Vidya Balan Was Warned Against Paa Role: ‘Didn’t Think I Could Play Bachchan’s Mother’

Vidya Balan says she was warned against playing Big B’s mother in Paa: ‘Thought R Balki had lost it’

As Vidya Balan completes 20 years in Bollywood this August, she reflected on one of the most unconventional roles of her career—playing Amitabh Bachchan’s mother in the 2009 film Paa. In an interview with Filmfare, Vidya revealed she initially found the idea absurd and was warned the role could derail her career.

“I thought R Balki had lost it,” she recalled. “He said he wanted Abhishek [Bachchan] and me to play Mr. Bachchan’s parents. It sounded bizarre. But then he read me the script, and something clicked. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The actor in me kept saying, ‘Do it.’ Still, I was scared.”

Vidya added that many people advised her against taking on the role of an older woman, suggesting it would harm her image. “Everyone said it would finish my career. But I asked a writer and an ad filmmaker friend to read the script. Both told me to go for it. That’s when I stopped listening to the noise and trusted my instinct.”

She noted that she had previously done films that were commercially successful but creatively unfulfilling. “I never wanted to feel that disconnect again,” she said.

About Paa
Directed by R Balki, Paa featured Amitabh Bachchan as Auro, a 12-year-old boy with progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes accelerated ageing. In a unique casting twist, Abhishek Bachchan played Auro’s father, while Vidya Balan portrayed his mother. The film was both a critical and commercial success, winning multiple accolades including National Awards for Best Actor (Amitabh Bachchan) and Best Hindi Feature Film.

What’s next for Vidya?
Vidya was last seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, alongside Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri, and Madhuri Dixit. The film was a box office hit, grossing ₹389 crore worldwide. While she hasn’t announced her next project yet, her debut film Parineeta will be re-released in select Indian cinemas for one week starting August 29.