Vidya Balan is undeniably one of Bollywoods most exceptional actresses with a career spanning decades. Shes carved a niche for herself with her remarkable talent and bold unconventional roles. But its her iconic performance in Priyadarshans 2007 thriller-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa where she played the dual roles of Avni and the seductive Manjulika that catapulted her to stardom overnight. Vidya Balan in Bhool Bhulaiyaa Vidya who made her highly acclaimed debut in Pradeep Sarkars Parineeta dazzled viewers with her faultless performance. She costarred with Akshay Kumar Ameesha Patel and Shiney Ahuja in Bhool Bhulaiyaa two years after her debut. In this film which is a remake of the 1993 Malayalam classic Manichitrathazhu Vidya played a nuanced and difficult role. Vidya Balan wasnt Priyadarshans first choice? You might be surprised to learn that Vidya Balan wasnt filmmaker Priyadarshans first choice for Bhool Bhulaiyaa even though it is difficult to picture another actress playing the parts of Manjulika or Avni nowadays. Aishwarya Rai was initially offered the part but she turned it down because she wasnt sure she wanted to portray a haunted figure. The role then was offered to Rani Mukerji as well but she showed little interest. Ultimately Vidya Balan was cast in the part and her natural portrayal brought her international acclaim. About Bhool Bhulaiyaa When Bhool Bhulaiyaa was released on October 12 2007 it was a critical and financial triumph. The movie made nearly Rs 82 crore globally on a stated budget of Rs 32 crore. Paresh Rawal Manoj Joshi and Rajpal Yadav had important parts in the horror comic drama as well.