Vidya Balan has made her full-fledged Tamil cinema debut with Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2. The actress recently <a href="https://comicvibe.com/hazbin-hotel-fortnite-release-date-and-all-skins-revealed/” title=”Hazbin Hotel Fortnite Release Date and All Skins Revealed”>revealed that she was previously offered a role in the superstar’s Kaala but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts.
Entertainment desk
October 16, 2026 / 17:12 IST
Recalling those hard days, Vidya said that the constant rejections impacted her emotionally and made her wary of exploring opportunities in Tamil cinema.
Vidya Balan has made her full-fledged Tamil cinema debut with Jailer 2 starring superstar Rajinikanth. However, the actress has revealed that she had a chance to work with the veteran actor several years ago in Kaala but had to pass on the opportunity due to scheduling conflicts.
Having worked across Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam and Telugu cinema, Vidya has a diverse filmography over the years. Jailer 2 is a big leap in her association with Tamil cinema, while she made a brief appearance in Ajith Kumar’s Nerkonda Paarvai in 2019.
Why Was Vidya Balan Not In Kaala?
In an interaction with News18, Vidya confirmed that she was approached to play Rajinikanth’s love interest in Kaala which was initially surrounded by speculation of its connection to Kabali.
But the actress couldn’t accept the offer as she was tied up with another project then and shooting dates couldn’t be worked out.
“Yes I was offered the film but couldn’t do it as I was shooting for something else at the same time,” explained Vidya, adding that she had to let go of the opportunity as she was interested in the project. That part went to Huma Qureshi in the end. When she looks back on the missed opportunity, Vidya feels everything happened when it was supposed to.
“A few years ago, I could have worked with Rajini sir, but I missed the opportunity. I feel like it’s a divine timing thing. “Glad it worked out this time around,” she said.
Vidya’s path to making her mark in the film industry was not easy. The actress had a series of setbacks and was reportedly labeled ‘jinxed’ after her first project Chakram with Mohanlal was shelved. She was later replaced in some Tamil projects including Run and Bala.
Recalling those hard days, Vidya said that the constant rejections impacted her emotionally and made her wary of exploring opportunities in Tamil cinema.
“I had a lot of rejections here at that time. And for a while I didn’t think of doing a Tamil film,” she recalled.
The actress also confessed that she’d been mad at how things turned out. But over time, and with experience, she learned to look at those disappointments differently. “I learned slowly that the setbacks were part of my journey, that I couldn’t be resentful about opportunities that didn’t work out,” she said.
“I did get a few Tamil film offers over the years but nothing was exciting enough to make me think of changing my decision,” Vidya revealed. “I think my past experiences are what guide how I go about seizing those opportunities.”
I was getting offers, but they weren’t exciting ones. And for a long time I didn’t want to think about them. I was like, you rejected me so I’m rejecting you,” she said.
The actress eventually realised this was not helping her move forward. She grew up, got perspective and started to accept her past experiences without bitterness.
Vidya also shared how those setbacks eventually opened the door for other opportunities, including the Hindi film Parineeta, which was a significant milestone in her career.
She says she has no hard feelings anymore toward the people or situations involved in those early rejections.
Vidya Balan is currently seen in the cameo role of Kantha in Rajinikanth starrer Jailer 2. She will also be seen next in Anees Bazmi’s untitled comedy entertainer alongside Akshay Kumar and Raashii Khanna.
Entertainment desk Entertainment Desk at Moneycontrol reports on the celebrities, movies that shape India’s entertainment industry. With a sharp focus on cinema, OTT, web series, and latest trends, the entertainment desk delivers verified news, and analytical stories that place entertainment within a wider economic and cultural context. Our coverage goes beyond celebrity to examine how storytelling, audiences and business decisions influence one of the country’s most influential creative industries.
first published: Oct 16, 2026 03:30 pm
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