From the first poster of Vidya Balan as Begum Jaan, we had a feeling that this was going to be something special. Then the trailer released and we knew we were right. This fierce avatar of Vidya Balan had arrived and we could not wait to see her character’s story come alive onscreen. Directed by Srijit Mukherji, the film sees Vidya play a madam of a brothel, a tigress, who protects and fights for her home and her pack during the Partition.

See what we mean?

In this in-depth conversation with Stacey, the brilliant Vidya shares what it was like to play this role, the challenges and the joys, and why she feels that there is a Begum Jaan in every woman.

You have told me earlier that you go by instinct when choosing your roles, what was it about this that you knew this was a film I have to do?...