The lessons that Vidya Balan learnt in 2007

Last year may have given Vidya Balan hits including Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa , but it also left behind many lessons.

“It taught me how to deal with people. I am learning to be more assertive. I was shying away from this earlier. I have also learnt to have more fun and be less hard on myself. Now, I can laugh at controversies surrounding me.”
Vidya continues, “You can’t make the world happy. So I will do things to make myself happy.”

And what makes Vidya happy? “Small things like giving a good shot, a good paycheck, spending time with loved ones, praying or listening to music make me happy. Watching a child sleep also gives me much joy.”

Quiz Vidya about her latest film Halla Bol and she says, “It’s an issue-based film. If it brings about awakening in five people and makes them stand up for what they are not okay with, I’d be happy.”

Of Aziz Mirza ’s film ‘Kismet Konnection’ with Shahid Kapur , Vidya says, “There’s so much positive feeling in the unit that our shooting went off like a breeze.”

Vidya has also shot for the Bengali film ‘Mukti’ for Gautam Haldar in 2008.

Vidya clears airs about Shahid

In terms of box office success, last year was not so fruitful for Vidya Balan but the actress says professionally she has come a long way and has learnt to voice her opinion confidently.

"Last year there were lessons to be learnt. Professionally, I've learnt to say no to projects I don't want to do. I'm no longer apologetic about voicing my opinion. I guess I've become more confident and therefore more assertive," said Vidya.

"At times I didn't know how to say no to a filmmaker. Now the painful process has become less difficult. If I say no to a project I don't see that as a rejection of an individual's creativity. I just see the project as being non-relatable with me," she added.

In 2008, Vidya is looking at something different.

"At the same time I want to have fun. My two releases in the first-half this year - Halla Bol and Lucky Charm - are very different from one another. For this year I've only signed a Bengali film so far. I like where I am."

She laughs when her Lucky Charm hero Shahid Kapur is mentioned.

"I've been linked with practically every co-star I've worked with. I get along famously with all of them. And I am single. So people are looking for masala to make my life, and theirs, more interesting," she laughed.

"Spice apart, I got along very well with Shahid during our schedule in Toronto. People just wanted to say there was more to our friendship than meets the eyes.

"Honestly, even I like to gossip. Most of us enjoy it. Someone must have reported that we laughed a lot together on the set. It's like saying, 'If an actress gives a really good performance, she must be having an affair with the director.' Likewise, if Shahid and I were having so much fun, we must be a couple."

So what is Vidya's rapport with Shahid?

"The way Aziz uncle (director Aziz Mirza)'s team worked was very friendly. Everyone in the unit went out for dinner together. All of us went for walks together. I guess the two of us were high profile. But Shahid never shared confidences with me."

What about Vidya playing hostess to Shahid's screenings of Jab We Met?

"Oh God! I went to one screening of Jab We Met. Over there I met my Heyy Babyy writer Milap Jhaveri and had tea with him. The next day when reports of Shahid and me came out, Milap wondered how this could be true when I wasn't anywhere near Shahid throughout the evening."

Vidya turned a year older on New Year's day and spent her birthday with her family.

She was in Delhi visiting her sister and her parents joined her. For Vidya, it was a perfect birthday.