Vidya Balan talks about her recently released film ‘Jalsa’ doing female-led films and expectations around her. Jalsa has been directed by Suresh Triveni and also stars Shefali Shah.
After working in ‘Sherni’ and ‘Shakuntala Devi’ last year, actress Vidya Balan has now returned to the silver screen with ‘Jalsa’. The movie also features Shefali Shah and has been directed by Suresh Triveni. She mentioned how with every film, she feels like she is delivering a baby and as the due date comes near, she wants to get done with it.
According to a report by the Indian Express, the actress said in a recent interview, “You are like ab bas hogaya (laughs). There is always excitement but you just want the film to be out soon.”
The title of the film has sparked numerous debates, with people even calling it actor Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘house biopic’. Laughing at the reference, the actor wondered who they thought among her and Shefali Shah qualified for the part. ‘Jalsa’ as one would know is used as a term for a celebration or a bash. Given the film looks ‘serious’ Balan was quizzed on the justification of the title.
“Firstly, I want to say that the word serious has a very boring connotation. Our film thus is anything but serious. It’s intense, gripping, engaging, and all of that. Jalsa is normally used as a term for the coming together of many people. It’s used as an irony of sorts in this film. The accident affects many people and not just the driver and the one who comes under the wheel,” she shared.
While her co-star Shefali Shah had to wait for long to get meaty roles, Vidya Balan has been the hero of most of her films. On asked if having started off as a leading lady helps in the kind of roles that comes one’s way and she was quick to say, “Not at all. People are quite shameless and will come to you with everything. Sometimes I go, ‘bhaisaab but aap mere paas kyu aaye ho (Brother, why have you come to me)? Hero ka role de rahe ho (Will you give me the hero’s role)? They just have no qualms and want to take a chance. I am not saying that I will only play the most important role but I need something that I can dig my teeth into.”
The National Award-winning actor further said that she doesn’t consider waiting for good projects a struggle. Sharing that she feels fortunate having entered the industry when she was 26 years, an age when most female actors’ careers slowed down back in the day.
“I came in with an author-backed role and that made all the difference. I feel fortunate to have gotten this kind of work. Of course, there is always trial and error, ups and downs but I am glad for every opportunity as it has taken me a step forward. Whether it worked or not I am proud of all the work that’s put out there. Also, with time the roles have only gotten better and more varied. When I started, people may have said she is the only one doing it. I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. But today, every female actor is playing these strong parts. Look at Shefali, she is probably the busiest actor after she crossed 40, and with the right kind of work on her plate,” shared Balan.
Also starring Rohini Hattangady, Iqbal Khan, Vidhatri Bandi, Srikant Mohan, Shafeen Patel and Surya Kasibhatla, 'Jalsa' will stream on Amazon Prime Video.