Vidya Balan recently recalled a phase when she would watch a lot of Malayalam films. She said that she was moved by watching Mammootty in Kaathal: The Core. She also mentioned that she messaged Dulquer Salman to convey her regards to his superstar father. Vidya added that male actors in Bollywood could not take up the role of a gay man like Mammootty did.
Speaking to Samdish Bhatia, Vidya said, “For the biggest superstar of Malayalam cinema to not only act in it, but also produce it, I don’t think there’s a bigger show of acceptance or support to the community, and then opening others’ minds to the same. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of our Hindi film (male) actors would be able to do a film like Kaathal.”
Vidya was then asked if the audience in the South being more accepting could be a reason why a superstar like Mammootty could do such a role. “We have to accept that it’s a more literate audience in Kerala. That’s a big difference. The texture of the lowest common denominator is very different in Kerala. I’m not taking away from him (Mammootty) that he did. But maybe it’s a bit easier there. It is a reflection of his society. I think they’d be more open to something like this. And they revere their actors like anything in the South. They worship them, especially the male superstars. So it’s that much more creditable that he went ahead and did it. He didn’t think it’d be a reflection of my machismo. He’s a much more secure actor,” said Vidya.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Vidya Balan is currently seen in Do Aur Do Pyaar. The film also features Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D’Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy in lead roles. It marks the directorial debut of Shirsha Guha Thakurta.
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