Director Srijit Mukherji, lately publicized that Vidya Balan
was always his first choice for the character of Begum Jaan in Rajkahini and
not Rituparna Sengupta. This came as a shock for the actor, who confessed to
having been hurt by his words, as the director never declared this fact to
her.
Talking to a famous tabloid, Rituparna told, "I was not
aware that he had wanted Vidya in Rajkahini, too. Or why he’s [Srijit
Mukherji] saying that today. We were in talks about doing a film together for
the longest time. He had told me that he would come to me only when he had a
role which matters. I was in Delhi attending an event. When I checked my phone,
I saw it had 10 missed calls! He called again and said, ‘I have got something
very exciting for you. I asked him to wait for me till I returned and the
moment I reached Kolkata he was at my home, ready with the script and concept.”
Srijit in an interview previously had told, “Originally, Rajkahini was
written to be a bilingual and I was supposed to cast Vidya Balan to play the
role in both the films. Only after I didn’t get her dates and things didn’t
work out, I thought of doing the Bengali film and approached Rituparna.”
But, Rituparna asserted with confidence that nobody will
forget Rajkahini's Begum Jaan and it doesn't matter to her who was
the first and second choice. “I am quite empowered that way. I can own things
in my own way. I own my character Begun Jaan in me. Nobody will forget Rajkahini’s Begum
Jaan. Who was the first and second choice doesn’t matter! I have a deep regard
for my director and am aware of what the film has done for me, so there are no
complaints," she told.
While speaking about Vidya's depiction as Begum Jaan, the
actor told that she is sure Vidya has also interpreted Begum Jaan in her own
way and will make it her own character. But, no comparison can be made between
the two, she maintained.
The actor confessed that she has watched the trailer of the
Hindi remake of Rajkahini which made her nostalgic. “I have watched
it and there’s a feeling of déjà vu. Every scene, every nuance, every shot is
so similar to Rajkahini, I felt that I was seeing my own film — only the
faces have changed. I was like, ‘Oh my God! I am seeing my own film in a
different way!’
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