Vidya Balan reveals the REAL reason why Kahaani 2 didn't work well in theatres

Vidya Balan believes that if demonetisation had not occurred, her 2016 film Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh, the sequel to the 2012 film Kahaani, would have attracted a larger audience. The film was released on December 2, less than a month after India's government announced that all 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes would be demonetized.

The thriller, in which Vidya played Durga Rani Singh, a woman accused of kidnapping and murdering a young girl with paralysis, received mixed reviews upon its release. It, however, fell short of Kahaani's critical and economic triumph. Vidya Balan, who won the Filmfare Best Actor (Female) award for Kahaani and was nominated for the same award for the sequel, hopes that more people see the first film.

In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Vidya was asked about one of her films that she wishes more people had seen. In response, the actor replied, Kahaani 2 and shared that there was something that happened at that moment in time, around that release. Then Vidya remembered demonetisation and said, "Therefore, people didn't go to the theatres."

However, the actor stated that if not for the demonetisation, she does not believe the film would have done well. Vidya is not sure if the audience would have gone to the theatre otherwise. But it's comfortable knowing there's a reason, added the actor.

Vidya is now starring in Jalsa, an investigation thriller also featuring Shefali Shah. On March 18, the Suresh Triveni-directed film was released on Amazon Prime Video. In the film, Vidya plays a famous journalist, while Shefali Shah plays her chef, whose daughter is injured in a hit-and-run tragedy.

Vidya will next be seen in an untitled slice-of-life film co-starring Pratik Gandhi, Sendhil Ramamurthy, and Ileana D'Cruz. The film has been extensively shot in Ooty and the team wrapped it recently.