Vidya Balan In Talks For NBK Film

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan is likely to return to Tollywood for an important role opposite Nandamuri Balakrishna in his upcoming film with director Koratala Siva.

“Although nothing has been finalized yet, he will appear in the flashback portions of the film,” a source said.

Balakrishna and Vidya Balan had previously played the role of husband and wife in NTR: Kathanayakudu and NTR: Mahanayakudu; here he portrayed both the young and old phases of Basavatarakam. Vidya’s performance in biopics received appreciation from the audience in Telugu-speaking states.

“Basavatarakam’s role was not written as just a traditional housewife. She was portrayed as a strong woman who stood firmly by NTR’s side at important stages of his life,” states the source. “Vidya interacted with Balakrishna and other family members to understand the nuances of the character and executed the role with conviction.”

Director Koratala Siva is said to be contemplating another performance-oriented role for the actor. “Vidya Balan is an extremely talented and discerning actress. If all goes well, this project could mark her return to Telugu cinema,” says the source.

Like many Bollywood actors working in southern cinema, Vidya Balan is believed to have insisted on a “preservation of scenes” clause in the agreement, which ensured that important scenes involving her character were not cut during final editing. “Discussions are currently ongoing,” the source said.