Vidya Balan has expressed her joy of being invited to be a part of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival by stating how she feels immensely proud to be representing India during this prestigious occasion. “It’s extremely exciting and invigorating to be on the same jury as (Steven) Spielberg, Ang Lee and others. It’s going to be a great learning experience for me, said Vidya.” “It’s also a very proud moment for me as an individual. As an actor I feel proud that I’ve been invited to be on such an august jury, but also because Cannes is celebrating Indian Cinema in its 100th year and its India shining all the way.”
Vidya also stated that the fact there are a number of Indian films being screened during this festival illustrates how there are “no longer any barriers when it comes to good cinema.” “Language is never a barrier, nationality is never a barrier, and your style of filmmaking is never a barrier. We are back home celebrating ‘Indianness’ in its full glory unapologetically, which is why people are looking at us and saying ‘wow’.”
“There is no formula anymore which is very refreshing, which is why I think more and more and more people in the world are going to start enjoying Indian cinema, said the 35 year old actress.”
Vidya also described Amitabh Bachchan’s opening of the Cannes Film Festival alongside actor Leonardo DiCaprio as a “proud moment.”
