Vidya and Manish kiss and make up after a Year

After designer Manish Malhotra lashed out at Vidya Balan last year ('Manish Malhotra blasts Vidya Balan'; Hitlist, March 10), they had stopped talking to each other even though they occasionally met at events.

However, Manish says they kissed and patched up last week. Says Manish, "It was at my nephew's engagement that I met Vidya again.

I was chatting when she came up to me with Kunal Kohli and said, 'Can we just forget what happened?' and wanted to give me a hug.

I said, 'Ya sure!' Kunal chipped in saying we should perhaps kiss too so Vidya kissed my hand and we both decided to let bygones be bygones."

Manish adds that Vidya was generous enough to add that what had happened in Heyy Babyy! wasn't his fault.

I told her that I was very hurt about what she had been saying about me and I lashed out against her as I was coming across looking like a wimp.

She said that she hoped that was all forgotten and I said now it was."

Would he work with Vidya again? "Yes. I don't hold grudges against anyone," Manish signs off."

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Vidya gets chatty

At the heart of a star resides a child that Vidya occasionally gets to nurture when she can free herself from the trappings of her profession, when she surprises morning-walkers at the Victoria Memorial lawns at the crack of dawn or has luchi sabji at Shri Hari before catching a morning flight to Mumbai.

Stardom doesn’t allow her indulgences, but Vidya isn’t complaining. Recollections of things past and an urge to experience some of what has been left far behind, even in small measures, doesn’t let her get blinded by the stardust.

“Nothing matches the innocence of a child. My mother’s name is Saraswati. Vidya is a very common name among Tamil Brahmins. Since education always takes a precedence over everything else, Vidya was a natural choice of name for us. We Tamil Brahmins celebrate Saraswati Puja on Vijaya Dashami. We’d offer books, pens and ghungroos at the deity’s feet. Trust me, that one day of being told not to study seemed like a huge loss just before the exams,” she says, recalling the compelling urge she’d invariably feel every Saraswati Puja to do her revision!

Conversation soon meanders towards the importance of education, especially when the success rate of drop-outs in the industry is pretty high. “I’m thankful to my parents for insisting that I give up Hum Paanch and complete my graduation. Education gives wings to broaden the horizons. I’d not judge the success stories of school drop-outs in the industry. I’d only say that one must not waste a chance to get educated, since there are so many others wanting and yet not being able to do so.

Recently, I ran the Mumbai Marathon for an NGO that supports the education of the girl child.” Yet, what Vidya doesn’t support, is how today’s children are being taught to only score the highest marks. “While it’s nice to see driven children, I wish they could fit into a system where education is an end in itself and not a means to an end. Today’s children have an instant reply to every question. In the name of professionalism, parents are often forcing child artistes to pick up the fine art of being battery-operated,” she says.

So, how is she as a student, when it comes to working with different directors with diametrically opposite working styles? “With Mani Ratnam, you will hardly get an okay when you expect one. It’s only when you are unsure, that he will say that the shot is okay. While Dada (Pradeep Sarkar) goes for multiple takes, Raju Hirani loves spontaneity.”

Challenging her skill with the constant process of learning and unlearning, has instilled in Vidya a renewed confidence in her strengths and an understanding that there is something about her vintage appeal that continues to mesmerise her audience, waiting to see her light up the screen again with Ishqiya and Pa this year.

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