Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and directed by Pradeep Sarkar, the film Parineeta celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year. The National Award-winning film featured Vidya Balan, Sanjay Dutt, and Saif Ali Khan in lead roles, with notable performances by Raima Sen, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, and Dia Mirza in supporting roles.
Vidya Balan’s debut film Parineeta, directed by Pradeep Sarkar, completed 20 years last month. Released on June 10, 2005, the film won multiple honours, including a National Film Award. Rooted in themes of cultural heritage, family bonds, and subtle class conflicts, the classic is now being re-released to celebrate its milestone anniversary
Vidya Balan’s Heartfelt Gesture for Rekha Wins Hearts
On Monday, the re-release celebration of Parineeta saw a star-studded turnout as many Bollywood celebrities gathered to mark the occasion. From the timeless diva Rekha to the film’s lead actress Vidya Balan, along with Dia Mirza, Shreya Ghoshal, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Rajkumar Hirani, several renowned personalities came together to celebrate the film’s glorious 20-year journey.
Several photos and videos from the event have been making rounds online. In one clip, Vidya can be seen performing the traditional Bengali dance, Dhunuchi Naach, while Rekha warmly kisses the film’s poster. But the highlight of the evening was Vidya’s heartfelt gesture towards the legendary actress Rekha.
On the red carpet before the re-release premiere of Parineeta, Vidya was seen touching Rekha’s feet as a mark of respect. Later, after the screening, the two shared a warm embrace. Fans flooded the comments with love and heart-eye emojis, calling the moment a beautiful union of “two icons.”
Beyond the Screen: Parineeta Insights
Parineeta is a Hindi film adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1914 Bengali novella by the same name. The screenplay was penned by producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and the movie featured Vidya Balan, Sanjay Dutt, and Saif Ali Khan in lead roles, with Raima Sen, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, and Dia Mirza in key supporting parts.
Along with its strong performances and storytelling, Parineeta is also remembered for Shantanu Moitra’s soulful music, with timeless songs like Piyu Bole, Kasto Mazza, and Raat Hamari Toh that perfectly capture the romance of the period. The film is often considered ahead of its time for highlighting themes of patriarchy, class differences, and a woman’s quiet rebellion against being submissive in love.