National Award winning Bollywood actress Vidya Balan is known for picking up strong characters that leave a lasting impression on viewers' minds. In the last few years, she has mostly taken up women-oriented movies, including Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016), Begum Jaan (2017) and Tumhari Sulu. Continuing the trend, the talented actress has signed on to headline yet another female-driven movie.
Balan, who was last seen in the successful space odyssey film Mission Mangal (2019), has announced her next project. Titled Sherni, the movie will be directed by Amit Masukar for leading banners like T-Series and Abundantia Entertainment.
Balan took to Twitter and Instagram and announced the project. She wrote, “Thrilled to announce my next film SHERNI. (I) cannot wait to start shoot! Directed by AmitMasurkar, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Vikram Malhotra, Krishan Kumar & Amit Masurkar. Written by Aastha Tiku. Watch this space for more!”
While Vidya Balan did not reveal much about the rest of the star cast and the genre of the movie, she said that the film will be helmed by Amit Masurkar. Masukar is known for directing the award-winning film Newton (2017), which was India's official entry to the 90th Academy Awards. She shared the title of the film and asked the fans to wait for more details.
Currently, Vidya is waiting for the release of her film Shakuntala Devi. She will be seen playing the role of the noted mathematician in her biopic. The movie on the Human Computer also features Sanya Malhotra in the role of Balan’s daughter. The official release date of the film has been announced. It hits theatres on May 8, 2020.
Balan will also be seen in a short film, titled Natkhat. It is being helmed by Shaan Vyas. Apart from essaying the lead role, the actress is also co-producing it.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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