Kangana Ranaut plays role etched for Vidya Balan in Shootout At Wadala

Like it always happens, when a film is nearing completion or is set to release, some or the other interesting news about it keeps on trickling out. A similar case has happened to Balaji Motion Pictures and White Feather Films’ Shootout At Wadala that is set to release on 3 May (2013). Initially, we had the sensational news about the dazzling cameos of Priyanka Chopra, Sunny Leone and Sophie Choudry in the film. Now get set to learn about the film’s fourth female dimension in the form of the female lead Kangana Ranaut. In the movie, Kangana plays the role of Vidya who is Manya Surve’s (John Abraham) love interest. While there is no mention of Vidya in S. Hussain Zaidi’s best-seller Dongri To Dubai from which a part of the film has been inspired, director Sanjay Gupta learnt of her existence through his interaction with the police while researching on the project. Reveals Sanjay, “The police know about Vidya. So do the residents of Mumbai’s Dadar and Agar Bazaar areas where she is folklore. Many believe that she betrayed Manya which led to his encounter. No one knows what happened to her after Manya’s death.” On his decision to cast Kangana, the co-producer and director adds, “The role of Vidya was written originally with Vidya Balan in mind as we needed a powerhouse actress to pull off the film’s emotional dimension. When it didn’t work out, we opted for Kangana as she is a fantastic actress too. She has really stood her own amidst the men in the film and delivered a knock-out performance.” Interestingly, Kangana’s de-glam cotton-sari look, make-up and hair have been styled on the lines of Shabana Azmi’s character from Arth. Concludes Gupta, “She’s done something she hasn’t done before.”