Vidya Balan Height: 5′ 4″Vidya Balan was born on the 1st of January in the year 1978 and has appeared in many a Hindi film. She graduated with a sociology degree and began her career with music videos, TV shows and ad commercials. It was much later that this beauty was seen in films.
Vidya made her debut movies with a Bengali film titled Bhalo Theko in the year 2003. Much later, in the year 2005, she made her debut in Hindi films with Parineeta which won Vidya her 1st Filmfare Award as the Best Debut (Female) in addition to her 1st nomination for the Best Actress at Filmfare Awards ceremony. She later was seen in an array of quality roles, and she received her first profit-making victory with Lage Raho Munna Bhai in the year 2006, which was a Rajkumar Hirani’s direction. Consequently, She featured in films such as Guru & Heyy Babyy (in the year 2008); Bhool Bhulaiya (also in the year 2008), which earned her the next Filmfare nominations.
Her film Paa (by R. Balki), that came in the year 2009 saw her as the single mom to a child who suffers from the progeria disease. It was this character that finally won Vidya Balan the award for the Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards.
The year 2010 saw Vidya in Ishqiya, where she was highly praised and also awarded. It seemed like she had just begun her road to success when the world saw another beautiful performance by Vidya with her 1st ever real-life role in the biopic ‘No One Killed Jessica’ which was based on the Sabrina Lal murder. Vidya played the role of Sabrina Lal’s younger sister in this film.
Her Early Life
Vidya was born to Mr. P. R. Balan (the Vice President of the ETC Channel) and Mrs. Balan (a housewife), in Ottapalam, in the Palakkad District of Kerala. She belongs to an Iyer family that speaks Tamil. as said by Vidya “a blend of Tamil & Malayalam “, is what they converse in at home. Vidya’s also very well versed with languages like Bengali, Hindi & English.
Vidya Balan went to school at the St. Anthony Girls’ High School, in Mumbai. Later she attended the St. Xavier’s College and majored in the domain of Sociology. Vidya wished to further pursue her studies & went to the University of Mumbai to learn MA & that is the time she received her 1st movie offer, which was for a Malayalam film titled Chakram where she was cast opposite one of her favorite actors- Mohanlal. However, this project was put on hold mid-way which made Vidya wait for some more years before her movie debut.
In the year 1998, Vidya made her TV debut when she modeled for the brand Surf Excel in their advertisement. She’s been the face for scores of advertising films, the majority of which have been Pradeep Sarkar’s directions.
It was a couple months after that Vidya featured in three of Pradeep Sarkar’s directed music videos for Pankaj Udhas, Shubha Mudgal and Euphoria.
Vidya’s also done some TV serials which became quite popular like Ashok Pandits Hanste Khelte and Hum Paanch by Ektaa Kapoor.
In the period in-between, Vidya took up roles in some movies like Bhaalo Theko (a Bengali film along with Joy Sengupta, an actor). For this film, Vidya won the Anand Lok Puraskar for the best actress, in Kolkata.
It was much later in Mumbai, when she was present at a pop concert, that Vidhu Vinod Chopra (a filmmaker) approached vidya to play lead role (female) for his film Parineeta, which again was to be a Pradeep Sarkar direction.
Vidya went through seventeen make-up rounds & forty screen tests before finally being chosen for the film parineeta in the lead role.
Her Career
Vidya’s career in acting began with a Malayalam film titled Chakram, where she was cast opposite Mohanlal, unfortunately this film was put on hold after tiff’s with the director of the film. Soon after, she took up a Tamil movie titled Run, only to later drop it after its first schedule, after which she was replaced by actress Meera Jasmine.
Vidya decided to turn to TV advertising. From the year 1998 onwards, Vidya was seen in several TV ads. She took up supporting characters in various music videos, emerging with bands & singers like Euphoria, Pankaj Udhas & Shubha Mudgal. Vidya was also seen in the later seasons in the TV serial Hum Paanch, portraying the character of Radhika Mathur.
In the year 2003, she was seen in a Bengali film titled Bhalo Theko which was a Goutam Halder direction, for which vidya won an Anandalok Puraskar for the Best Actress. Next came Vidya’s Hindi debut in films with Parineeta. this performance was highly praised by the critics & earned her the Best Debut (Female) Filmfare Award and nomination for the Best Actress Filmfare Award.
In the year 2006, Vidya appeared alongside Sanjay Dutt (actor) in a blockbuster movie titled Lage Raho Munna Bhai. This performance once again won her praise by the critics, as the movie became the 2nd highest grossing movie for that year.
Guru (by Mani Ratnam) was Vida’s 1st release for the year 2007, which saw her palying the character of a lady who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. Her role in the film was highly appreciated and the movie did well. Next, she was seen featuring in films like Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (in the year 2007) & Eklavya: The Royal Guard (in the year 2007). These movies grossed more than Rs. 180 million & Eklavya was chosen as the official entry by India into the Oscars for the 80th Academy Awards.
Vidya was again seen in commercial blockbusters the next year with Heyy Babyy (in the year 2007) & Bhool Bhulaiyaa (in the year 2007), where once again her roles were noteworthy and appreciated.
In the year 2009, Vidya was seen in one of her best performances till date with the movie titled Paa. Vidya was seen as a young & independent gynecologist in the film who’s also the single-parent who struggles with a 12year son who suffers from the Progeria syndrome. The role of the sick child named ‘auro’ was played by Amitabh Bachchan. The movie was received glowingly by the critics and Balan’s performance was given due credit. Beautiful reviews were showered upon Vidya for her performance in Paa…. People said that she effortlessly slips into the role of a loving & devoted mother without the overprotective tone that the majority of Bollywood’s youthful mothers frequently resort to….
Some said that Vidya’s role was touching yet restrained…that she was successful in projecting the remarkable figure of refinement and honor, reminiscent of actress Dimple Kapadia (1980’s).
The T.O.I wrote that Vidya lends an unusual poise to the picture of Bollywood’s mom’s. She performs with quiet elegance and controlled emotion…as though she is the Mother Courage incarnation.
Her exposé ultimately earned her the Best Actress Filmfare Award & the Best Actress Star Screen Award, amongst other awards.
Vidya was next seen in the drama titled Ishqiya in the year 2010. This was the 1st feature which was an Abhishek Chaubey direction where she co-starred with Arshad Warsi & Naseeruddin Shah. Vidya played the role of a 30 year old widow, Krishna Verma, who lives in a village. She was portrayed as the femme fatale, the role won her great applaud by the critics. Anupama Chopra from NDTV wrote that vidya’s blazing looks scorched the silver screen even when her eyes suggested tragedy.
In the year 2011, vidya’s first movie was No One Killed Jessica (by Raj Kumar Gupta) together with Rani Mukerji. She played the role of Sabrina Lal’s younger sister who is glaringly plain and somber, unlike her sensational, merrymaking sister named Sabrina. Vidya was seen wearing dull clothing throughout the movie alongwith spectacles, she portrayed the picture of strength and anguish, all together.
It’s believed that she’ll be featuring in a Vibhu Puri direction Chenab Gandhi which will be a Sanjay Leela Bhansali production which will center on Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who was acknowledged as the Frontier Gandhi. Commencing January 2011, Vidya is planning to be a part of The Dirty Picture, which is a biopic that is based upon Silk Smitha’s (Indian actress) life and her death.
Filmography/ Career Chart
1) Bhalo Theko, in the year 2003, as Anandi. This was a Bengali film
2) Parineeta, in the year 2005, as Lalita. Vidya won the Best Debut (Female) Award- Filmfare Awards & was nominated for the Best Actress- Filmfare Awards
3) Lage Raho Munna Bhai, in the year 2006, as Jhanvi
4) Guru, in the year 2007, as Meenu Saxena
5) Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love, in the year 2007, as Tehzeeb Raina
6) Eklavya: The Royal Guard, in the year 2007, as Rajeshwari
7) Heyy Babyy, in the year 2007, as Isha
8) Bhool Bhulaiyaa, in the year 2007, as Avni/Manjulika. Vidya was Nominated for the Best Actress- Filmfare Awards
9) Om Shanti Om, in the year 2007, as Herself in a Special appearance
10) Halla Bol, in the year 2008, as Sneha
11) Kismat Konnection, in the year 2008, as Priya
12) Paa, in the year 2009, as Vidya. She won the Award for the Best Actress for this film- Filmfare Awards
13) Ishqiya, in the year 2010, as Krishna Verma. Vidya won the Filmfare Critics for Best Actress & was nominated for the Best Actress- Filmfare Awards
14) No One Killed Jessica, in the year 2011, as Sabrina Lal
15) Urumi , in the year 2011, as Makkom. This was a Malayalam film
16) Thank You , in the year 2011
17) Dum Maaro Dum, in the year 2011, as Mrs. Kamath in a Cameo appearance
18) Kahani which is being filmed.
19) The Dirty Picture, as Silk Smitha.
Nominations & Awards
Filmfare Awards- Won
2006: for the Best Debut (Female) Award for the film Parineeta
2006: Face of the Year- Filmfare for the film Parineeta
2010: Best Actress – Filmfare Award for the film Paa
2011: Best Actress (for Critics’ Choice) for the film Ishqiya
Filmfare Awards- Nominations
2006: for the Best Actress Filmfare Award for the film Parineeta
2008: for the Best Actress Filmfare Award for the film Bhool Bhulaiyaa
2011: for the Best Actress Filmfare Award for the film Ishqiya
Star Screen Awards-Won
2006: for the Most Promising Female Newcomer for the film Parineeta
2010: for the Best Actress for the film Paa
2011: for the Best Actress for the film Ishqiya
Zee Cine Awards- Won
2006: for the Best Debut- Female for the film Parineeta
2011: for the Best Female Actor for the film Ishqiya
Zee Cine Awards- Nominations
2006: for the Best Female Actor for the film Parineeta
International Indian Film Academy Awards- Won
2006: for the Best Debut- Female for the film Parineeta
2010: for the Best Female Actor for the film Paa (she shared this with actress Kareena Kapoor)
International Indian Film Academy Awards- Nomination
2007: for the Best Female Actor for the film Lage Raho Munnabhai
2008: for the Best Female Actor for the film Bhool Bhulaiyaa
2008: for the Best Female villian for the film Bhool Bhulaiyaa
2008: for the Best Female Actor in a supporting role for the film Guru
Stardust Awards- Won
2006: for the Superstar (Female) of Tomorrow for the film Parineeta
Stardust Awards- Nominations
2008: for the Best Female Actor in a supporting role for the film Guru
2011: for the Star (Female) of the Year for the film Ishqiya
2011: the Award for the Readers’ Choice for the Best Actress (in a Thriller/Action) for the film Ishqiya
Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards- Won
2005: for an Outstanding Debut for the film Parineeta
2010: for the Best Actress for the film Paa
2011: for the Best Actress (Leading Role) for the film Ishqiya
Additional Awards
2004: for the Best Actress for the film Bhalo Theko at the Anandalok Puraskar Awards
2006: Sabsey Favourite Nayi Heroine for the film Parineeta at Star’s awards
2007: for the Best Hindi Actress for the film Bhool Bhulaiyaa- Anandalok Puraskar Awards
2010: for the Best Actress for the film Paa at Lions Gold Awards
2010: for the Best Actress in the film Paa at ‘FICCI Frames 2010′ Excellence Awards
2011: for the Best Female Actor (Lead Role) for the film Ishqiya at the Global Indian Film & Television Honors
2011: Female Actor of the year at the NDTV Indian of the year awards
Trivia – Vidya Balan
She is a Tamilian and belongs to Kerala. Vidya hails from Iyer community from Palghat, which is on the borders of Kerala & Tamil Nadu.
She’s done her school education from the St. Antony’s School and then from St. Xavier’s College from where she majored in Sociology.
She was listed as # 8 of the ‘Top Bollywood Actresses’ in the year 2006.
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