Ila Arun Commends Vidya Balan's Talent, Sees Meena Kumari In Her Performances

At the Mumbai LitFest, an engaging session titled "Celebrating Women: The Shashi Baliga Memorial Session My Medley" featured Vidya Balan, Ila Arun, and Anjula Bedi. The focus was on Ila Arun's upcoming autobiography, "Parde Ke Peechhey," which includes a special segment about Vidya Balan. Arun expressed her deep admiration for Balan, comparing her to the legendary actress Meena Kumari.

An interesting revelation during the session was that Arun's book contains a chapter dedicated to Vidya Balan. This news excited the audience as Arun shared her admiration for Balan's performance in "Parineeta" (2005). She praised Balan for her unique presence in cinema, noting how she stood out among actresses of her time with grace reminiscent of classic film heroines like Meena Kumari.

Ila Arun shared her reflections on working with Vidya Balan, highlighting her adaptability and skill in front of the camera. Arun recounted their experiences on set, noting Balan's ability to portray complex characters. In "Begum Jaan," despite concerns about her age for such a mature role, Balan conveyed deep emotional depth, reminding Arun of Meena Kumari.

"I cannot forget how impressed I was when I saw Vidya in 'Parineeta.' She was different from the other actresses who looked like models. She was a mature woman, having the beauty and elegance of the actresses of old times. She brought back the dignity of the original Parineeta, the beautiful Meena Kumari in the 1953 film. In fact, she seemed to represent the heroines of all eras of Hindi films. Her expressive face effortlessly spoke volumes. She looked like a Bengali too. Her eyes, her gestures, her body language, they were enough to convey her emotions without the need for words," Arun shared in her book.

Arun further emphasized, "I got to know her well and on the sets, I got to see how talented she is and how she transforms herself the moment the camera is on her. In Begum Jaan, she was too young to be the madam of a kotha. Shabana had done a similar role in Mandi and she looked the part because she was a seasoned actress. She had even put on weight for the role but for Vidya, it was a great responsibility to take on a role like this at such a young age. I told her that I saw Meena Kumari in her and that she should do Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam 1962, which was released originally. She would be perfect for the role. She had the emotional strength to express her pain and her desire, the loneliness of a dejected woman. I also told her that she was the right actress to do a biopic of Meena Kumari."

The event concluded with Ila Arun performing beautifully alongside Vidya Balan on stage. This marked an apt end to a session celebrating women's enduring spirit in cinema. Through music and words, Arun paid tribute to Balan, highlighting their mutual respect and admiration.