/> There's much speculation as to why Vidya Balan opted out of Pradeep Sarkar's new film Laga Chunri Main Daag. Apparently Vidya didn't want to do the second lead in a Rani Mukherjee starrer.

Vidya laughs off this allegation. "That is so untrue. Dada (Pardeep Sarkar) is like family to me. Not being in his film was inconceivable to me. I can't believe the film is being made without me even now when I'm actually not in his film. The ads and the feature film (Parineeta) that I've done with Dada is very precious to me."

She sighs and explains, "I actually can't believe I'm not doing Dada's film. There's no way I could've let this happen. But Dada wanted to complete the film within a certain period. My dates for that period were committed to Sajid Khan's Hey Baby a year back.

In Sajid's film my dates had to be co-ordinated with Akshay Kumar, Fardeen Khan and Kunal Kapoor. In Dada's film my dates had to be co-ordinated with Jayaji, Rani, Abhishek and Kunal. Both projects needed chunk dates. Not doing Dada's film wasn't an easy call to take.

When people say it's shocking to hear that I'm not in Dada's film do they realize how shocking it is for me? You can't believe how awful I felt to not be in Dada's film. Inshallah, I'll be in his next. They tell me they miss me there. To even talk about it makes me emotional."

As for tongues wagging about why she didn't do the project Vidya has only thing to say, "As long as Dada and I know the truth it doesn't matter. Gossip is a full-time vocation."

After Lage Raho Munnabhai, Vidya has almost completed yet another film with a high resolution social relevance.

She's excited about Raj Kumar Santoshi's Halla Bol. "Raj Kumar Santoshi's films have always had a very high level of social relevance. I'm so happy to be working with him."

Vidya is happy just being part of Halla Bol. "I was fully aware that it's the story of the male protagonist's journey from real to reel hero. It's Ajay Devgan's film. I'm the wife. However I'd like to say that the character is integral to the film.

Like I always say, the true barometer of a role is not its length but how much of a difference it makes to the plot. And if you take away my role from Halla Bol it makes a difference. I don't mind doing one scene as long as that scene makes an impact."

On the anvil is Anurradha Prasad's film to be directed by Sourabh Narang. Says Vidya. "Yes, but that was supposed to be in August 2005. But it's a lovely subject. And Sourabh Narang is someone I respect. I'd still love to do it."