We were like schoolgirls on the set, say Vidya Balan and Ila Arun

At the recently concluded Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2024, held at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), the audience was treated to a heartwarming exchange between Bollywood star Vidya Balan and the actor-singer-thespian Ila Arun. The event marked the unveiling of Ila Arun’s autobiography, Parde Ke Peeche.

The story behind the curtains
“After my song Choli Ke Peeche (Kalnayak, 1993) became popular, it became my signature,” explained Ila. “Koi yeh nahi janta tha ki Ila Arun kaun hai, parde ke peeche kya hai. And that’s how I named my autobiography. Logon ko aana padega parde ke peeche mujhe jaanne ke liye,” said Ila Arun, revealing the inspiration behind the title.
A friendship beyond generations
Vidya Balan expressed her deep affection for Ila Arun, highlighting the unique qualities that have endeared Ila to her over the years. “My favorite thing about Ila ji is her child-like quality, that immense enthusiasm she has in everything she does,” Vidya said. “What is so amazing about her is that I never felt that there was any sort of age difference between us, from the moment we first met. I love her! She genuinely is one of my most favourite people. She has always been the youngest person in any cast, and I don’t mean this in an ageist way. Ila ji is just so much fun to have around! I’ve also had the opportunity to watch her on stage and she is magic. I’ve met Ishita, (her daughter), who was my junior in college, and she is great fun, but I feel Ila ji is the child! It’s just so easy to talk to her about anything. She levels with you so beautifully.”

Their camaraderie was evident as Vidya recalled their collaborations in films like Shaadi Ke Side Effects (2014), Begum Jaan (2017), and Sherni (2021). “We would be yapping away between takes, like schoolgirls! Yet, when the camera came on, she would just transform,” Vidya remarked.

The mischievous side of Vidya and Ila’s playful recollections
The stage was alive with laughter as both shared amusing anecdotes from their time on set. Ila Arun, tearing up at Vidya’s heartfelt praise, recounted a mischievous moment: “Vidya would crack a joke on set and make everyone laugh while she kept a straight face. Once, when I was preparing for a serious scene in Begum Jaan, she asked someone to play the song DJ Wale Babu! She knew that if I heard music like that my feet would tap to the music. When the shot was ready, she played the song and I couldn’t help moving! The director asked me to be still and Vidya stood there seriously for action!”

Vidya, laughing, added her version of events, “Ila ji was in a white sari, and we were doing a Holi scene. She kept asking the director, ‘Main nai Holi khel rahi? Rang mujhpe nahi lagayenge?’ The director explained the historical context, and Ila ji was heartbroken. She stood sulking in a corner. To lift her spirits, I said, let’s play DJ Wale Babu. It was her childlike spirit shining through!”

On the set of Begum Jaan

Adventures in Shantiniketan and Jharkhand
Vidya also reminisced about their shared adventures while shooting in Shantiniketan and Jharkhand. “On Saturdays, Shantiniketan would have a Boul Mela where folk artistes gathered to perform. Imagine having Ila Arun perform live with them! It was incredible.” In another memory, Vidya spoke about their encounters with snakes and scorpions in the wild. “The director once chased us with a bottle containing snakes, and I hid behind Ila ji. But she was always such a sport, playing along!”

The blessing of Ritwik Ghatak
Vidya reflected on the opening chapter of Ila Arun’s autobiography, which recounts a blessing from legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak. “He told her in Bengali, ‘You will die on stage.’ He saw in Ila ji what perhaps she couldn’t see in herself at the time. You’ve been on the stage in various avatars, on various stages, in various stages of your life. It’s so beautiful and inspiring."

Ila Arun, with her characteristic humor, responded, “That’s what I really want for me to happen. But Kunal pe taras aata hai (Kunal Kapoor, Trustee, Prithvi Theatre.) I want my last breath to be at Prithvi but aap itna arrangement kaise karenge. Meri iccha hai (to die on stage) but main location dhoondh rahi hoon, yahan (NCPA) nahi toh wahan.”