Vidya Balan on the after effects of COVID-19: 'Studios feel it would be safer to bet on the historically male-led films'
Vidya Balan, who is known for acing women-centric films, feels that post-pandemic, the studios are feeling the pinch financially and hence are going back to the safer bet of choosing male-led films.
(Also read: Vidya Balan calls out AI-generated content featuring her: 'It does not reflect my views or work')
In a recent interview with Deadline, Vidya opened up about her illustrious career and making a niche for herself by choosing films which have strong and layered female characters. However, when the actor was starting her acting journey, she didn't have the luxury of choice as such characters were simply not being written.
'There was no question of strategising (to play strong characters) because one had never really seen women take centre stage in mainstream films. The few films that I enjoyed where women were leading the story were in art house cinema. The only film I can think of which was commercially viable and led by a woman was Chaalbaaz," said Vidya.
But then came her debut film Parineeta in 2005, which was an author-backed role based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. While discussing her filmography, the actor talked about films like Paa, where she played a single mother to a 12-year-old son with a rare genetic condition called Progeria; getting into the skin of the titular role in Shakuntala Devi-- also known as a human computer. And the ambitious housewife who becomes a radio jockey for a late-night relationship advice show in Tumhari Sulu.
However, the actor feels that after COVID-19, audiences stopped going to theaters, making it difficult for studios to invest in women-centric films.
'Post-pandemic, people in India have lost the habit of going to the theatres to watch films. The studios feel it would be safer to bet on the historically male-led films. In my opinion, this calls for a reinvention in the female-led film space,' Vidya said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Disney's Moana 2 joins $1 billion club: Top 10 films to reach this box office milestone
Disney's Moana 2 has officially crossed the $1 billion mark in global box office earnings and joined the elite club of nearly 60 films that have achieved this rare milestone, as reported by Deadline. With voices of Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock and Auli'i Cravalho, the sequel now stands proudly alongside 2024's other animated juggernaut, Inside Out 2, and Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Moana 2 has surpassed $1 billion in global box office earnings, joining an elite group of films. (@Disney/X) The milestone cemented Moana 2 as one of the year's most commercially successful films and strengthened Disney's domination in the animated and family film market. It also joined an elite roster of franchises and sequels, including Frozen II, The Lion King (2019), and Toy Story 4. As per the Deadline report, other recent billion-dollar successes include Barbie (2023), which propelled Greta Gerwig into history as the second woman director to break global and US Box Office records. The first one to do so was Jennifer Lee, co-director of Frozen II. Also read: What to watch on streaming? 10 new shows to catch on Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+ this weekend Top 10 films to reach the $1 billion club The list of billion-dollar movies includes cinematic powerhouses like Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and Titanic, all directed by James Cameron. He is the only filmmaker with three projects in the $2 billion+ club. Here's a glimpse at the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time: 1 Avatar (2009) – $2.92 billion The James Cameron-directed directorial is a ground-breaking sci-fi film which explores the lush alien world of Pandora. The Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington-starrer became the highest-grossing film of all time upon its release. 2 Avengers: Endgame (2019) – $2.79 billion The epic conclusion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Infinity Saga, the Anthony and Joe Russo-directed directorial sees the remaining Avengers team up to reverse the catastrophic events of 'Infinity War'. The film features an ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Evans. 3 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – $2.32 billion Sequel to the 2009 film, the James Cameron film continues the story of Jake and Neytiri as they explore the oceans of Pandora. The 2022 release features a voice cast that includes Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana. 4 Titanic (1997) – $2.26 billion The iconic romantic drama directed by James Cameron follows the tragic love story of Jack and Rose, who were onboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. The Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet-starrer won numerous awards and is a cultural touchstone. 5 Ne Zha 2 (2025, estimated) – $2.1 billion The sequel to the animated hit Ne Zha, the film continues the adventures of the titular character. Directed by Yang Yu, it features the voices of Joseph and Mo Han. 6 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – $2.07 billion This film is a brand-new installment in the iconic Star Wars franchise. The film introduces new characters while still honoring the past characters and setting a new tone for future films. Directed by JJ Abrams, it stars an ensemble cast featuring Daisy Ridley and Harrison Ford. 7 Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – $2.05 billion The penultimate film in the Marvel saga, Infinity War, sees the Avengers team up with new superheroes to battle Thanos. It is directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo and includes Chadwick Boseman and Scarlett Johansson, among others. 8 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – $1.92 billion This film has Spider-Man (Peter Parker) acting out of character and now dealing with the consequences of his identity being revealed, ultimately creating a multiverse disaster of epic proportions. Directed by Jon Watts, the film has Zendaya and Tom Holland reprising their roles, as well as familiar faces from Peter's previous Spider-Man films. 9 Inside Out 2 (2024) – $1.69 billion Sequel to Pixar's classic, this film follows Riley's emotional growth as she deals with the ups and downs of her teenage years. Directed by Kelsey Mann and Meg LeFauve, the film also features the voices of Amy Poehler and Maya Hawke. 10 Jurassic World (2015) – $1.67 billion In the reboot of the Jurassic Park saga, humans have brought dinosaurs back to life, and this time in a fully operational theme park, which leads to a survival adventure. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the film stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. With Moana 2 making waves at the box office, 2025 continues to be a standout year for sequels and franchise films, a trend likely to continue as more tentpole titles approach release. FAQs Q: What is the No. 1 grossing movie of all time? A: Avatar (2009), directed by James Cameron, remains the top-grossing film of all time with over $2.92 billion in global earnings. Q: Has any movie made $2 billion? A: Yes, five films have crossed the $2 billion mark: Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, Titanic, and Ne Zha 2 (estimated). Q: Which movie grossed over $1 billion worldwide in just 5 days? A: Avengers: Endgame holds the record for the fastest to reach $1 billion, accomplishing it in just 5 days. Q: How many R-rated movies have made $1 billion? A: As of 2025, only a handful of R-rated films have grossed over $1 billion, including Joker (2019) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).
NDTV
14 hours ago
- NDTV
James Gunn On The Batman 2 Delay: "Let The Guy Write The Screenplay..."
Washington: DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has expressed his annoyance with the intense scrutiny surrounding 'The Batman II', directed by Matt Reeves. Despite the film's delayed production, Gunn remains optimistic about the project, emphasising the importance of allowing Reeves the time he needs to craft a quality screenplay. As per Deadline, in an interview, Gunn revealed that DC Studios is expecting to receive the script for 'The Batman II' in June. "We're supposed to get a script in June. I hope that happens. We feel really good about it. Matt's excited. I talk to Matt all the time. I'm totally excited about it," he said, as quoted by Deadline. Gunn bluntly stated that fans should be patient and not pressure Reeves. "People should get off Matt's n--s because it's like, let the guy write the screenplay in the amount of time he needs to write it. That's just the way it is. He doesn't owe you something because you like his movie." He added that Reeves doesn't let the pressure affect him. Gunn's 'Superman' film, set to premiere on July 11, will launch a new DCU phase, separate from Reeves' 'Batman Epic Crime Saga'. This saga includes 'The Batman' (2022) and the Max series spin-off 'The Penguin'. Reeves confirmed that 'The Batman II' will start filming this year, with Robert Pattinson set to reprise his role as Batman. Despite the delay, fans are eagerly awaiting the sequel, which is currently scheduled to premiere on October 1, 2027.
News18
14 hours ago
- News18
Vidya Balan Visits Tirumala Temple With Family, Joins Devotees In Queue
Last Updated: Vidya Balan visited Tirumala Temple with her family, offered prayers, and received blessings. She patiently stood in queue and joined other devotees. Bollywood actress Vidya Balan paid a visit to Lord Venkateswara at the famous Tirumala Temple, and offered prayers on Saturday. The actress was accompanied by her family members. After offering prayers, Vidya Balan and her family members made offerings to the deity through the hundi, a traditional practice at the temple. They also received vedic blessings from the priests and were presented with prasad and sheshavastaram by the temple officials. For her visit to the temple, the actress opted for a traditional attire. After the prayers, the actress stepped out of the temple, where she was mobbed by fans and devotees. The actress was seen smiling and waving at the crowd as they clicked photos and selfies with her. Earlier in March this year, the actress Vidya Balan, took to her Instagram, and shared the video in question notifying her followers about its lack of authenticity. She urged her followers to not take anything on face value in current times where it is so easy to generate video content using deep fakes. She also penned a long note in the caption asking her followers to be mindful of misleading information, and stressed upon the practice of verifying anything that's available on the Internet. She wrote, 'There are multiple videos currently circulating on social media and WhatsApp, which appear to feature me. However, I want to clarify that the videos are AI-generated and inauthentic. I have no involvement in its creation or dissemination, nor do I endorse its content in any way. Any claims made in the videos should not be attributed to me, as it does not reflect my views or work". 'I urge everyone to verify information before sharing and be cautious of misleading AI-generated content. #FakeAlert #StayAware", she added. First Published: June 21, 2025, 17:26 IST
