Vidya Balan: I'm a tigress on the prowl as far as acting is concerned

Written By Shweta Parande Mumbai Updated: November 2, 2017 02:39 pm

She is someone who catches your eye in an instant with her personality. Someone whose laughter resonates through her eyes - an infectious laughter. Someone who has not followed the beaten path to becoming one of most successful and respected Bollywood actresses of all time. She is - Vidya Balan. PINKVILLA got to exclusively meet Vidya Balan ahead of the release of her film Tumhari Sulu on November 17. In her cosy home, Vidya is at ease while talking about her life and career, and she makes us comfortable, too. Her interaction is very genuine and relaxed. Vidya speaks about her love for finding new characters to play on screen and how involved she gets. She also speaks about her personal life and managing work-life balance as also her equation with her husband Sidharth Roy Kapur. The actress also opens up, for the FIRST TIME, about the political scenario in the country and the world, and in context, terrorism.

Vidya Balan is at her candid best, just like her character in her upcoming release Tumhari Sulu. Here are excerpts from the exclusive interview of Vidya Balan:

I think absolutely different. Firstly in the last few years, I've not done a light-hearted role, I've been doing very serious stuff. So this was a refreshing change for me. But most importantly I think, I smile and laugh a lot in real life. People keep telling me 'You should do a role which gives you a chance to show your mad side'. And I think Sulu is that role. Like that last shot in the trailer where I laugh like a mad one in front of Vijay Maurya, I think that's who I am. And that's what I'm happiest about that this film is giving me the chance to show my mad side (laughs)... and to smile and laugh. I just look for reasons to be happy and Tumhari Sulu is a perfect film to have done therefore. Because it's a happy film.

Because she's an enthu cutlet. She wants to try everything. She is not shy. She says and believes in 'Main kar sakti hai' (I can do it) for everything. I love that. I am like that. I think that is very inspiring in a way. Umm...(pauses) No, I'm not fully like her (Sulu). The thing completely similar between the two of us is that we smile and laugh a lot. Laugh at the world, laugh at ourselves... find everything funny. (Laughs)

Yeah, I think so, too.

No. I think every character I've played, I've found points of identification with. But it's the first time that I'm smiling and laughing so much as a character. I am someone who smiles and laughs very easily. So, it's the first time that I've got a character that smiles and laughs as easily as I do. But with every character there is some point of identification. Otherwise I can't play that character.

Yeah. But I wouldn't say that Tumhari Sulu was therefore that much easier. There is comedy but it's very slice of life. It's very real, situational. She is just a mad capper. Sorry, she is just a mad hatter. That creates the situations in life. You do know people like her in real life. That's what makes Tumhari Sulu funny and very relatable.

I think it was, in that sense, difficult maintaining the balance (while playing Sulu). Suresh Triveni the director was doing that job; I was just acting. Sometimes he would ask for a little more and sometimes less. That balance was struck by him. When you're trying to achieve the nuances that balance is very delicate. He manages that beautifully.

Tumhari Sulu was probably one of the best written scripts I've seen in a long time. Slice of life as a genre is that much tougher to write. It doesn't have that much action or it's not a love story. But Suresh has done the film beautifully.

I think so, too. That was my reaction when I heard the director narrate it. When you see Tumhari Sulu you will feel that 'Duniya main sab sahi hai' (all is well). There is nowadays too much focus on negativity, even in the news. When you see Sulu you feel that 'Yeah, there are problems in life, but there is goodness, too'.

Yeah. But all the people who have worked on Tumhari Sulu are very positive, and that helped bring in positivity in the process of the film.

You know, this question doesn't apply to me. I'm in a very privileged position. When I am at work, I don't think about the house. And when I'm at home, I'm doing my own thing. I have people taking care of things. I'm fortunate that I'm not having to strike that balance. But most women I know are having to strike that balance. It's so tough to be a working woman and play the roles of wife and mother and homemaker - everything is so demanding. Hats off to women who are able to do that. Really.

Today sometimes some men support their wife but still it's not an equal sharing. Unfortunately when it comes to a home it is still seen as a woman's territory. But I think the beauty of a modern marriage is that...the truly successful or rather happy marriage is where there is an equal partnership between a husband and wife. Even in urban situations maybe the men help a little more but not so much considering both are having to step out to work.

Indira Gandhi. I long to play Indira Gandhi. I've been offered the role of Indira Gandhi a couple of times, but it's not really worked out so far in terms of script. Maybe (if) someone writes a good script someday...

Yeah. I just find her a formidable force. And when we think of a powerful name in the country Indira Gandhi's name is foremost and the only woman prime minister we've had. So, I'd love to play Indira Gandhi. But (play) lots of other things as well. I could never imagine I would play a homemaker who is a late night RJ (in Tumhari Sulu). My imagination is very limited in it. I'm hoping there are lots of writers who can think of interesting stories to tell with me.

Yeah, but sometimes the idea doesn't translate into a good script. I've still done films which are idea-based, but something's got lost in translation. And sometimes it is just...it is not actually the amount you're getting (paid) but what actually resonates with you and what you instinctively feel like doing.

No, I don't think as an actor I have any limitations in my head.

No, I'm not a trained actor. I don't know what method acting is. But if you take your job seriously people end up telling you, 'Oh, you're a method actor'. It's not about being a method actor. I don't even know what a 'method' is. I take my job seriously. I love to know the person I'm playing.

I have my own process. I like to know the script really well, to know the director, to know the person I'm going to play really well, which happens only when you sit with the writer and director.

She is one of those who has had a kid and now she lands herself a job as an RJ. But even as a home manager, she's constantly doing things and she loves participating in these contests.

I don't think so. It's whether you want to have a kid or not. I don't think motherhood completes a woman or anything. But if you yearn to have a child, whether you are doing it naturally or through surrogacy, doesn't matter.

There are days when I wake up edgy and tired and you just want some space. It happens during movie promotions (laughs), when you're surrounded by hundreds of people. Or you could just have had a bad day. I do have bad days. Nobody wakes up smiling every day. But if you could do that most of the time, it is still good.

Yeah, doing promotions and (appearing on) television shows...you are out there and it's just relentless for a month at least and for the films that I do invariably I'm the one who is out there and a lot of times all by myself. It's very exhausting, but I have figured my way to enjoy the promotions 'cos that's the only way you will survive it. I enjoy it, as I like meeting new people. It's tiring but my attitude is happy. I look for reasons to be happy.

Of course, I get tired, agitated and stressed all of that. But I'm very blessed because I have a good team. I'm surrounded by people who have a similar disposition as me. That's important because they're like your family. They're the family you end up sending more time with than your actual family. You are constantly on the go with them so it's important to have a good team.

We share what all we are doing, but we don't advise each other. We are sounding boards for each other. I don't think he has any inputs as far as my career is concerned and vice versa. But we support each other.

No! Far from it. Lots more to do, lots many more people to know, lots many more lives to live, lots more stories to tell as an actor.

Absolutely. So I always say that I'm a tigress on the prowl, as far as acting is concerned. When my stomach is full, I'm happy, when I've just done a role. In a li'l while, I get hungry again! (laughs heartily)

Whenever I read a story I imagine myself as one of the characters. So whether it's a script or a story I'm reading, or even when I'm watching a film, sometimes I'm imagining myself as one of the characters. That's a default setting. (laughs)

Towards my career? Or even generally, I think it's constantly changing. I don't think I feel the same as I felt last year. It's constantly changing and hopefully evolving.

Yeah. I always say my films are a reflection of my state of mind. So, I was ready to deal with my angst in Begum Jaan. I was ready to be my happy self in Tumhari Sulu.

I don't know. I'm going through scripts and the script will actually tell me what state of mind I'm in. Depending on what I respond to, I know, oh okay...

Of course, if there's an interesting part, why not? As an actor, there's nothing I say no to.

I've not said yes to anything. I'm in the process of reading. Now, until 17th November there's only Tumhari Sulu. Whatever decision I take will be after that.

I think as a society, not just the Indian society, in the world there is too much negativity today. Y'know, we are only focussing on the negative. We're quick to jump to conclusions, to voice our opinions, to judge people, to persecute them depending on our judgement. There's too much... (pauses) divide and rule seems to be not just the thing of the British Raj. I think it's true of politicians the world over now. They seem to want to divide and rule, to foster insecurities; they seem to encourage people to think of themselves as different from others. They want to drive home how they have been wronged - as a people, as a community, race, religion, gender...

Yeah, but that we don't have control over. Politicians are the people who we are voting for, so they have a sense of responsibility. Terrorists are anti-social elements whom we would like to wish away but we can't and don't know how to do away with them. But what we can do is fortify ourselves as a society by showing people that there are no differences. What are the basic differences that you're born with? Gender is the only difference. Biological differences are the only natural differences that people have been born with. Everything else is superimposed - the religion you are born into or the country you are born in. To me, all this is very disturbing. I don't read the papers anymore. It's very depressing. There is no credible source to the news. I dare say that most publications, TV news channels and websites - I'm given to believe and I don't know the truth - have a political agenda. You would want media to be above any political considerations. Maybe not all publications, but we are living in an environment of distrust therefore.

It is not just expecting others to be more accommodating or large-hearted or inclusive or secular. I think the change is to start with us. We should reach a stage where the politicians are actually working for us and not working us.

I always credit my stylist and my makeup and hair people. The traditional wear is my personal style. Depending on what I want to wear, my stylists pick up clothes. I'm working with stylists that understand my personality. My clothes have to be an extension of my personality; they can't overpower me. I've worked with stylists who've never understood my personality. Currently I am with these two boys Pranay and Shounak, who are very good. And my makeup and hair people Shreyas and Shalaka have been with me forever. My manager Aditi also contributes. Whether it's a performance or an appearance, we don't work in isolation. So, when there's credit, I'm more than happy to share it.