Vidya Balan reveals she lost more than 8 films in the South after people labelled her a 'jinx' following the shelving of Mohanlal’s Chakram

Before she became one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated performers, Vidya Balan faced a string of rejections that would have broken many. In a recent interview, she opened up about a particularly painful chapter—being labelled a “jinx” after her debut Malayalam film Chakram, opposite Mohanlal, was abruptly shelved just days into production.

The film’s collapse wasn’t due to her performance but rather creative differences between the director and Mohanlal. Still, the fallout was swift and brutal. Vidya, who had already signed 8–9 South Indian films, saw every single offer vanish overnight. “I was thinking to myself, I was a star,” she recalled in a conversation with Rodrigo Canelas. “Then Chakram got shelved, and I lost each of those films. People said I brought bad luck.”

Superstition and Stigma in the Industry

In a culture where astrology and energy are often intertwined with casting decisions, Vidya became a scapegoat. Producers whispered about her “aura”, and some even claimed her presence had doomed the project. She was replaced in films without notice—sometimes after already shooting scenes.

According to reports by Pinkvilla, one Tamil producer reportedly told her parents, “Does she even look like a heroine?” The comment devastated her. For six months, she couldn’t look at herself in the mirror. “There was a witch hunt,” she later said. “It came from a personal issue someone had with me, but it spread like wildfire.”

Faith, Family, and the Fight to Rebuild

Despite facing heartbreak early on, Vidya refused to let setbacks define her journey. She found strength in her family’s support — particularly her sister Priya, who encouraged her by pointing to stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu who had also weathered rejection. As a safety net, Vidya went on to complete a master’s degree in sociology, determined to keep her options open while chasing her dreams.

Her emotional anchor during this time? A convent-school hymn:
“One day at a time, sweet Jesus.” She repeated it like a mantra, telling herself, “Just get through today.”

The Turning Point: Pradeep Sarkar and Parineeta

Three years after her lowest point, Vidya met ad filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, who cast her in a music video and later promised to make a film with her. That promise became Parineeta (2005), her Bollywood debut—and a career-defining moment. “For the first time, I felt seen,” she said. “Dada had so much faith in me. I rebuilt myself through that film.”

From ‘Jinxed’ to National Icon

Vidya went on to deliver powerhouse performances in The Dirty Picture, Kahaani, Tumhari Sulu, and Sherni, earning a National Film Award and the Padma Shri.