Vidya Balan at HHI on Friday. Pictures by Rashbehari Das

Thank god I am a woman and I can wear a sari! Otherwise, I would have been a cross-dresser. Only to wear a sari! And to wear Sabyasachi!

Her mother, her sister and Rekha are some of her favourite women. And she believes Indian women are the prettiest. “Toh humein zyada kuch karne ki zaroorat nahib padti,” she said to rapturous applause at the Nihar Naturals Sananda Srimati, powered by Parachute Advansed Body Lotion, haircare workshop on Friday afternoon at HHI. t2 caught up with the Balan beauty, post-pep talk

What are the best things about being a woman?

I just celebrate and enjoy being a woman all the time. And I am not saying this because of Women’s Day. I love the woman’s body. I love the curves we are blessed with. That’s what makes us women.... I love our emotionality, which helps us empathise with people. I love the fact that we play so many different roles, so effortlessly, all at the same time. We are daughter, we are sister, friend, wife, daughter-in-law, mother, lover, professional... all of it. Whereas a man is a man is a man. Firstly, I don’t even think they progress from being boys to men! They just remain boys. Thank god I am a woman and I can wear a sari! Otherwise, I would have been a cross-dresser. Only to wear a sari! And to wear Sabyasachi (laughs her hiccupy laugh)!

Men are just men. Either an ambition is driving them or a need for power or some kind of a need for self-assurance. It’s one of those things that is driving them.

(Thinks really long) I also like the fact that men take care of us. I don’t think from a feminist point of view. We are just special. We are born special. So we need that special treatment. It is like saying, so what if you are Rajinikanth, you will still be treated like everyone else. Every woman is a Rajinikanth. They are all super powers. Invisible hands. A heart that bleeds. Compassionate. Loving. Nurturing. And yet extremely practical, strong with a certain sense of detachment.... We are the ones who bear children. Just to go through the experience of motherhood is so unique. We are the true creators. We have the power to forgive.

You will soon be playing a very special woman — the siren Silk Smitha in The Dirty Picture...

There has been a lot of speculation whether I am losing weight or putting on weight (for my role). Nothing of the sort. She was as wholesome as an Indian woman gets. And that’s something I don’t need to work too much on. Also because mine isn’t going to be an impersonation. It is going to be largely my interpretation of the person, Silk Smitha. Yes she is very sensational. That’s why it is exciting to play her. But for me, just to delve into the mind of someone who I don’t identify with at all. Today more than ever before, women are leading life on their own terms and she did it way back in the ’80s.

Even when I was first approached with the role, I’ll be very honest, with no disrespect… I thought she was sexually offensive. But what’s interesting is to delve into the person, to delve into the mind and know how she thought, what she was, why she was. She said, I care a rat’s ass what anyone thinks. I want to succeed and I will do it the way I want to. The only way I know. She did it. That’s what I really admire. And to have made a brand of herself. I think it was incredible.

When you talk about over-the-top sexy, blatantly sexy, in-your-face sexy, you talk about Silk Smitha. How hot was Silk Smitha! Zeenat Aman was sexy. She still had dignity. Silk Smitha was maybe a bit little cruder. But hats off to her. It is very easy to sit on judgement. That may not be the way I accept or observe or follow or something that I completely appreciate but what the hell! To each his own. That’s the bit I admire.

I think I will have to read up a little bit about her, watch some films, practise a little bit of dance because it is a mindspace that I completely don’t identify with and I think Milan Luthria will have to do a lot of hand-holding. I am nervous! He likes the fact that I am nervous. I don’t know what to think. It’s something that I cannot imagine doing. That’s the challenge as an actor.

What else is keeping you busy?

Now I will have to sink my teeth into The Dirty Picture. I have to go to Australia for an Indian film festival. Five of my films are being showcased there. Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Paa, Ishqiya and No One Killed Jessica. It is just not for the Indian audiences. It is also attended by a lot of local people. It is happening in Sydney and Melbourne.... And I’m trying to rest as much as possible. Hopefully, after Australia, I will take a bit of a break.

Finally, are you dating Siddharth Roy Kapur?

There were at least a million people holidaying in Goa at that time. (Laughs.) But if people push me too much, especially in Calcutta, to give an answer, I would say that I would consider it, considering he has a Roy in his name. And if that’s the only way I can get a Bengali surname, then what the hell! Though I am not sure if he has any Bengali connection, but I will find that out and then we shall consider.