New delhi, July 3 – Doing a bit of research before getting into the character of a film has been Vidya Balan’s method of approaching roles. However, when she decided to step into the shoes of a female detective for Bobby Jasoos, she was amazed to know some startling facts about this profession.
” When I read the script, I was in two minds because I thought a story about a female detective was a far- fetched concept in India,” said Vidya, during a visit to India Today Mediaplex on Wednesday.
Accompanied by co-actor Ali Fazal who plays a TV anchor, Vidya has been promoting the film produced by Dia Mirza and Sahil Sangha’s Born Free Entertainment.
True to her style, Vidya was dressed in a crumbled cotton salwar kurta , carrying an unflattering bag and wearing regular canvas shoes, just like Bilkis Ahmed, her character in Bobby Jasoos .
” I searched about female detectives on Google and called them to know more about the functioning of female detectives in India,” said Vidya, who was astonished to learn there were many unassuming women who deftly worked as detectives.
” Simple housewives have been working as detectives to kill spare time and earn money,” said Vidya, underlining the fact that she has taken small fragments from real- life female detectives to make Bilkis look convincing.
Vidya was exhilarated to try 12 different get-ups in the film. She enjoyed spending hours to experiment with her looks to get into a unique get- up, and pass off in crowds without being recognised.
” After finishing the make- up, I would look into the mirror to find an entirely new person staring back at me. My attitude, body language, mannerism and voice would change with each different makeover. I felt accomplished as an actor,” said Vidya.
She has been laughing at jokes on how women are better detectives than men, but on a serious note Vidya felt the notion was not entirely wrong. ” If women are better detectives, that is largely because they have a great sense of intuition and a strong sixth sense,” she sums up.
-INDIA TODAY
