Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh talks about the importance of Kolkata in Kahaani and how Vidya Balan's success rate will affect his film's fortunes

Vidya Balan in a still from the film

Has The Dirty Picture's success been a game-changer for Kahaani?
It definitely ensures me a good opening but I am not sure if it is a game-changer because this film will have to speak for itself. But yes, after Paa, Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica and now The Dirty Picture, Vidya has created a stamp of quality, which is very good.

Why is Kahaani only your fourth film since Jhankaar Beats in 2003?
Nobody wants to give me money to make a film. That's why I have to write a film, go out, beg for money and then make one. I spent around two years developing Kahaani's story and we shot it in 52 days. It was the most challenging movie I have ever made. It was a movie that only Vidya and I believed in.

Why was it such a challenge?
I discussed the basic idea with Vidya. Initially it wasn't working out but we finally cracked it and I wrote the story. Then Aladin flopped and I got many 'Nos'. But I could only make it because she fully supported me. It was a challenge because on paper it had a huge budget. We knew we couldn't make it with a big budget as we could not take a solo Vidya Balan to that level. We had to be practical. So we went to Kolkata, and shot.