Actor Vidya Balan has revealed that a scheduling conflict prevented her from starring opposite Rajinikanth in Kaala. In an exclusive interview with News18, the actor reflected on missing the film, the disappointments she experienced early in her career and why she eventually became open to working in Tamil cinema again.
Vidya was reportedly approached to play Rajinikanth’s love interest in Kaala, which was released in 2018. However, she could not accommodate the project because she was committed to another film. Huma Qureshi eventually played the female lead opposite Rajinikanth.
“Yes, I was offered the film but I couldn’t do it because I was shooting for something else at the same time. I was reading that film and the dates couldn’t change,” Vidya told News18.
The actor described the missed opportunity as a matter of timing and said she was glad she eventually got the chance to work with Rajinikanth in Jailer 2.
“I lost out on the opportunity to work with Rajini sir a few years ago. I think it’s all about divine timing. I’m glad it worked out this time around,” she said.
Vidya Balan Recalls Anger Over Tamil Film Rejections
Vidya’s relationship with Tamil cinema has been shaped by setbacks. After her early film Chakram with Mohanlal was shelved, she faced difficulties securing roles in Tamil projects, including Run and Bala, according to the interview.
The actor said the repeated rejections left her disappointed and, for a time, reluctant to consider offers from the industry.
“Like I said, it’s all about timing. At that time, I went through a lot of rejections here. And then, for a while, I didn’t consider doing a Tamil film,” she said.
Vidya admitted that she had felt angry about the experience. However, with time and perspective, she came to view those setbacks differently.
“I was angry. But you grow and mature and learn that it was how it was meant to happen. For Parineeta to happen, all these things had to happen,” she explained.
Her comments reflect how early career disappointments can influence an actor’s willingness to revisit an industry, even when new opportunities arise.
‘You Rejected Me, So I’m Rejecting You Now’
Vidya also spoke candidly about her response to Tamil-film offers in the years that followed. Although opportunities continued to come her way, she said many did not excite her. She also acknowledged that her earlier experiences influenced her attitude towards those projects.
“I was getting offers but I wasn’t getting exciting ones. And for the longest time, I didn’t want to consider them. I was like, ‘You rejected me, so I’m rejecting you now,’” she said.
Looking back, Vidya recognised that this reaction was driven partly by her disappointment. She added that age and experience helped her move beyond those feelings.
“I guess I had to go through that to learn and grow from it. As I grew in age and experience, I realised that all this is pointless,” she said, adding that she no longer holds any resentment over what happened.
Jailer 2 Marked a New Chapter for Vidya Balan
Vidya’s return to Tamil cinema came with Jailer 2, starring Rajinikanth. The opportunity followed her earlier appearance in Ajith Kumar’s Nerkonda Paarvai in 2019, in which she had a cameo.
The actor said she became more receptive to Tamil projects when she decided to approach them with a fresh perspective. She now sees her return to the industry as an example of how opportunities can arrive when circumstances and outlook align.
Vidya also revealed that she is working on another Tamil film directed by R Balki.
“When I opened myself up to the idea that I would be happy to do a Tamil film, interesting films showed up,” she said.
Reflecting on the timing of her latest projects, she added, “This is how it was meant to be – na samay se pehle, na samay ke baad.”
For Vidya, the experience has become less about the roles she missed and more about the opportunities that eventually came her way. Her reflections offer a candid account of how rejection, professional choices and changing perspectives have shaped her journey across film industries.
