I didn't know Mr Bachchan could play the piano so well: Vidya Balan

Yet, there was no iota of discomfort when the two had a chance meeting at a coffee shop in Khar.Some friendships are meant to stay and few know it better than Vidya Balan. Just before leaving Kolkata, she spoke to us about the reason why she came on board TE3N, working with Amitabh Bachchan and the little things she keeps discovering about Kolkata. Excerpts:
Right after landing in the city, you wrote on Twitter: 'Kolkata never ceases to amaze me.A game of chess bang in the middle of the busy Gariahat!' How has the experience of shooting for TE3N in Kolkata been?
I always pride myself in knowing Kolkata really well. But the city never ceases to amaze me. The other day , at 7 in the evening, I saw people sitting under the flyover, playing chess! I found that amazing.There are many things about the city that get revealed to me every time I'm here. I love it even more when I'm shooting here. Kolkata is my second home and I can't tell you what joy the City of Joy gives me, again and again.
In your last interview to us you had admitted that Sujoy (Ghosh) and you were not on talking terms for a while. How did this film happen?
My family lives in Khar (Mumbai).And there's a coffee shop right opposite the house. I got into the shop to get myself a coffee and Sujoy was already sitting there. We had not spoken for one and a half years. I gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, 'Hi, remember me. I had done a film with you?' He turned to me and said, `Oh, are you that actor who played the pregnant woman in my film?' And then, we broke out laughing. In a few seconds we were back to being ourselves. Over a cup of coffee, we chatted for long. I don't know why we wasted this precious time by not talking to each other. Honestly , there was no problem. I had no option but to opt out of Durga Rani Singh because of health reasons. He knew and understood that. But for some reason we didn't end up talking to each other. I guess we were meant to now and we are; I'm happy .After a few days, he told me he was producing this film and said the director wanted to meet me. I met Ribhu (Dasgupta) and loved the script. Even though it's a special appearance I loved it and I'm getting to play a cop. Working with Sujoy again and that too in my favourite city -I had every reason to do the film.
Does that mean Durga Rani Singh too is happening soon?
I don't know about that. That is something only Sujoy knows. He is dabbling with three different scripts and we are definitely doing a film early next year, but we haven't finalised which one yet.
How was the shooting this time around?
In a way , it was similar to Kahaani.A lot of the unit hands were the same. Every time I would land on the sets, they would say , 'Didi ki khabe? Kemon achho?' I was welcomed with the same warmth -they are all so caring. In that sense, it felt like it was five years ago and we were doing Kahaani. But besides that, it has been quite intriguing. I am working with Ribhu for the first time and even though I thought I knew Kolkata really, really well, this time around, we shot at locations, we have not been before. I saw new places in Kolkata. I discovered new things about Kolkata. I visited gorgeous locations and must admit that I'm falling more and more in love with the city .
How was it shooting with Amitabh Bachchan? You had earlier played his mother in Paa...
I don't share too many scenes with Mr Bachchan in this film, but it's always a joy working with him. What amazes me is his everlasting energy . He's extremely passionate about what he does.He has been working for so many years. Yet, when he is on the sets, he is so there. My experience in Paa and this film has been just the same. The moment the camera starts rolling, he transforms into the character, changing himself completely . With Nawaz, it was nice working again. During Kahaani, we didn't get to speak much, but this time we made up for it. Most of my scenes are with him. Also, Ribhu is at ease with the way he gets work done. So everyone is working at an easy pace. It's not a tense atmosphere.
You wrote on Twitter about Big B playing the Charulata theme on the piano at St Paul's Cathedral...
A scene was undergoing and suddenly I hear strains of the piano.I was standing with Sujoy and he Arre, this is the Charulata said, ' theme, remember?' I was like, 'Yes, oh my god!' We turned back and saw Mr Bachchan playing the piano. So everyone surrounded him and it was so nice. I kept wondering how can one person have every conceivable talent! I didn't know he could play the piano so well. He had a laugh when everyone was so amazed.He has this humble laugh almost as if disbelieving the fact that he is amazing!
You are playing an officer of Kolkata Police in TE3N. How did you prepare for the role?
We all have all seen cops around us, interacted with them, so the perception is pretty clear. That apart, I have seen several American TV series and films on female cops, not so much Indian films except maybe Tejaswini. I didn't need to prepare much. I just delved into my memory of female cops and the way I have seen them, in person and on screen.
Did you get to meet some of your old team members like Parambrata Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee or Abir Chatterjee?
I spoke to Param and decided to catch up once I'm back in January . We'll meet up soon, hopefully .
You also spent the Christmas in Kolkata and wrote about the 'infamous' Park Street lights...
I always wanted to see that stretch and what I wrote was my way of saying the 'really famous' Park Street lights. I was on my way to the shooting spot very early in the morning and the lights were still on and I was like, 'Oh my god, finally I get to see them'. No one knows that I was again back in the evening. The road was chock-a-block with revellers and people were sporting funky headgear. They were having a merry time while I went to pick up cakes. Since we ended up working on Christmas, I had ordered for plum cakes. I had wanted to experience the magic of Park Street on Christmas and I got to. I was quietly sitting in the car, while Sujoy and my manager picked up the cake.
What do you plan to do on January 1, your birthday?
I'm actually travelling with Siddharth (Roy Kapur) to a secret destination. This is for the first time in all these years that I will not be with my family on my birthday . But I guess, this is something they are all looking forward to. Otherwise, I generally wake up my parents at 11.45 pm and make them wish me at midnight. They will be happy to go to bed early and my sister and brother-in-law won't need to come back home to wish me at 12! Also, Siddharth and I have been busy for the past couple of months and I'm looking forward to this trip.
This year, you have signed up for Marathi films. You are dong Ek Albela, where you'll be playing Geeta Bali. What about Bengali movies? Long back, Rituparno Ghosh wanted to cast you as Debi Chowdhurani...
Rituda would discuss several projects with me from time to time. He would say , `Should we do this or should we do that?' I feel I'm a bit older for Debi Chowdhurani now, but working with him was on the anvil.Unfortunately , that didn't happen. Rituda and I would always exchange messages in Bengali.He would sign off by saying, `onek ador'. That's something I learnt from him. So when I'm with my unit, that's what I tell people. I'm getting better. Also, I'm clued into the works of Bengali directors. Arindam Sil is someone I have known for a while. I believe he is doing pretty well and I am very happy for him. I am hoping to watch Ebar Shobor on DVD. I'm familiar with Srijit (Mukherji) and Tony's (Aniruddha Roychowdhury) works. I get offered Bengali films very often. So far nothing has materialised. Sometimes it's my dates, sometimes the script.I am dying to do a Bengali film as I can now dub in my voice.