Mumbai: The National Award-winning actress Vidya Balan who has won accolades for her bold performances in women-led films such as Kahani and the Dirty Picture has faced lots of sexism in her career but conquered it with her talent.
The actress opened up about some of her experiences in the industry where she was treated differently for being a woman.
Vidya said.”I’ll never forget this gentleman who called me on the day Ishqiya released and said, ‘aapne film hero jaise promote ki aur aap film ki hero hain’. And I was thrilled at the compliment, because I worked really hard to promote the film.”
”Naseer saab was not promoting the film and Arshad was not there for all the promotions. But I went everywhere in that synthetic sari, promoting the film. But I was happy that I was doing all I could to get as many people as possible into the theatres,” she said.
Vidya Balan added, ”And then, much later, after several films, when The Dirty Picture released, I remember getting this call from the owner of this cinema in Bandra and he said, ‘madam aap toh hero hain’. And I was thinking, that not that I set out to do this, not that I set out to prove a point, but I followed my instincts as an actor.”
She said.”When I was told multiple times for several films that the hero has given the dates so you have to adjust, we won’t get his dates later. Khoon khaulta tha mera. I might be committed to some other film, but I would have to change things around.”
The actress said.” At least in India, everyone, including women, has treated men like the more important person in their lives. But today, I very proudly tell people, that I am the most important person in my life. And sometimes people are taken aback, because as a married woman, I should be saying that Siddharth is the most important person in my life. I love Siddharth, but I am still the most important person in my life. If you think I am being selfish, self-centred, self-consumed, self-absorbed, self-indulgent – I don’t care! This is what it is. It is high time!”