Vidya's cloth sense

THE BUBBLY Vidya Balan confesses to be confused these days. She just can't dress up right. After being ripped to shreds by the media for her sense of dress in Heyy Baby, which she promptly blamed on designer Manish Malhotra, Vidya is amused to find that her clothes "have now become a national issue".

For instance, one day last week it was reported that she had turned out well-dressed at a party, only to be blasted in print the next time for not doing so.

"I stand in front of my wardrobe, thoroughly confused, wondering what to wear next," says Vidya.

Happily, she's learned to take criticism in her stride. "I open the papers and there is always a reason for me to laugh some more," admits the actress.

"That's another thing," reveals Vidya, "it's always Kapoor, Kapde aur Mein!"

Yet, she accepts that her Parineeta image could be one reason why she has been getting flak for her western dressing. "But Lolita of Parineeta was just an image, she wasn't the real Vidya Balan. This is me, this is how I am, take me for what I am," pleads the actress.

And, if it's not Shahid in her life, then it's Southie Madhavan with whom Vidya's chemistry is quite striking in the ad campaign they have done together.

"We both get offers for at least four films a day, unfortunately we are both tied up," says Vidya.

Instead of Madhavan, the actress is doing a film with newcomer Harman Baweja next. "It's Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film that also stars Amitabh Bachchan and I'm looking forward to working with them," she reveals.