Priyadarshan, prepping Bhooth Bangla, recalls Bhool Bhulaiyaa’s ‘Mere Dholna’. Vidya Balan overcame Farah Khan’s dance doubts after 35-40 days’ practice, earning praise. She matched Vineeth’s energy, cherishing the validation. The iconic track and her Manjulika role made the film a horror hit.
Ahead of Bhooth Bangla’s release, Priyadarshan revisited his blockbuster ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ in a recent interview. Focusing on Vidya Balan’s electrifying ‘Mere Dholna’ performance, the film’s highlight, he remembered her initial hesitation over her dance skills.
Priyadarshan reveals Farah Khan doubted Vidya Balan
Priyadarshan told Variety India how Farah Khan, the filmmaker-choreographer, had dismissed Vidya’s dancing skills, until ‘Mere Dholna’ hit screens, prompting Khan’s admiring call. The director remembered, “There was a time when people used to think that Vidya (Balan) could not dance. And she told me, ‘I will take it as a big challenge.’ Vidya practised for 35–40 days just to do this song.”The director added that Vidya acted with Vineeth Radhakrishnan, one of India’s best classical dancers, and said, “She matched his energy. And one day, Vidya came and told me, ‘I will never forget this song in my life because someone who once told me I cannot dance, Farah Khan, has appreciated me for it.’ And Shobhana also called and praised. She said, ‘I will never be able to repeat it, but this is the best thing you have done for me.’ So this is something I remember very well.”‘Mere Dholna’ turned into one of Bollywood’s most iconic tracks and a key highlight of the movie. Vidya Balan earned huge praise for nailing the sequence with fine details.
‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ plot summary
Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ drew viewers into a creepy old palace in Rajasthan haunted by spirits. Siddharth (Shiney Ahuja) and wife Avni (Vidya Balan) visit his family home, encountering the vengeful ghost Manjulika, a dancer from beyond. Psychiatrist Dr. Aditya Shrivastav (Akshay Kumar) steps in to crack the case. Vidya Balan’s chilling shift into Manjulika stands as a horror highlight, making her role legendary.
