The actress, who was in Hyderabad recently for the shoot of an elaborate song sequence for the film, was down with flu
Vidya Balan loves getting into the skin of the character, but to essay Silk Smita in The Dirty Picture, she seems to be pushing her limits.

The actress, who was in Hyderabad recently for the shoot of an elaborate song sequence for the film, was down with flu. She, however, did not complain and continued shooting with co-actor Naseerudin Shah.

Says a source, "The song was being shot in a lotus pond and it was on a tight schedule. Filming had to be wrapped up within two to three days, as those were the only dates available.

It required Vidya to stay in the pond for over four to five hours during the sequence."

Adds the source, "Vidya started feeling ill on the first day itself as she was in water for so long. She developed high fever.

Though director Milan Luthria asked his leading lady to take a breather, she was keen that the shoot continue."

If shooting was stalled, the per day losses would have been huge for the producers and it would have also affected the crew who had been specially flown from Mumbai.

As a result Vidya did not want the filming to be affected.

Place your bets

During the Karnataka schedule, director Milan Luthria had challenged Vidya to address the gathered crowd dressed as Silk Smitha.

Unabashedly she walked up to the all-male onlookers and spoke to them like her character would.

Says a source, "Milan had a bet with Vidya that she would never be able to address the crowd without feeling awkward, but he lost the bet."

After the incident Milan thinks twice and warns the unit too, about placing bets with Balan.

Contrary to reports Salman is not leaving his shooting in Dublin to return to Mumbai for Bigg Boss and to participate in an item song for Joker.

The Yashraj spokesperson confirms that there will be no break in the shooting in Dublin.

“Salman is not taking a break from the shooting in Dublin. He will, however, be returning to shoot for Bigg Boss between two schedules of Ek Tha Tiger. ”

It was planned by director Shirish Kunder as the big surprise for the Dabangg girl.

An item song for Dabangg’s Rajjo with Chulbul Pandey for Joker had been elaborately planned for Sonakshi. And everyone in the unit was under an oath of secrecy regarding Salman’s flash appearance.

Says a source, “Farah Khan had rehearsed Salman’s steps for the item song in Joker before he left for Dublin to shoot for Ek Tha Tiger. But Sonakshi had not been told about it.

Ever since Dabangg where Malaika did Munni badnaam with the superstar Sonakshi had been craving to do an item number with Salman.

So Shirish and Farah went through a great deal of drama of concealment to make sure that Sonakshi did not know that Salman would join in the item song.

Salman’s grand entry was planned like Amitabh Bachchan in the iconic Salaam-e-ishq song in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.

But here in Joker Sonakshi’s surprise on suddenly seeing Salman would have been real. ”

Alas, all these elaborate plans have come to nought. Salman would now be unable to be part of the item song.

Because of Salman’s illness and the botched schedule, the superstar is unable to spare time for the number.

Says the source, “Now Farah had to change the choreography for the item song overnight. Sonakshi has also been told that her intended surprise has fallen flat. ”