He suffers from a progeria like syndrome. Mentally he is 13, very normal, but physically he looks 5 times older. In spite of his condition, Auro is a very happy boy. He lives with his mother Vidya (Vidya Balan), who is a gynaecologist.

Amol Arte (Abhishek Bachchan), is young, progressive and a full of ideals, politician. He is out to prove to the world that ‘politics’ is not a bad word. He is a man with a mission. Auro is Amol’s son.

Paa is a ‘rare’ story about a father-son, son-father relationship.

Not many actress will have the courage to say ‘yes’ to turn mother on screen for the fear of being typecast. And to play the mother of the megastar Amitabh Bachchan is a big challenge in itself. Vidya Balan is daring enough to play the role of a mother in the much-hyped film Paa, of course not without receiving the flaks.

Buzz up!
Yes, Vidya Balan, who has been trashed for her fashion choices in the past, was criticized for putting on weight. But it was inevitable, as she plays Auro’s (Amitabh) mother in Paa. It is yet to be seen if her role in the film will bring her accolades, but one thing is for sure, this kind of role will not come everyday, as the film deals with progeria, a rare disorder that makes a person age at a very young age.

Vidya said that she received lots of bad comments because of her weight though she didn’t like criticism. But she wanted to push herself as a professional. She added that she feels healthier now.

It was a dream-come-true for her to play the mother of Amitabh Bachchan. She said that it was surreal but later became addictive because Amitabh was so convincing as the 13-year-old Auro. She added that she could connect to him as his mother.

Here is an actress who is ready to push the boundaries!

Recently, while shooting for Balki’s Amitabh-Abhishek starrer Paa in Cambridge, Vidya simply disappeared. The crew returned to Mumbai without her. Laughs Vidya, “It’s nothing so dramatic. Yes, I did stay back in Cambridge. I simply had to. I had no choice.”

Shooting for Balki’s Paa in Oxford and Cambridge proved to be too lovely an experience for the actress to leave behind.

After the whole unit left she decided to stay for an extra week.

Recounting the experience, Vidya says, “I just couldn’t help it. Just being in Cambridge shooting was not enough. I felt a deep connect with the campus and the environment. I just wanted to walk around the campus with books in hand, so I’d look like a student.”

Once the shooting was over Vidya decided to stay over. “Luckily I’ve a friend in Cambridge. I stayed with her and her husband. It was the most enriching experience of my life. Just the air and the feel of the place is so special.”

Vidya now intends to buy herself a quiet escape route. “I can’t afford a place in Cambridge. But I know of a place near Mumbai that offers the same climate and topography. But I am not revealing it.”