Vidya Balan on playing Amitabh Bachchan's mother in Paa: 'It sounded absurd...'

India.com

2 days ago

Vidya Balan on playing Amitabh Bachchan's mother in Paa: 'It sounded absurd...'
In the ever-evolving world of cinema, actors play many roles that are quite diverse from their on-screen personas. While some get into a youthful role, others play the role of an older character. One such example of this is none other than Vidya Balan, who chose to break stereotypes at the peak of their rising career.
As Vidya completed two decades in her career of the limelight, she reflected upon her most unconventional and defining choice, playing Amitabh Bachchan's mother in Paa.
Back in 2008, when Vidya Balan was offered to play an older woman opposite Big B, a lot of people questioned her decision, thinking that it would further harm her prospects. But for Vidya, the script spoke louder than opinions.
Recently, Vidya Balan opened up about this offer and revealed in an interview that when director R. Balki offered her this role, she found it absurd. 'I thought R. Balki had lost it. He said he wanted Abhishek (Bachchan) and me to play Mr Bachchan's parents. It sounded absurd. But then he read me the script of Paa, and something shifted. I kept revisiting it, and the actor in me kept saying, 'Do it.' I was scared, though.' Why Was Vidya Afraid of Playing Amitabh Bachchan's Mother Role?
Vidya was skeptical and nervous about taking up this role and shared, 'Everyone warned me that playing an older woman would end my career. But I got a writer and an ad filmmaker friend to read it, and both insisted I do it. That's when I stopped listening to the noise and started listening to myself. I'd already done films that didn't speak to me. Though they worked, I hadn't enjoyed them. I never wanted to feel that disconnect again.
This R Balki film featured Amitabh Bachchan as Auro, a child battling progeria, a condition that causes rapid aging. What's even more interesting is that Abhishek Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan had a reversal of roles for this film. Abhishek Bachchan played Auro's father, while Vidya portrayed his mother. The film went on to become a blockbuster and broke many norms and won hearts and awards alike, including the National Awards for Best Actor (Amitabh Bachchan) and Best Hindi Feature Film. Paa wasn't just a blockbuster film, but it was a career-defining moment for Vidya Balan.
Vidya Balan was last seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 with Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri, and Madhuri Dixit. Vidya is currently keeping her next project under wraps. Meanwhile, her debut film, Parineeta, is set for a special re-release in select cinemas from August 29, giving fans a perfect reason to celebrate her 20 iconic years in cinema.