Vidya Balan opened up about the time when Pradeep Sarkar stopped speaking to her after she declined his 2007 film Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.
Director Pradeep Sarkar launched Vidya Balan in Bollywood with his musical romance Parineeta (2005) which was an adaptation of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s popular novella of the same name. The film upon its release received critical acclaim with praises for Vidya’s magnetic debut.
Two years later, Sarkar offered Vidya a role in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag which the actress declined since the story didn’t resonate with her. In a recent interview with Filmfare, Vidya reflected upon her strained ties with the filmmaker after she refused his film.
Admitting that he was upset with her, the Tumhari Sulu actress shared, “He didn’t speak to me for two or three years. I kept calling, but he wouldn’t respond. I think he felt, “You should’ve trusted I’d make something of it.” But the story just didn’t speak to me. It felt dated. Saying no to Dada was incredibly hard and I carried that guilt. Later, he offered me another film, which I also turned down. Eventually, we drifted away. I felt misunderstood. Why couldn’t he see it wasn’t about mistrust? The material just didn’t move me. Didn’t I have the right to say no? Someone once told me, “Don’t let gratitude become a noose around your neck.” That line stayed with me.”
Vidya then went on to talk about how she wishes she could have sort out the differences between her and Pradeep Sarkar before he passed away.
“When he passed away, I was shattered. It was March 24, 2023. I was in Goa when Ninad Kamat messaged me. Strangely, that very morning I’d been thinking of Parineeta. I’d even told myself, I should go to his office, hold his hand and say, “Dada, whatever I am, it began with Parineeta.” I planned to message him after my sister’s birthday on the 23rd. But on the 24th, I woke up to the news he was gone. I’ve thanked him many times but since we’d lost touch, I don’t know if he truly knew how I felt. I hope he did. His death hit me hard. Maybe I was immature. Maybe I should’ve just shown up and said, “Can’t you see everything I’ve become started with you?”
After Vidya’s refusal to do Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, the role ultimately fell into Rani Mukerji’s lap. The film revolves around a young woman from Varanasi who moves to Mumbai to support her struggling family, but circumstances force her into a secret life as an escort. The film also featured Konkona Sen Sharma, Abhishek Bachchan and Kunal Kapoor in pivotal roles.
