Vidya Balan reunites with R Balki after 17 years for new Tamil film

Vidya Balan is set to collaborate with filmmaker R. Balki once again, nearly 17 years after their last film together. The actress announced her new Tamil project through Instagram Stories, sharing a first glimpse from the sets while keeping details about the film, her character and the rest of the cast under wraps.

Vidya Balan shares first glimpse from new Tamil film

Vidya Balan shared the update on Instagram, posting a picture of herself holding the script for the upcoming project. Sporting spectacles and a long braid, the actress captioned the photograph, “New Beginnings ☀️ #NewTamilFilm with #RBalki ✨❣️”.The post marks the beginning of Vidya’s collaboration with Balki on a Tamil-language project, although the title, storyline and release plans have not yet been revealed.

Vidya Balan and R Balki reunite nearly 17 years after 'Paa'

The upcoming project marks Vidya Balan and R. Balki’s first collaboration since 'Paa', which released in 2009. The acclaimed drama starred Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya in the lead roles and remains one of their notable collaborations. With their new film, Vidya and Balki are returning to the director-actor partnership after almost two decades. While the actress has chosen not to reveal details about her role, the announcement confirms that the project has moved into production.

Vidya Balan’s Tamil line-up also includes 'Jailer 2'

The new Tamil film adds to an already busy phase in Vidya Balan’s career. The actress is also making her Tamil debut with Nelson Dilipkumar’s 'Jailer 2', in which she stars alongside Rajinikanth. Vidya plays Kantha in the sequel, scheduled for release on October 15, 2026. Her character is reportedly linked to Mithun Chakraborty’s antagonist and is set to come into conflict with Rajinikanth’s Tiger Muthuvel Pandian.

Vidya Balan also has Anees Bazmee’s next film

Beyond her Tamil projects, Vidya Balan is also part of an upcoming comedy directed by Anees Bazmee. The film reunites her with Akshay Kumar and also stars Raashii Khanna. The project is scheduled to arrive in theatres on December 4, 2026.