idya Balan’s journey in Hindi cinema began with ‘Parineeta’, the 2005 adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1914 novella. Directed by the late Pradeep Sarkar and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film not only introduced Vidya to Bollywood but also went on to establish her as one of the industry’s finest performers. As Parineeta celebrated its 20-year milestone, the team reunited for a special screening where memories and behind-the-scenes anecdotes flowed freely.Speaking at the event, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra revealed how Vidya finally bagged the role after an exhausting round of tests. “A lot of top heroines wanted to do ‘Parineeta’. But Pradeep Sarkar said there’s a new girl from Chembur. So I said, ‘Test this girl from Chembur.’ I don’t usually meet actors during screen tests. Vidya had gone through a lot of tests. Then I told Pradeep, ‘Let’s do one final test.’ Before the test, she abused me, I could see her saying, ‘Who does he think he is?’ By then, she had done 20–25 tests. But then she gave such a brilliant final test, it was unbelievable. I told Pradeep, call her immediately.”
Vidya herself recalled the surreal moment she was told she had finally been chosen—right in the middle of an Enrique Iglesias concert. “I was at the Enrique concert and I was with Mr. Chopra’s assistant. So Dada (Pradeep Sarkar) called him, and I told him, ‘Dada, I’m in the middle of the concert, I’ll call you back.’ But he said, ‘No, Mr. Chopra wants to speak to you.’ So I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll call you after the concert.’ So then Mr. Chopra said, ‘Teri zindagi badalne waali hai, bahar nikal (Your life is about to change, come outside).’ I was like, ‘What are you going to tell me, that I didn’t get the part again?’ I didn’t think otherwise for a second, because I had gone through so many tests. But he said, ‘Come out.’ So I came out and he told me on the phone, ‘You’re my Parineeta.’ And I started crying right there. It was a crazy moment.”
Poll
Do you believe ‘Parineeta’ has had a lasting impact on Vidya Balan’s career?
Actor Dia Mirza, who also featured in the film, took the opportunity to share how Parineeta transformed her career. “’Parineeta’ was a remarkable experience because up until then I never felt respected as an artiste. And it was actually my first working experience where I felt respected. It’s a very rich experience because I think what Dada did, of course, he was a meticulous planner and he had an extraordinary vision, and he would rehearse us to death, but his love for every character, his love for the story, his attention to detail made the experience so rich and so wonderful. And you know, Vidhu Vinod Chopra is the only producer I have worked with who has given me a bonus, not once, but twice. I always say that in an industry that really struggles to give women their place of respect, it is just so incredible to work with two men who gave us nothing but that, every step of the way. And I’m so grateful that 20 years later, I’m getting this opportunity to share this with all of you. And that bonus came to every crew member.”Although Vidya has often expressed her gratitude to Vidhu Vinod Chopra for giving her the big break, she has also been candid about the struggles she faced at the start of her career. In one past interview, she revealed that Chopra once suggested she undergo surgery for her nose. It was director Pradeep Sarkar, she said, who gave her the reassurance she needed during that phase.
