It’s a simple, silly pun that Balan elevates into a showcase of her acting skills and comic timing. Her face responds differently to each successive utterance of laung. The first two evoke surprise; then there’s resignation, and finally, alarm at the sheer preponderance of laung. Less than a handful of films in Balan’s filmography have tapped into her comedic talent, yet the actor’s Instagram account is full of hilarious reels in which she flexes her funny bone.
The short-format video — originally made popular by the Chinese-created app Tik Tok, which was banned in India in 2020 — has quickly become the most lucrative genre on social media. Younger actors, like Janhvi Kapoor, cottoned on to this quality quickly. Kapoor, in between glamorous photoshoots, puts out videos in everyday clothes, lip-syncing with her hair and make-up team to the viral “Pooja, what is this behaviour” exchange, for instance. However, for older actors, Instagram reels have become unofficial showreels that act as reminders of how there’s more to these actors than what their on-screen roles suggest. Balan’s reels are a good example. They’re simply made, hilarious and offer a sharp contrast to the serious, dramatic roles that she’s seen in on bigger screens.
Similarly, Madhuri Dixit can be seen vibing to various songs in her reels, and she often injects humour into the mix. Sometimes she participates in viral trends (a nod at her being in the loop, despite being in her 50s); at other times, she and her famous friends dance to old classics. The pressure of producing content doesn’t seem to weigh her down. Dixit seems to be genuinely enjoying herself in her reels and for her fans, it’s wonderful to see how effortlessly she can tap into an emotion, perform a hook step or score a laugh.