Over the past month, London witnessed several protests and subsequent arrests as the demonstrations to highlight climate change grew wider and louder across the British capital. In a strange turn of events, Vidya Balan — who was stationed in London throughout October for the shoot of Shakuntala Devi — found her plans threatened due to the protests. Turns out, the actor was invited by the Honorary Baroness Sandip Verma to speak about the changing representation of women in Indian cinema, at the Palace of Westminster in the third week of October.

An eyewitness informs, "The roads leading to the Palace of Westminster were barricaded as part of the protest. While she did not want to turn down the invite, Vidya also wanted to show her solidarity with those protesting. So, she took the London tube to the Houses of Parliament instead."