As the beloved film Parineeta marks its 20th anniversary, actress Vidya Balan was seen at a special screening ahead of its re-release in PVR theatres from August 29 to September 5. The film, which marked Vidya’s Bollywood debut, holds a special place in her heart and she took this moment to reflect on her journey and remember the late director, Pradeep Sarkar, with deep emotion.
Speaking about the milestone, Vidya said, “Whether we remain or not, the film will always remain. My career began because of Parineeta. It’s been 20 years, and Dada (Pradeep Sarkar) is not here today. I’m really missing him. He should have been here. I really, really miss him. Whatever this film is, it’s because of Dada. I wish he were here.”
She recalled a life-changing moment from the original premiere of the film: “There are some moments you can never forget. After the screening of Parineeta, we were all invited on stage—Rekha ji, Vinod Chopra, Saif, Dada, Mr. Bachchan, and I. I went up with my back to the audience. And when I turned around… my life changed. That moment is unforgettable. I feel so lucky that my career began with Parineeta. It’s been 20 years, and I’m living my dream. I am full of gratitude.”
Reflecting on the legacy of Parineeta, she added, “The music is timeless, the film is timeless. When Parineeta was released, films like this weren’t being made. It had a certain freshness, a uniqueness. And it feels so good to see that even today, people continue to love the film.”
She concluded with a powerful statement: “There can never be any film as special as Parineeta. If there had been no Parineeta, there wouldn’t have been any other film for me.”