Vidya has done a great job in Begum Jaan: Rituparna Sengupta

Rituparna Sengupta was in Mumbai recently to attend the premiere of Srijit Mukherji's Partition drama, Begum Jaan. The actress played the titular character in the Bengali and original version of the Hindi adaptation, Rajkahini. On being invited by producer Mahesh Bhatt and actress Vidya Balan to the premiere, an elated Rituparna shared her feelings with us. Excerpts:

It was gracious of Mahesh Bhatt and Vidya Balan to invite me over for the premiere of Begum Jaan. I was touched when Vidya told me, 'You are my original Begum Jaan.' Vidya too was extremely courteous — she told me that my feedback matters. Post the screening, she came and asked me whether her acting was anywhere to close to what I'd done. I told her it was phenomenal! I also met Chunky (Pandey), one of my old co-stars with whom I have delivered many hit films in Bangladesh. We watched the film together. He's done a stupendous job in the movie as did Jisshhu in Rajkahini.

One of the most touching moments was when I saw Srijit's (Mukherji) mother. It was a huge moment for her— after all, her son was making his directorial debut in

Bollywood

. Vidya and Gauahar are amazing in the film. Then again, we were too. I put my heart and soul in the film as did everyone else. It was a great moment for me when Vidya told me that it was big that for her to be attempting something I've done. It's heartening that Vidya, a great actress herself, feels like that about me.