Vidya's unusual Valentine Day

by Subhash K Jha
Is Vidya Balan following in Shabana Azmi's footsteps? While the rest of Bollywood was probably spending their day whispering sweet-nothings to loved ones, Vidya Balan decided to use Valentine's Day to do something far more creative and constructive.

"I'll be in Pakistan on 14 February for the the release of the Urdu translation of the classic book Mo's Story by Mehnaaz Rahmatullah. This is part of the Reaching The Stars campaign. All the proceeds will go for children's education. And that's something I really believe in," said Vidya before leaving for Pakiatan, sounding like the Azmi.

The book will also be released in India in Hindi later.

Isn't this an unusual way for a young woman to spend Valentine's Day?

"One doesn't really believe in all this. But if I've to spend my day showering love on those who matter then I'd rather do it with children."

How did Vidya get selected to release a book?

"They were looking for an Asian woman with a reformist image and a traditional personality. I guess I fitted the bill."

Laughing off the misgiving that she's getting typecast as a serious 'classical' actress suited for literary period dramas Vidya says, "So far it's only been Parineeta. Rumours of Dada (Pardeep Sarkar ) starting another literary classic Devi Chaudhurani were totally unfounded. I'll be be going back in time for Sudhir Mishra's Bahut Nikle Mere Armaan and Rituparno Ghosh's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Then that's it. I play modern contemporary roles in Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq and Raju Hirani's Munnabhai 2."

She stops to think, "Actually I'm quite happy being known as a classical actress. I'd be quite uncomfortable if I was known as a hottie or a pinup girl."