Here's how Vidya Balan brought 'women-led' films in mainstream
Vidya Balan's Sherni, which is now streaming on Prime, is guaranteed to be a roaring success. Her last couple of outings like Begum Jaan and Shakuntala Devi didn't really strike a chord, but her performance won acclaim, nonetheless. Time and again, Vidya has proved that she doesn't need to play second-fiddle to a hero to make a movie click. Because, she's the hero. Period.
Now, the term female-centric in itself stems from the ingrained patriarchy, because we never label a film male-centric. It's, however, necessary to make that distinction on account of how very few films bank upon female actors. But Vidya, who has shouldered content-driven and cash-churning ventures like Kahaani, is a class apart. She uplifts a good script, and also strikes gold at the box office.
Even with her docile girl-act in Hindi debut movie Parineeta, Vidya conveyed strength. Sharing screen with bigwigs like Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan, she never, for a moment, loses her ground. She commands your attention without demanding it. With Sherni, that headstrong yet subtle image of hers gets reinforced. You don't miss a hero in the film.
It's hard to imagine that an excellent actor like her, with whom directors want to work, had to undergo extreme struggle to even get a break. Before being considered for Parineeta, she had auditioned a record 75 times. This can break anyone's spirit, but it only pushed her further. Her sheer grit, perseverance and dedication also get reflected in her on-screen characters.
It's no news that The Dirty Picture is a changing point in her career. In it, she sheds her inhibitions, says dialogues that make people clap, while showing an inner-breakdown with beautiful ease. Actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi just support her, it's a Vidya Balan show all the way! But her glam avatar can't fool anyone, as she can go de-glam as easily.
Playing the seductress didn't come that easy for Vidya. She had to put on weight for the role, which was so risky that many actresses had refused it. Staying true to her character, Vidya took it up, ignoring the societal scrutiny. Rest is history!
At a time where everyone is concerned with their looks, Vidya did Tumhari Sulu, Shakuntala Devi, looking extremely relatable. Her look in Kahaani and No One Killed Jessica was simple, yet she stood out. In a recent interview, she said, "I'm the hero of the piece and I love that," to that we say: Yes Vidya, you are the hero. Always!
