Exclusive: Vidya Balan Recalls Shooting for Parineeta With Rekha

In an exclusive conversation with Jitesh Pillai on In The Ring with Filmfare, Vidya Balan opened up about a moment she’ll never forget which was meeting Rekha on the sets of Parineeta.

Vidya wasn’t supposed to shoot that day. In fact, she wasn’t even a part of the iconic song Kaisi Paheli Zindagani. But director Pradeep Sarkar insisted she come to the set. She recalled, “Dada (Pradeep Sarkar) called me and said come for the shoot.”

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She admitted being completely starstruck. She said with a smile, “The time I walked into Rekha’s van, I was not shooting for that song. My father’s favourite film also is Khoon Bhari Maang co-incidentally. And I was like, oh my god, Rekha!”

Vidya also remembered how she first became completely starstruck by Rekha. She added, “I remember seeing her picture in The Times of India for the first ever time. I was mesmerized. I was like, who’s this ethereal creature? I had not seen any films before that.”

On the set, she went to meet Rekha along with actress Raima Sen. Vidya shared, “I knocked on her door tentatively. Raima and I walked in… and she met me like we’d known each other forever. She was so lovely and continues to be so lovely.”

This special moment has stayed with her all these years, as she admitted being a huge fangirl of Rekha and her work.

Vidya, who made her debut with Parineeta in 2005, has come a long way since. Her most recent appearance was in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, where she returned to her iconic role of Manjulika. Fans were thrilled to see her back in a franchise that gave the people one of her most memorable performances.

Apart from Bhool Bhulaiyaa, some of her notable performances came in Paa, Ishqiya, The Dirty Picture, Kahaani and many more.

Also Read: Vidya Balan’s candid confessions in Begum Jaan video