Kahaani 2 star Vidya Balan: I have always got the money I have quoted

Of course, there have been failures too but Vidya has always remained a force to reckon with, continually attracting powerful women-oriented roles, including Kahaani 2. And long before Queen happened, it was Vidya who championed the cause of women-centric films successfully by getting the audience to flock theatres to watch a movie that didn’t have a Khan or Kapoor in it. In fact, this made Anurag Kashyap call Vidya a female Amitabh Bachchan and a female Aamir Khan. While Vidya is aware of the monikers bestowed on her, she believes it was good films that made things work and not just her performance. “I feel humbled when people say this about me. But I truly believe that I was in well-made films and those worked for me. My past four films haven’t worked. So it’s not just me. I alone can’t create box-office success,” said Vidya.

While Vidya can’t create box office success alone, failures have never forced her to collaborate with superstar Khans to create a mega blockbuster. And that is precisely why she has never felt the pay disparity pinch that is prevalent in the industry where female actors are paid less vis-a-vis male superstars. “I am not aware of what the disparity or parity is here. For the past eight to nine years, I have not worked with any superstar. But I will say this that I have always got the money I have quoted,” said Vidya.

And unlike others who express contempt when someone terms films that revolve around an actress as women-oriented, Vidya has no problems with the term. “For so many years, we have been seeing hero-oriented films. Now we have female actors playing central characters so it is okay to call it female-oriented. Someday there will be an equal number of male and female-oriented films and that will put an end to these terminologies. No one calls Gravity a female-centric film. So I think we still have some way to go before reaching there. Till then there is no harm in acknowledging it as female-oriented.”

The Kahaani 2 actress also never takes box-office numbers lightly. Despite being an A-lister, Vidya is very well aware how less numbers at the box-office can affect an actor. “Box office numbers are very important. It’s heartbreaking when a film doesn’t do well. I don’t really understand the business of cinema but all I want is more and more people to watch Kahaani 2. You put so much into it and that is what you ultimately want.”

Also read : Kahaani 2 audience reaction: This is an out-and-out Vidya Balan show, watch video

After Kahaani 2, yet another women-centric drama in the form of Begum Jaan is lined up for Vidya. When asked how she always ends up doing such films, Vidya said, “When you want something, the universe conspires to get you that. Perhaps these kind of films veer towards me. I too get drawn to issues that are specific to women. And by doing then, I am also trying to realise my worth and value with every passing day.”

Also read: Kahaani 2 movie review: Vidya Balan’s performance is the saving grace of this predictable thriller

Talking about passing days brings us to her glorious decade-old career in Bollywood where she has now conquered heights sans any godfather. In Vidya’s own words, the journey has been a blessed one for it helped her realise her dream of becoming an actor. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. There have been ups and downs but it’s been a great and blessed journey,” said Vidya before signing off.