with a number of filmmakers. However,once done with Jessica and Sujoy Ghosh’s next,she wants some breathing time before she signs any more films. “Now,I am more fearless about the roles I choose. I may not always want to do experimental work. In fact,I’m quite open to doing a regular film,but the role should challenge me in some way,” she asserts.

Her choice of films last year won her awards for Paa and critical appreciation for Ishqiya. While she says she eagerly looks forward to more trophies “because they are the physical manifestation and proofs of all the compliments”,reaching out to the audience plays a more critical role. “I was a tad disappointed when despite appreciation for Bhool Bhulaiyaa,I didn’t win an award. In retrospect,I am satisfied because it made me a face to reckon with even in the smaller cities and towns. And that has brought the success I cherish today.”