When the names Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan are paired in the media one can only think to reap praise on both. The two Bollywood starlets were seen together in No One Killed Jessica where Rani played a firebrand journalist while Vidya essayed the role of Sabrina, a heart broken sister. The film went on to be a great success and but with success brought trouble to the No One Killed Jessica pairing.
The problem brewing between the two can be put down to the stifling competition going on between Vidya and Rani but also the fact that they are both being considered for the same roles.
While Raj Kumar Gupta was finalizing details for his upcoming film Ghanchakkar trade sources were ready to speculate that the choice of actress was between Vidya or Rani given that Gupta had previously said “both Rani and Vidya are very talented.” However to confirm any speculations of competition Gupta then went on record to say “I wanted only Vidya for the role. I waited eight months for her to revert.”
To flip the coin it is also rumored that Paan Singh Tomar maker, Tigmanshu Dhulia, had initially approached Balan for Begum Samru. Source qouted in a leading newspaper says, “Vidya reportedly kept him dangling saying she hadn’t had time to read the script. So Tigmanshu approached Rani. A section of the media went to town with the news that Rani was in the Paan Singh Tomar filmmaker’s next project. When Vidya heard that the same script that was offered to her was also offered to Rani, she was apparently miffed.”
The result of both being hot in demand came after the success of their film No One Killed Jessica. Both performed terrifically putting some life back into Rani’s career as a Bollywood queen but also raising Vidya to the next level. Sources indicated that Rani was confident that her performance would allow her to walk away with equal accolades to Vidya. That was not to be when Vidya picked up a large majority of the lead actress awards while Rani found herself nominated for supporting actress, in which she won one and that happened to be collected by Vidya in her absence.
It was their collaboration in NOKJ that brought their upcoming and latest successes. Rani bagged a hot role in Aamir Khans Talaash while Vidya appeared in The Dirty Picture and then completed a hat trick with Kahaani. Unfortunately for Rani Talaash had been delayed twice giving Vidya some space to shine. Had Talaash been released on time one can only assume that the competition for best actress would have been even hotter.
While filming NOKJ and during promotions the pair seemed like a pair of familiar friends laughing and joking in interviews. Both bonded over their ability to converse in Bengali and even shared a kiss during the promotions. Both even filled the newspapers commenting in awe at each others acting abilities.
Commenting on the tension between the two a spokesperson for Vidya was qouted as saying that she is not aware of any issue saying “I think they have hardly met after No One Killed Jessica.” No comment was given by Rani making it difficult to end the rumors.
