Acclaimed actress Vidya Balan recently shared a humorous anecdote from her early career, highlighting an awkward yet light-hearted incident involving fellow actor Akshaye Khanna. The story, recounted in a recent interview, revolves around a film offer from Akshaye Khanna that Vidya Balan chose to decline because she did not connect with the script, but felt too apprehensive to convey the rejection personally during her nascent days in the industry.

Vidya revealed that, being new and nervous about a direct confrontation, she opted to have her manager communicate her decision to turn down the film opposite Akshaye. The awkwardness of this situation humorously came full circle when the two actors later met on the sets of the ensemble film Salaam-e-Ishq. It was on this set that Akshaye playfully teased Vidya about the rejection.

“Akshaye fired me,” Vidya recounted, explaining his jest about her rejecting his script. This playful accusation left a nervous Vidya seeking momentary refuge with her co-star, John Abraham, whom she asked to "save" her from the situation. She later clarified that she soon realized Akshaye was only teasing and there was no genuine ill will, just a light-hearted moment reflecting the sometimes charmingly clumsy beginnings even for seasoned stars.

Despite this initial amusingly awkward encounter, Vidya Balan and Akshaye Khanna went on to collaborate successfully in Salaam-e-Ishq. Directed by Nikkhil Advani and released in 2007, the film is a romantic drama, described as an unofficial adaptation of Love Actually. It featured six interwoven love stories and boasted a star-studded ensemble cast, including luminaries such as Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Govinda, and Juhi Chawla, alongside Vidya, Akshaye, and John Abraham.

Vidya Balan's journey in the film industry, from her early appearances in the sitcom Hum Paanch to her impactful Hindi film debut in Parineeta, has been distinguished by her choice of strong and meaningful roles. She is widely celebrated for her portrayals of layered female characters in mainstream cinema, earning accolades for performances in films such as Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Kahaani, and The Dirty Picture. Following a brief hiatus, she made a notable comeback with successful films like Tumhari Sulu and Mission Mangal, and was most recently seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.