'The Dirty Picture' Vidhya Balan Plays Brothel Madam Role In Upcoming Period Drama Film Cast

Vidhya Balan is among those actresses in Bollywood who are not afraid to take challenging roles. The actress, who amazed the audience by her raunchy performance in The Dirty Picture has signed on to play the brothel madam in the upcoming period drama.

Balan is known for portraying strong female protagonists and has been acknowledged in the media for pioneering a change in the concept of an Indian film actress. In 2011, Balan appeared in The Dirty Picture, a biopic based on the life and death of the controversial Indian actress Silk Smitha. For her role as Smitha, Balan gained 26 pounds and in her own words as quoted by IBN Live, "Smitha was known for her brazenness and in-your-face sexuality." The actress described the role as the boldest role she ever played till then. But now, it looks like Balan is about to play another such role that will put her in the light.

According to Times of India, Srijit Mukherji's Bengali film, Rajkahini will be remade in Bollywood entitled: Begum Jaan. The main protagonist and Balan will be playing the role of the feisty character of the madam of the brothel. The film will be produced by National Award Winning director Mahesh Bhatt.

"The re-worked adaptation will see Vidya in the most challenging role of her career. Srijit is by far the most talented filmmaker I've known," Bhatt said.

Begum Jaan will follow the after effects of the Partition in Bengal in 1947, when India's state Bengal was partitioned in East Pakistan or Bangladesh. The film will delve into the lives of 11 women living in a brothel that finds itself divided by the new Line of Control. Half the houses are now in India and the remaining half are in Eastern Pakistan.

When Balan was asked on her view for portraying such character, the actress that she has seen the Bengali film and Rituparna Sengupta, the protagonist in Rajkahini has done a wonderful job.

"It's a powerful and moving film. Rituparna is wonderful and so is the rest of the cast. It's easily one of the most interesting scripts I have got so far."

The film is scheduled to release on Nov. 6, 2016