Vidya Balan: At first I thought I can’t take up Jalsa; it needed guts!

Vidya Balan will be seen sharing screen space with Shefali Shah in Suresh Triveni’s directorial venture Jalsa. The trailer of the Amazon Prime Video film, which drops online on March 18, was unveiled today and it showcases both the leading actors in powerful characters.
As Maya, Vidya is seen playing a journalist in the film. The actress mentioned that initially she had turned down the project. She opened up saying, “When Suresh narrated the script to me for the first time, I loved it! However, I was like I can’t do it as it needed guts (to pull off a character like that).” It was only when the director, who helmed Vidya starrer Tumhari Sulu in 2017 approached her again that she finally green lit the project.
She shares, “Pandemic mein sab change hua. Suresh said he has changed the story. So, I read it again and I was like… I am on! I have had the good fortune of playing beautiful characters throughout my career. This time I was willing to embrace the grey (character) in me.”
The film has both Vidya and Shefali in powerful roles. Talking about teaming up with Shefali, Vidya says, “Acting is about reacting, but there is only one Shefali Shah. I have seen her perform earlier on in my career. I faced camera with her in a TV show. I don’t think she remembers. It was my first ever TV show and I was mesmerised watching her perform on camera. Since then I have been following her work. I can walk you through her filmography (laughs). It is an absolute honour to share screen space with her.”