Ban men from leaving homes without “black patti” on their eyes: Vidya Balan

Mumbai, 3 July-2014(HT): In an interview with Hindustan Times, a candid Vidya talks about her experience of filming Bobby Jasoos, working with Ali Afzal and more.

Ban men from leaving homes without “black patti” on their eyes: Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan said her Bobby Jasoos co-star Ali Fazal taught her how to lie. “He’s the best liar I have come across. He seemed so nervous about dancing and I was happy I had company. But when I arrived on the sets, he started dancing even before they said ‘Action’. It’s the same with his acting. He has this understated attitude, but the kind of performances he gives is amazing.”

Fazal, on the other hand, cannot get over Vidya’s charm. “The charm she pulls off, so many things people don’t know about Vidya, I discovered on the sets of Bobby Jasoos. Most of the actors I have worked with are obsessed with how they perform, but Vidya is all about listening. I have learnt playing off each other.”

“By the time we reached Hyderabad, we were like buddies and literally feeding off each other. The workshop before the shooting really helped,” Vidya added.

Vidya reacted strongly to the recent comments by ministers seeking ban on bikinis and short skirts, “I think they should ban men from stepping out of their houses without a black patti on their eyes because that’s where the filth lies. That is all I have to say.”

Back to her film, Vidya said, “Bobby Jasoos touches your heart, it leaves you feeling, joyous and hopeful. The beauty of Bobby is that she wants to be the best jasoos in her mohalla Moghalpura, not even Hyderabad – it’s this simplicity of intention that is very beautiful and endearing.”

Ali added, “Bobby Jasoos is like Jashn, roller-coaster, the way life is a roller-coaster.” At this point, Vidya broke into humming the song Jashan from the film!

Asked about exploring filmmaking beyond acting, Vidya said, “I don’t think I have the ability to do anything but act. As of now, I do not plan to direct or sing.”

Talking about her character, Vidya said, “Bobby is a girl from a very modest background who goes on to realise her dream and I think that is extremely loveable and charming. I hope people feel it that way as well.”

“I have spied on people in college and school but Siddharth (Roy Kapur, her husband) did not meet me then and I didn’t have to spy on him,” she said. “The process of narrowing down on 12 various looks for my character was interesting. I never thought I would don the looks of a man.”

Vidya Balan was in Delhi on Wednesday for promotions of her upcoming film Bobby Jasoos.