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Here’s what led Vidya Balan to sign Shakuntala Devi biopic

Mohnish Singh
By Mohnish SinghAug 23, 2019
Mohnish Singh
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In 2017, Vidya Balan won millions of hearts with her sweet endearing performance in T-Series Films’ slice-of-life movie Tumhari Sulu and picked her sixth Filmfare Award in the Best Actress category. In 2019, when she returned to the silver screen with sci-fi Mission Mangal, after a gap of one and a half year, she made sure she weaves her magic on celluloid once again.

Mission Mangal has turned out to be an instant hit and Vidya Balan is currently riding high on its huge success. Directed by debutant filmmaker Jagan Shakti, the film has been doing phenomenal business ever since hitting the marquee on 15th August. After zooming past the much-publicised club of ₹ 100 crore in no time, Mission Mangal is now aiming to breach ₹ 150 crore in the next few days.

Also starring Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Nithya Menen, Kirti Kulhari and Sharman Joshi in principal roles, the film is loosely based on scientists at ISRO who contributed to the Mars Orbiter Mission.

After essaying the character of Project Director Tara Shinde in Mission Mangal, Vidya Balan is now gearing up to begin work on her next film. Her next is a biopic based on the life of Indian mathematician and the ‘human computer’ Shakuntala Devi. The untitled film will be directed by Anu Menon.

When asked what led her to sign the film, Vidya Balan said in an interview, “I will get a bob to look the part. So the curly bob and my classic South Indian face is a good match for the part. What drew me to the subject was her magnetic personality and the life that she led. I am playing her from her early 20s till the fag end of her career.”

The film is scheduled to buzz into theatres in 2020.

anu menontumhari sulunithya menenakshay kumartaapsee pannuvidya balansharman joshisonakshi sinhajagan shaktikirti kulhari

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