Swati :
You come from a non-filmi background. How have you achieved so much success in such a short period ?
Vidya :
Yes, I do come from a non films background. But my parents always knew about my Bollywood dreams. I always had the passion in me to make it big on the silver screen and I have been fortunate to have a very supportive family.
Swati :
You say you have passion. What is the difference between passion and desperation in the Hindi film industry for an actress ?
Vidya :
Passion is a must for all those who want to succeed in our industry. But desperation comes to people, who have no goals in their lives. I would say that I was always ready to work and work hard, but not at any cost.
Swati :
Filmi background means protection. So what's the kind of struggle that one goes through when the backing is not there ?
Vidya :
I have always had the luxury of choice. I have done films and ad films that I have wanted too. There was a time when though I was not a great hit. I had turned down interesting offers as my studies were taking a backseat. I always had the option of saying no. It was not like I was working empty stomach or anything.
Swati :
Your transition from TV to films is somewhat similar to that of Shah Rukh Khan. Do you consider yourself as the female SRK ?
Vidya :
No, not at all. Shah Rukh is a living legend and I am nowhere near him.
Swati :
Your role in Parineeta has been widely appreciated. If Parineeta had not happened would you still have continued on TV ?
Vidya :
That is something really difficult to say. The point is that I was not satisfied with TV. To tell you the truth I was not happy doing TV. The medium is very taxing and one needs to have the tenacity and strength to do the same thing day after day and still make it look good. It's difficult to be so physically tired and still perform to your best day and day out. I believe that for creativity to flow, be it any profession, one needs to have mind space which I wasn't getting and I was scared to get too comfortable with the medium.
Then again I did not want to be typecast and get used to doing the same expressions repeatedly. In Television one gets too used to giving the same kind of expressions every time and I have always wanted to experiment.
Swati :
In terms of your acting, looks and your much talked about dressing sense , how important are the critics to you ?
Vidya :
(Laughs) It's not just the critics that matters, it's having an opinion that counts. When someone says something good, we take it as a compliment and when someone says something harsh, it's something that we need to work upon.
Swati :
How did you deal with the famous Nareal Award for the worst dressed celebrity ?
Vidya :
Frankly speaking, it did not bother me much. I took it in my stride and I feel that one needs to have a sporting sense of humour to be able to take such things.
Swati :
Do you pride yourself on your dressing sense ?
Vidya :
Yes I do.
Swati :
How did you feel when a designer of Manish Malhotra's stature made sarcastic comments about your dressing sense ?
Vidya :
What matters is that still when I look into the mirror I smile. As long as I am happy with the way I look and feel it does not bother me much then, who says what. I just feel loved and cared for and I am thankful for that.
Swati :
Being loved by whom ?
Vidya :
Fans and of course my family. No matter what the world says about me, once I go home I feel special. I am blessed to have friends who are supportive of whatever I do. I feel that opinions do matter, but they don't alter my way of living.
Swati :
After Parineeta you went to don the glam doll look. Was that a deliberate decision ?
Vidya :
I could not have carried a Parineeta look in all my movies. I have always attempted to do different kinds of roles and they required me to change my look. So, the glam doll image came naturally as the role required.
Swati :
Did all the criticism about your dressing sense hurt ?
Vidya :
Initially it did. May be more because I had gotten so used to compliments that when I was criticised it came as a shock. I wondered why people were being so harsh to me. But now I have come to terms with such comments.
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