Mother India should not be remade: Vidya Balan

Mumbai: Vidya Balan, who donned Nargis' look from the 1957 cult film Mother India for a magazine, says that no one should even dare to remake Mehboob Khan's Oscar-nominated Mother India as it is an unachievable feat. She also says that if someone dared to attempt this, she wouldn't be a part of it.

As a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema, Vidya has donned Nargis' look from Mother India and Meena Kumari's from the 1962-classic Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam for Cineblitz' special edition.

But the actress, who entered filmdom with the Parineeta remake, has no intention of working in a Mother India remake.

"I don't think anybody would even dare to remake Mother India and if someone does then I will salute him, but I will not do it. It is unachievable, really," Vidya (35), told reporters at the unveiling of the cover page of the magazine.

Mother India is known for Nargis Dutt's power-packed performance as a righteous mother, who shoots down her son, played by Sunil Dutt, whom she married after the movie, for being on the wrong side of the law.

One of the most expensive project of its time, the film is said to be a remake of Khan's 1940 movie Aurat and it was India's first submission for the Oscars for the Best Foreign Language Film in 1958.

Talking about dressing up as Nargis in the same look, Vidya said, "It's an honour for me to have recreated those two images. One is the image of Nargis from Mother India and when you think of those iconic images from the Indian cinema over time, it definitely features in the top 3."

"The other image we recreated was Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam and I remember seeing that picture when I was in school and finding it extremely intoxicating," added Vidya talking about Meena Kumari's drunk look from the film.

Vidya is currently shooting for Shaadi Ke Side Effects with Farhan Akhtar while the first look of her upcoming film Ghanchakkar with Emraan Hashmi has already released. IANS

Vidya At Cineblitz Special Issue Launch

As a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema, Vidya has donned Nargis' look from Mother India.

Vidya At Cineblitz Special Issue Launch

She also dressed as Meena Kumari from the 1962-classic Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam for Cineblitz's special edition.

Vidya At Cineblitz Special Issue Launch

Mother India was India's first submission for the Oscars for the Best Foreign Language Film in 1958.

Vidya At Cineblitz Special Issue Launch

Mother India is also known for Nargis Dutt's power-packed performance as a righteous mother, who shoots down her son, played by Sunil Dutt.

Vidya At Cineblitz Special Issue Launch

Vidya is working on two films these days - Shaadi Ke Side Effects with Farhan Akhtar and Ghanchakkar with Emraan Hashmi.