Vidya Balan to play Geetal Bali in Marathi film

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan will venture into the Marathi film industry with a special appearance in a biopic about the late actor-director Bhagwan Dada.

The 37-year-old Bobby Jasoos actress will play the golden era actress Geeta Bali in the film, which traces Dada’s life and the difficulties he faced while making his musical Albela.

Albela, a 1951 film, starred Dada and Bali in the lead.

“It’s an honour to be playing the effervescent Geeta Bali even if it is just a special appearance, and to be recreating Albela for a Marathi biopic on Bhagwan Dada,” Balan said in a statement.

The makers of the upcoming biopic wanted someone with an Indian face to play Bali and Balan suits the part perfectly. The biopic is directed by Shekhar Sartandel.