In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, about the film, why the story touched her, the patriarchy, being cruel to her body, doubt, mental health. Shakuntala Devi opens on July 31.
Vidya Balan star Shakuntala Devi will launch on July 31 on Amazon Prime. The actress will play a title role in the film that chronicles the life of the mathematical genius. In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, Vidya opened up about the movie, why the story touched her, the patriarchy, being cruel to her body, doubt, mental health. Balan is excited by the film’s release and by the audience to see this “incredible” story. Excerpts from the interview:
What drew your attention to the world of Shakuntala Devi?
She is everything you don’t expect from a math genius. She laughs out loud, has a wicked sense of humor, is interesting, is interested in herself, lives life to the fullest. I’m not saying that math geniuses don’t, but our perception of anyone who likes math is geeky, maybe boring, maybe serious, but this woman alone breaks that myth. She had an incredible joke for life and the fact that she was embracing both her strengths, her gifts, her talents and also her flaws, weaknesses and flaws. She thought it was amazing how it was. I think it is very inspiring, especially as a woman. Although I should mention that she did not see herself as a woman but as an individual.
We have this tendency to box people up. Do you think we have to end this? It bothers you?
It is easier to box people, we want to simplify everything. You can be much more than what people perceive you to be. It depends on so many things that stress works, your mood. So I think you shouldn’t box people in and see them one-dimensional and especially as women. Although it is changing today, it is very easy to stereotype a woman. That is also because historically we have seen ourselves through the eyes of men, good, bad or otherwise, that is the reality. We are now aware that we no longer need to do that. But the patriarchal mindset is so ingrained that even women are equally victims, as they are perpetrators of the patriarchal mindset.
When did you realize the damage that patriarchal society has caused in general? When did you realize?
I think I grew up in a nuclear family and they gave us all the freedom to be who we are. But when you suddenly start to see yourself from the context of the outside world, and you realize and start to feel that you need to conform and stick to fit. You start to define yourself in a very direct way, not realizing that you can be so many things. With age, experience, you realize this, and especially as a public figure, you become more aware. That we all go through pressure, be it group pressure, social pressure, so many pressures to comply. Right now, hold on to who you are, because I can never be everything that everyone else wants me to do and this happens over time. I think this happened when I became an actor, I think the film set makes you learn lessons in an intensive course. Over time I have come to realize loving and accepting yourself.
I have realized the time to love and accept yourself
Vidya Balan
In retrospect, when you think of the journey you’ve had to love yourself … how does it feel?
It’s been a long journey and he’s working on progress. I do not accept myself every day, there are days when I wake up angry with myself, I feel bad about something, an old rejection appears, God knows what the trigger is, I do not feel good with your body, so I think it is never absolute . The process is never complete. But, I think the thing is to realize and see how far you’ve come in these times and realize that it’s never too late to start working on yourself. When I say start working on yourself, I don’t mean go to the gym or change your diet, but what I mean is just be nice to yourself. I think most of us forget that. I have been working with a healer for a few years and that is something I had to learn. I used to be very cruel to myself, there are times when I still feel critical and critical of myself, then I remind myself of my various strengths and then the things that bothered me lose power over me.
It’s been a long journey and he’s working on progress. I don’t accept myself every day
Vidya Balan
How difficult is it to be your own person in this industry?
It is very difficult to be in your person, period. When you are known, it is much more difficult. I tried to stick for a while and realized that it is very difficult because when you enter a room, there are many people and they will have 200 opinions about you depending on their mood, and you cannot make everyone happy. The only person you can depend on to make you happy is you. That is the only guarantee. So the easiest thing is to make him love you first.
.
