Vidya Balan as Shakuntala Devi (courtesy YouTube)
Strong points
- “Shakuntala Devi appreciated the attention,” said Vidya Balan
- “He was someone who wanted everything and had everything,” she added.
- “She had this gift and she wanted to celebrate it,” Vidya said.
New Delhi:
Actor Vidya Balan says there are times of doubt in his life, but playing a character like math genius Shakuntala Devi, who owned his choices, acts as an inspiration. The actor said the biopic reinforced his belief that it was okay for women to claim ownership of their lives without apologizing. “She owned her choices and held on. Her story definitely inspired me and showed me that it’s actually normal for a woman to want everything in life, ”Vidya told PTI in an interview.
“Shakuntala Devi appreciated the attention and she couldn’t understand the world saying, “You are a bride now or you are a mother and your priorities should change.” She had this gift and she wanted to celebrate it. He was someone who wanted everything and had everything, ”she added.
Directed by Anu Menon, the biographical drama addresses the various events in Shakuntala Devi’s life, whose ability to quickly solve complex mathematical problems, made her famous as a “human computer”.
In her latest solo theatrical outing, Vidya took on the role of a middle-class housewife, struggling to find a balance between her family duties and her newfound ambition for the radio jockey.
But Shakuntala Devi, the 41-year-old actor said, was in stark contrast to Sulu as she didn’t believe in giving in to social constraints and kept her ambition high on her priority list.
“Sulu was more traditional. It still operated within the confines of the traditional middle class family. She negotiated and sailed. We women have learned to put everyone in our families first. We put ourselves last.
“And here is Shakuntala Devi refusing to do that. She said, “Yes, I love my family, my child, but I love myself too. Why shouldn’t it?
Vidya is known for blazing her own path in Bollywood playing different shades of women in critically and commercially successful films such as Kahaani, no one killed Jessica, Ishqiya and Dirty image.
But this choice brings its share of self-doubt.
The actor said that in her personal life, she was still far from reaching the level of fearlessness that Shakuntala Devi had, as she always questions her decisions.
“I’m at a point in my life where I’m somewhere between Sulu and Shakuntala. I believe the film gave me more motivation to become Shakuntala. But I continue to doubt myself. I sometimes question myself and my choices. “
Vidya said she was counting on her family to resolve the conflict in her mind. “I have always spoken very openly to my family and ever since Siddharth (Roy Kapur) and I got together I speak to him very openly and share everything.”
“Just talking about it helps me sort out so many things in my head. It gives me perspective. I think whenever I have a doubt about myself, I express it. I believe that the more you express it, the more you realize that it is using its power over you and slowly you feel better, ”she added.
Vidya believes the film, which hits Amazon Prime Video on July 31, is a reminder for women to love themselves and make their ambitions come first.
“Her life is so inspiring because it makes us think that if she could live her life in her own way right now, what do we do without claiming ownership of our lives and our dreams as women?
“She was in her prime during the 1960s and 1970s, so if she could do it, why can’t we? I really think that now there are more women who are aware that they have the right to their lives and they are aware of their rights and discussions about gender equality. But we still have a long way to go, ”the actor added.
The film focuses on Shakuntala Devi’s journey as a calculating prodigy from India, who traveled the world to set records through his skill in solving complex math problems without any mechanical assistance and winning hearts. with his mind.
“She had a bad sense of humor, loved to party and loved the tap dance. Her daughter (Anupama Banerji) told me that she and her husband (Paritosh Bannerji) were going to tap dance at clubs in Calcutta. She loved to dress up. She was interested in life, ”Vidya said.
Shakuntala Devi Also stars actors Amit Sadh and Sanya Malhotra in key roles.
