Vidya Balan (pronounced [dja baln]; born 1 January 1978) is an Indian actress !

!"e "as establis"ed a success#ul career in $indi lan%ua%e #il&s o# Bolly'ood and is t"e recipient o# one (ational )il& *'ard+ #i,e )il&#are *'ards+ and #i,e !creen *'ards !"e is -no'n #or portrayin% stron% #e&ale prota%onists and "as been ac-no'led%ed in t"e &edia #or brea-in% stereotypes o# a $indi #il& "eroine Vidya aspired to a career in #il& #ro& a youn% a%e+ and "ad "er #irst actin% role in t"e 199. sitco& $u& /aanc" !"e pursued a &aster0s de%ree in sociolo%y #ro& t"e 1ni,ersity o# 2u&bai and si&ultaneously &ade se,eral unsuccess#ul atte&pts to start a career in #il& !"e subse3uently #eatured in ,arious tele,ision co&&ercials and &usic ,ideos+ and in 4556 &ade "er #eature #il& debut as t"e prota%onist o# t"e independent Ben%ali dra&a B"alo 7"e-o In 455. Vidya %arnered praise #or "er #irst $indi #il&+ t"e &usical dra&a /arineeta+ and #ollo'ed it 'it" a leadin% role in t"e "i%"ly success#ul 4558 co&edy #il& 9a%e :a"o 2unna B"ai 7"is initial success 'as #ollo'ed by roles in t"e ro&antic co&edies $eyy Babyy (4557) and ;is&at ;onnection (4558) '"ic" &et 'it" ne%ati,e co&&ents #ro& t"e critics 7"e year 4559+ "o'e,er+ &ar-ed t"e be%innin% o# t"e &ost success#ul period in Vidya0s career as s"e portrayed #i,e consecuti,e roles to 'ide critical acclai& in t"e 4559 dra&a /aa+ t"e 4515 blac- co&edy Is"3iya+ t"e 4511 se&i<bio%rap"ical t"riller (o =ne ;illed Jessica+ t"e 4511 biopic 7"e >irty /icture+ and t"e 4514 t"riller ;a"aani 7"ese roles establis"ed "er as a leadin% actress o# $indi cine&a and earned "er t"e ta% o# a ?#e&ale "ero? In addition to actin% in #il&s+ Vidya pro&otes "u&anitarian causes and supports t"e e&po'er&ent o# 'o&en !"e initially dre' criticis& #or "er #luctuatin% 'ei%"t and ?3uestionable? dress sense+ but 'as later credited in t"e &edia #or ?not &orp"in% "ersel# to #it into any con,entional slot? [1] !"e is &arried to t"e #il& producer !idd"art" :oy ;apur @ontents ["ide] 1 Aarly li#e and bac-%round 4 @areer 4 1 !tru%%le and debut (4555B56) 4 4 Brea-t"rou%" (455.B58) 4 6 !uccess and critical acclai& (4559 on'ards) 6 /ersonal li#e C 2edia i&a%e and artistry . )il&o%rap"y . 1 )il&s . 4 7ele,ision 8 !ee also 7 :e#erences 8 )urt"er readin% 9 ADternal lin-s Aarly li#e and bac-%round[edit] Vidya Balan 'as born on 1 January 1978 in =ttapala&+[4] a to'n in t"e /ala--ad >istrict o# ;erala+ to / : Balan+ currently t"e ADecuti,e Vice</resident o# >i%icable+[6] and !aras'at"y Balan+ a "o&e&a-er [C][.] *ccordin% to Vidya+ t"ey spea- a &iD o# 7a&il and 2alayala& at "o&e; s"e is also 'ell ,ersed in $indi+ 2arat"i+ An%lis" and Ben%ali [8] $er elder sister+ /riya Balan+ 'or-s in t"e #ield o# ad,ertisin% [C] Vidya %re' up in t"e suburban nei%"bour"ood o# @"e&bur+ 2u&bai and 'as sc"ooled at !t *nt"ony Eirls0 $i%" !c"ool [7][8] )ro& a youn% a%e s"e aspired to a career in #il& and 'as inspired by t"e 'or- o# actors !"abana *F&i and 2ad"uri >iDit [9][15] *t t"e a%e o# siDteen+ s"e starred in t"e #irst season o# A-ta ;apoor0s sitco& $u& /aanc" as :ad"i-a+ a bespectacled teena%er [11][14] )ollo'in% t"e success o# t"e s"o'+ Vidya re#used director *nura% Basu0s o##er to star in a tele,ision soap opera+ as s"e 'anted to concentrate on a #il& career [16] $er parents 'ere supporti,e o# t"e decision but encoura%ed "er to co&plete "er education #irst+[9] so s"e attended !t Ga,ier0s @olle%e to pursue a bac"elor0s de%ree in sociolo%y and later earned a &aster0s de%ree #ro& t"e 1ni,ersity o# 2u&bai [1C][1.] @areer[edit]

!tru%%le and debut (4555B56)[edit] H"ile pursuin% "er &aster0s de%ree+ Vidya 'as cast as t"e #e&ale lead in t"e 2alayala& #il& @"a-ra&+ opposite 2o"anlal and 'as subse3uently si%ned on #or t'el,e ot"er 2alayala& lan%ua%e #il&s [9] $o'e,er+ due to production di##iculties+ @"a-ra& 'as s"el,ed [18] 7"e postpone&ent o# a #il& starrin% 2o"anlal 'as an un"eard o# occurrence in 2alayala& cine&a and #il& producers bla&ed "er #or brin%in% ?bad luc-? to t"e project; labelled "er as a ?jinD? and replaced "er in all t"e #il&s t"at s"e "ad been contracted #or [9] !"e t"en s"i#ted #ocus to 7a&il cine&a In 4551+ s"e 'as cast as t"e #e&ale lead in ( 9in%us'a&y0s :un (4554) $o'e,er+ a#ter co&pletin% t"e #irst s"ootin% sc"edule o# t"e #il&+ s"e 'as uncere&oniously dropped and replaced by 2eera Jas&ine [17] !"e 'as si%ned up under #alse pretences #or a seD co&edy+ a %enre s"e 'as t"en unco&#ortable 'it"+ and t"us decided to lea,e t"e project [9] 7"erea#ter+ s"e si%ned on #or a t"ird 7a&il #il&+ 2anasella& (4556)+ but 'as replaced by 7ris"a ;ris"nan as t"e director 'as dissatis#ied 'it" "er 'or- [18] ;alari Vi-ra&an (4556)+ a 2alayala& #il& t"at s"e co&pleted 'or- #or+ #ailed to %et a t"eatrical release [19] *#ter #ailin% to start a #il& career+ Vidya appeared in approDi&ately siDty tele,ision co&&ercials and in &usic ,ideos #or Aup"oria and !"ub"a 2ud%al; a &ajority o# t"ese 'ere directed by /radeep !ar-ar [16][45] In 4556+ s"e 'as si%ned on by Eouta& $alder #or "is independent Ben%ali dra&a B"alo 7"e-o; "er #irst #il& release [41] $er portrayal o# *nandi+ a youn% 'o&an re&iniscin% about "er past+ 'on "er an *nandalo- /uras"-ar #or Best *ctress [44] Brea-t"rou%" (455.B58)[edit] In 455. Vidya &ade "er $indi #il& debut 'it" /radeep !ar-ar0s &usical dra&a /arineeta Be#ore bein% cast #or t"e #il&+ s"e "ad to under%o eDtensi,e auditions #or a period o# siD &ont"s [18][46] 7"e #il&+ an adaptation o# !arat @"andra @"attopad"yay0s no,el o# t"e sa&e na&e+ narrated t"e lo,e story o# an idealist 9alita (Vidya) and an e%oist !"e-"ar (!ai# *li ;"an)+ t"e son o# a capitalist business&an [4C] $er per#or&ance in t"e #il& 'as praised by critics;[14] >ere- Alley #ro& Variety 'rote+ ? *n actin% re,elation is 7a&il ne'co&er Balan+ '"ose de,oted but di%ni#ied 9alita is t"e picture0s "eart and soul ?[4.] /arineeta #etc"ed "er a Best )e&ale >ebut a'ard and a no&ination #or Best *ctress at t"e annual )il&#are *'ards cere&ony [48] 7"e #ollo'in% year+ Vidya appeared opposite !anjay >utt in :aj-u&ar $irani0s co&edy #il& 9a%e :a"o 2unna B"ai !"e portrayed t"e role o# J"an,i+ a radio joc-ey and t"e lo,e interest o# t"e prota%onist 2unna B"ai 7o prepare #or "er role+ s"e &et 'it" a couple o# radio joc-eys and 'atc"ed t"e& at 'or- [47] $er per#or&ance 'as critically 'ell recei,ed+[48] and t"e #il& e&er%ed as a bloc-buster 'it" %ross earnin%s o# o,er I(:1 18 billion (1!I18 &illion) [49] Vidya Balan is loo-in% directly at t"e ca&era Vidya at a pro&otional e,ent #or B"ool B"ulaiyaa+ 4557 In 4557 Vidya #eatured in a supportin% role in 2ani :atna&0s se&i<bio%rap"ical dra&a Euru as a 'o&an su##erin% #ro& &ultiple sclerosis 7"e #il&+ '"ic" starred 2it"un @"a-raborty+ *b"is"eBac"c"an+ *is"'arya :ai Bac"c"an+ and : 2ad"a,an in leadin% roles+ per#or&ed 'ell at t"e boD o##ice [65] $o'e,er+ #il& critics ;"alid 2o"a&ed and :aja !en noted t"at "er ?talent 'as 'asted? in a ?&inuscule role? [61][64] $er neDt release 'as (i-"il *d,ani0s !alaa&<e<Is"3J * 7ribute 7o 9o,e+ a ro&antic co&edy #eaturin% an ense&ble cast+ in '"ic" s"e 'as paired opposite Jo"n *bra"a& 7"e #il&+ '"ic" narrated siD indi,idual lo,e stories+ sa' Vidya play t"e role o# a tele,ision reporter+ 7e"Feeb $ussain+ su##erin% #ro& a &e&ory loss condition 7"e #il&+ '"ic" 'as a critical and co&&ercial #ailure+[65] %enerated positi,e re,ie's #or Vidya !u-anya Ver&a o# :edi## co& 'rote+ ?Vidya0s trans#or&ation #ro& a sel#<assured 'or-in% 'o&an to a "elpless+ ,ulnerable person is superb ?[66] Vidya t"en too- a supportin% role in Vid"u Vinod @"opra0s suspense t"riller A-la,yaJ 7"e :oyal Euard+ alon%side *&itab" Bac"c"an+ Bo&an Irani+ !"ar&ila 7a%ore+ !ai# *li ;"an+ and !anjay >utt 7"e #il&+ '"ic" #lopped co&&ercially+ &et 'it" positi,e critical re,ie's and 'as selected as India0s o##icial entry to t"e =scars #or t"e 85t" *cade&y *'ards [6C] !"e 'as later cast as Is"a !a"ni+ a sin%le &ot"er+ in !ajid ;"an0s $eyy Babyy+ alon%side co<stars *-s"ay ;u&ar+ :ites" >es"&u-"+ and )ardeen ;"an 7"e co&edy #il& 'as a boD<o##ice success+[65] but %arnered ne%ati,e re,ie's #ro& critics+ as did Vidya0s per#or&ance; @((<IB(0s :ajee, 2asand criticised

"er 'ardrobe and &a-e<up+ and considered "er t"e ?sore t"u&b? o# t"e #il& [6.][68] Vidya0s #i#t" and #inal #il& o# 4557 'as /riyadars"an0s psyc"olo%ical t"riller B"ool B"ulaiyaa+ a re&a-e o# t"e 2alayala& #il& 2anic"itrat"aF"u (1996) Vidya #eatured as *,ani @"atur,edi (a c"aracter played by !"obana in t"e 2alayala& ori%inal)+ a 'o&an su##erin% #ro& dissociati,e identity disorder [67] @o<starrin% !"iney *"uja+ *-s"ay ;u&ar+ and *&ees"a /atel+ B"ool B"ulaiyaa 'as a co&&ercial success 'it" a 'orld'ide re,enue o# o,er I(:865 &illion (1!I16 &illion) [65] :e,ie'ers+ '"ile bein% %enerally ne%ati,e o# t"e #il&+ 'ere appreciati,e o# Vidya0s per#or&ance Hritin% #or $industan 7i&es+ ;"alid 2o"a&ed described "er as ?ban-ably li-eable? and Bolly'ood $un%a&a0s 7aran *dars" labelled "er as ?splendid? [68][69] 7"e role earned Vidya a second )il&#are no&ination in t"e Best *ctress cate%ory [48] In 45580s social #il& $alla Bol+ Vidya played a supportin% role alon%side *jay >e,%n and /an-aj ;apur 7"e #il& 'as based on t"e li#e o# acti,ist !a#dar $as"&i+ '"o 'as -illed by political ri,als '"ile per#or&in% on a street play (by t"e na&e o# $alla Bol) in 1989 [C5] 7"e #il& 'as a critical #ailure [C1] 9ater t"at year+ s"e co<starred 'it" !"a"id ;apoor in *FiF 2irFa0s ro&antic co&edy ;is&at ;onnection * co&&ercial #ailure+[C4] t"e #il& and "er per#or&ance %enerated a ne%ati,e response; critic !onia @"opra co&&ented+ ?[Balan] is &ade to loo- do'nri%"t drab 7"e "aircut is un#latterin%+ t"e &a-e<up too plain+ t"e clot"es usually in o##<'"ite or bro'n /lus t"e c"aracter is repetiti,e and re&inds us o# t"e one s"e played in 9a%e :a"o 2unnab"ai ?[C6] !uccess and critical acclai& (4559 on'ards)[edit] In 4559 Vidya played t"e role o# an un'ed %ynaecolo%ist stru%%lin% 'it" "er 14<year<old son0s pro%eria syndro&e+ in t"e : Bal-i<directed dra&edy /aa *&itab" Bac"c"an played t"e role o# Vidya0s son and *b"is"e- Bac"c"an played t"e titular c"aracter Hell recei,ed by critics+ t"e #il& "as been described as a &ajor turnin% point in "er career [CC] !u-anya Ver&a co&pared "er actin% style to t"at o# >i&ple ;apadia and noted+ ?Balan is poi%nant yet restrained and projects an i&pressi,e #i%ure o# %race and inte%rity?;[C.] (i-"at ;aF&i #ro& 7"e 7i&es o# India #urt"er ar%ued t"at Vidya 'as success#ul in lendin% a ?rare di%nity to t"e i&a%e o# t"e Bolly'ood &o& ?[C8] $er portrayal ulti&ately #etc"ed "er a )il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress and a !creen *'ard #or Best *ctress+ a&on% ot"er 'ins [48] Vidya #ollo'ed t"e success o# /aa 'it" t"e Vis"al B"ard'aj<produced Is"3iya (4515)+ a blacco&edy directed by debutant *b"is"e- @"aubey; co<starrin% (aseeruddin !"a"+ *rs"ad Harsi+ and !al&an !"a"id Vidya0s role 'as t"at o# ;ris"na Ver&a+ a seDually &anipulati,e 'o&an Vidya described "er c"aracter as ?an epito&e o# %rey? and a departure #ro& t"e con,entional portrayal o# 'o&en in cine&a [C7] In preparation #or "er part+ s"e undertoo- pro#essional trainin% to spea- in t"e local 1ttar /rades"<dialect [C8] 7"e #eature as 'ell as "er per#or&ance recei,ed critical acclai&; *nupa&a @"opra o# (>7V stated+ ?Vidya Balan0s s&olderin% loo-s scorc" t"e screen e,en as "er eyes "int at tra%edy !"e pro,es t"at s"e is &iles a"ead o# t"e coo-ie cutter Barbie dolls t"at clutter Bolly'ood and t"at sensuality "as ,ery little to do 'it" s"o'in% s-in ?[C9] $er 'or- in t"e #il& earned Vidya a )il&#are @ritics *'ard #or Best *ctress+ a second consecuti,e Best *ctress a'ard at !creen and a no&ination #or Best *ctress at )il&#are [.5] 7uss"ar ;apoor+ Vidya Balan and A&raan $as"&i pose #or t"e ca&era to%et"er Vidya 'it" co<stars 7uss"ar ;apoor (le#t) and A&raan $as"&i at t"e audio release o# 7"e >irty /icture $er per#or&ance in t"e #il& 'as acclai&ed and earned "er a (ational )il& *'ard #or Best *ctress and a )il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress :aj ;u&ar Eupta0s se&i<bio%rap"ical t"riller (o =ne ;illed Jessica 'it" :ani 2u-erji 'as Vidya0s #irst release o# 4511 7"e #il&+ based on t"e Jessica 9al &urder case+ sa' "er portray t"e real<li#e c"aracter o# !abrina 9al+ Jessica0s reticent sister H"ile preparin% #or t"e role+ Vidya did not &eet 9al on t"e insistence o# Eupta as ?t"e !abrina [ ] today is di##erent #ro& t"e !abrina a decade a%o+ ['"en] t"e story be%ins? [.1] (o =ne ;illed Jessica &et 'it" contrastin% re,ie's #ro& critics+ but Vidya0s per#or&ance 'as particularly praised 7"e $indu re&ar-ed on Vidya0s ability to be ?in subli&e control o,er "er e&otions?[.4] and !a,era !o&es"'ar o# :edi## co& added t"at ?"er "esitant body lan%ua%e+ "er #ait"+ "er "elplessness+ "er ra%e+ "er sorro' and "er %ratitude all co&e across beauti#ully? [.6] 7"e #il& "ad net earnin%s o# I(:C95 &illion (1!I7 . &illion) and 'as noted #or bein% a co&&ercial success despite t"e absence o# a &ale lead [.C] Vidya earned anot"er )il&#are no&ination in t"e Best *ctress cate%ory #or t"e #il& [..] In 2arc" 4511+ a retrospecti,e o# Vidya0s #il&s 'as "eld in *ustralia+ as part o# t"e #il& #esti,al Bolly'ood K

Beyond [.8] 7"at sa&e year+ Vidya #eatured in a %uest appearance in !antos" !i,an0s 2alayala& lan%ua%e #antasy #il& 1ru&i [.7] Vidya0s neDt appearance 'as in A-ta ;apoor0s production 7"e >irty /icture+ a biopic based on t"e li#e and deat" o# t"e contro,ersial Indian actress !il- !&it"a [.8] Vidya 'as cast as !il-+ '"o 'as Lin Vidya0s 'ordsL?-no'n #or "er braFenness and in<your<#ace seDuality ?[.9] !"e described t"e role as t"e ?boldest? s"e "ad e,er played+ one t"at ?re3uired a lot o# &ental preparation+? and to loo- t"e part+ s"e %ained 14 -ilo%ra&s (48 lb) [85] 7"e #il& opened to &ajor critical acclai&+ and Vidya recei,ed unani&ous praise #or "er portrayal '"ic" se,eral re,ie'ers re%arded as "er best per#or&ance to date [81][84][86] ;"alid 2o"a&ed obser,ed+ ?!"e0s eDtraordinaryJ %utsy+ consistently in c"aracter and una#raid o# eDposin% "er dar-er side $ere0s t"e -ind o# co&pleD per#or&ance '"ic" you "a,en0t e,idenced in years and years ?[8C] $er director 2ilan 9ut"ria described "er as t"e conte&porary clai&ant o# t"e ?seD<sy&bol? title+ and co&pared "er ?,oluptuousness? to t"e li-es o# yesteryear actresses !ride,i and Vyjayant"i&ala [8.] 7"e #il& 'as e,entually declared a bloc-buster+[88][87] earnin% I(:1 17 billion (1!I18 &illion) 'orld'ide [88] Vidya 'on a second )il&#are *'ard+ a t"ird consecuti,e !creen *'ard+ and a (ational )il& *'ard #or Best *ctress [.5][89] )or "er neDt #eature #il&+ Vidya starred as Vidya Ba%c"i+ a pre%nant 'o&an in searc" o# "er &issin% "usband in !ujoy E"os"0s ;a"aani (4514) 7"e t"riller+ set in t"e city o# ;ol-ata durin% t"e >ur%a /uja #esti,ities+ &et 'it" 'ide critical acclai& 7o lend aut"enticity to "er part+ Vidya &et se,eral pre%nant 'o&en and learnt about t"eir li#estyle [75] !"e %enerated public and &edia attention by 'earin% a #a-e baby bu&p durin% t"e #il&0s pro&otional acti,ities [71][74] Vidya recei,ed #urt"er appreciation #or "er per#or&ance in ;a"aani !ub"as" ; J"a praised Vidya0s portrayal o# ?%race under pressure? as ?&easured and s-illed?; /rati& > Eupta o# 7"e 7ele%rap" added t"at s"e ?%ets into t"e p"ysicality o# a pre%nant 'o&an 'it" un#ailin% &astery? [76][7C] ;a"aani e&er%ed as a &ajor co&&ercial success bot" at t"e do&estic and international boD o##ice+ 'it" re,enues o# o,er I(:1 5C billion (1!I18 &illion) [7.] Vidya 'on a #ourt" consecuti,e Best *ctress *'ard at !creen and a t"ird Best *ctress *'ard at )il&#are [78][77] *#ter co&pletin% t"e duties o# a jury &e&ber at t"e 4516 @annes )il& )esti,al+ Vidya starred (opposite A&raan $as"&i) as a ?loud? and ?boisterous? /unjabi 'o&an in E"anc"a--ar+ a co&ic< t"riller #ro& director :aj ;u&ar Eupta [78][79] 7"e #il& recei,ed little praise #ro& t"e critics and 'as a co&&ercial #ailure [85] :ajee, 2asand #ound t"e #il& to be ?laFily scripted? but added t"at ?Vidya Balan o##ers a particularly unin"ibited per#or&ance as t"e %arrulous+ #as"ion<disaster o# a "ouse'i#e; t"e -ind o# part #e' leadin% ladies 'ould ,enture near+ or co&petently pull o## ?[81] Eaura, 2alani o# 7"e 7i&es o# India 'as &ore critical o# Vidya0s per#or&ance and 'rote+ ?$er put on /unjabi accent is a &ajor put o## and "er na%%in% 'i#e c"aracter irritates a#ter a '"ile ?[84] 9ater t"at year+ Vidya pro,ided t"e ,oice o# >raupadi #or 2a"ab"arat+ a 6> ani&ation #il& based on t"e Indian epic o# t"e sa&e na&e [86] Vidya "as t"ree #il&s in production #or a 451C release !"e "as co&pleted #il&in% on !a-et @"aud"ary0s !"aadi ;e !ide A##ects+ a ro&antic co&edy 'it" )ar"an *-"tar+ '"ic" 'ill ser,e as a se3uel to t"e 4558 #il& /yaar ;e !ide A##ects [8C] !"e "as also been si%ned on opposite A&raan $as"&i #or $a&ari *d"uri ;a"aani+ a ro&ance #ro& director 2o"it !uri+ and 'ill be seen in t"e role o# a detecti,e in t"e >ia 2irFa<produced &ystery #il& Bobby Jasoos [8.][88] /ersonal li#e[edit] Vidya Balan and !idd"art" :oy ;apur are s&ilin% at t"e ca&era Vidya and !idd"art" :oy ;apur at t"eir 'eddin% cere&ony+ >ece&ber 4514 7"e &ass &edia "as o#ten speculated about a ro&antic relations"ip bet'een Vidya and "er co< actors+ but s"e "as stron%ly denied t"ese reports [87][88] In 4559+ Vidya 'as in,ol,ed in a contro,ersy '"en s"e &entioned a pre,ious relations"ip in '"ic" ?caustic re&ar-s? 'ere &ade at "er due to "er 'ei%"t !"e said+ ?I# so&eone '"o &atters to you ta-es you do'n+ it can breayou 7"at so&eone '"ose appro,al &attered to &e started to constantly #ind #aults 'it" &e *t t"at point o# ti&e+ it 'as i&portant to 'al- a'ay #ro& t"at relations"ip ?[89] 7"ou%" s"e re#used to na&e t"e person+ tabloid reports su%%ested t"at s"e 'as re#errin% to !"a"id ;apoor ("er co<star in ;is&at ;onnection) [95] ;apoor+ "o'e,er+ denied t"e alle%ations [91] >urin% an inter,ie' in

2ay 4514+ Vidya announced t"at s"e 'as datin% !idd"art" :oy ;apur+ t"e @A= o# 17V 2otion /ictures [94] =n 1C >ece&ber 4514+ t"e couple 'ere &arried in a pri,ate cere&ony in Bandra+ 2u&bai [96] Vidya is trained in carnatic &usic and brie#ly studied t"e dance #or&s o# B"aratnatya& and ;at"a- [9C] :e%ardin% "er reli%ious a##iliations+ Vidya said+ ?I a& a person 'it" a lot o# #ait" and I "a,e con,ersations ['it" Eod] all t"e ti&e but I a& not so reli%ious in t"e con,entional+ or%anised sense? [9] !"e practices ,e%etarianis& and 'as listed as ?India0s "ottest ,e%etarian? in polls conducted by /A7* in 4511 and 4514 [9.][98] $er 'ei%"t #luctuations o,er t"e years "a,e been t"e subject o# substantial &edia co,era%e in India [97][98][99] Besides actin% in #il&+ Vidya pro&otes "u&anitarian causes and supports c"aritable institutions In 2arc" 4511+ s"e endorsed Horld Hildli#e )und0s Aart" $our ca&pai%n in India [155] !"e ca&pai%ned #or t"e cause o# nutrition in India #or @I(I (@"ild in (eed Institute)+ a non<pro#it or%anisation based in ;ol-ata [151] In !epte&ber 4514+ Vidya ,isited a ,illa%e in 2irFapur+ 1ttar /rades"+ '"ere s"e participated in a ca&pai%n to pro&ote c"ildren0s education and t"e e&po'er&ent o# 'o&en [154] )or "er atte&pts to e&po'er 'o&en+ Vidya 'as a'arded 7"e /rab"a ;"aitan /uras-ar 4514 by t"e @alcutta @"a&ber o# @o&&erce; s"e 'as t"e youn%est recipient o# t"e a'ard [156] Vidya "as also been appointed by t"e Eo,ern&ent o# India as t"eir brand a&bassador in t"e dri,e to i&pro,e t"e country0s sanitary condition [15C] In *u%ust 4516+ s"e ser,ed as t"e %rand &ars"al o# t"e India >ay parade "eld in (e' Mor- @ity [15.] In !epte&ber t"at year+ s"e launc"ed a tec"nolo%y<based learnin% plat#or& #or underpri,ile%ed c"ildren in t"e 7"anapur ,illa%e o# 1ttar /rades" [158] 2edia i&a%e and artistry[edit] Vidya Balan "olds a ball in "er "and at a soccer #ield Vidya at t"e 2elbourne @ric-et Eround+ 4514 )ollo'in% t"e success o# /arineeta and 9a%e :a"o 2unna B"ai+ Vidya0s #il& roles 'ere subject to 'ide critical analysis [157] Vir !an%",i noted t"at t"e #il&s $eyy Babyy and ;is&at ;onnection 'ere ?stran%e #il&s [ ] in '"ic" s"e tried to pretend to be '"at s"e is not L a Bolly'ood bi&bette ?[9] Vidya described t"at particular p"ase in "er career as a ?stru%%le to be so&eone else? [158] >ue to t"e criticis& t"at "er #il& c"oices e,o-ed+ Vidya decided to c"oose roles t"at s"e ?belie,ed in? rat"er t"an c"oose by con,ention [159] 2e&bers o# t"e &edia "a,e subse3uently labelled "er as ?bold? and ?darin%? in "er c"oices [115][111] $er starrin% roles in $eyy Babyy and ;is&at ;onnection also led to considerable attention in t"e &edia #or "er ?3uestionable 'ardrobe? !e,eral publications listed "er as t"e ?'orst dressed actress? and "er costu&e desi%ners attributed "er #ailure to carry o## 'estern clot"es due to "er 'ei%"t and body structure [114][116][11C] !"e 'as later praised in t"e &edia #or 'earin% saris at public e,ents; desi%ner (i"ari-a ;"an eDplained+ ?Vidya0s beauty lies in "er cur,es !"e0s co&#ortable in "er ,oluptuousness+ and t"ere#ore in a sari ?[11.] Vidya "as since been identi#ied as de#yin% ?an an%licised idea o# seDuality? and e&body t"e idea o# ?ra' Indian seDuality? [159] *#ter portrayin% "eadstron%+ independent 'o&en in /aa+ Is"3iya+ (o =ne ;illed Jessica+ 7"e >irty /icture and ;a"aani+ Vidya 'as credited in t"e &edia #or brea-in% stereotypes o# a $indi #il& "eroine [118] 7"e &ajor co&&ercial success o# t"e latter t'o also contributed to "er bein% labelled as a ?#e&ale "ero? [81][117] )il& critic 2ayan- !"e-"ar predicted+ ?Just a #e' s&art &ale actors can co&pletely c"an%e t"e #ace o# a co&&ercial+ star<dri,en #il& industry 9oo-in% at [ ] Vidya Balan [ ] it appears+ t"at c"an%e could 'ell ori%inate #ro& t"e leadin% lady instead ?[118] India 7oday #eatured "er in t"eir listin% o# t"e ?4. /o'er Ho&en? and noted t"at ?s"e "as toppled t"e all do&inatin% "ero+ reducin% "i& to a supportin% role in a &ale do&inated #il& industry? [119] Vidya occupied t"e top slot in :edi## co&0s annual listin% o# ?Bolly'ood0s Best *ctress? #or t'o consecuti,e years (4515B11) [115][145] !"e also #eatured in t"e list #or t"e years 455.+ 4558+ 4559+ and 4514 [141][144][146][14C] In 4515+ s"e #eatured in )il&#are0s listin% o# t"e ?Ho&en 'e lo,e? [14.] In 4514+ t"e &a%aFine Ver,e listed "er as one o# India0s ?Moun% /o'er Ho&en? and 'rote+ ?In a reel 'orld peopled by siFe Fero<toned bodies and pretty<as<a<picture "eroines+ Vidya co&es across as co&pletely real and natural B a 'o&an '"o "as #ollo'ed "er o'n instincts and

dared to li,e "er destiny by bein% "er o'n person and not &orp"in% "ersel# to #it into any con,entional slot ?[1] )il&o%rap"y[edit] !ee alsoJ 9ist o# a'ards and no&inations recei,ed by Vidya Balan )il&s[edit] Mear 7itle :ole (otes 4556 B"alo 7"e-o *nandi Ben%ali #il& 455. /arineeta 9alita )il&#are *'ard #or Best )e&ale >ebut (o&inatedL)il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress 4558 9a%e :a"o 2unna B"ai J"an,i 4557 Euru 2eena-s"i ?2eenu? !aDena 4557 !alaa&<A<Is"3 7e"Feeb :aina 4557 A-la,yaJ 7"e :oyal Euard :ajes"'ari 4557 $eyy Babyy Is"a !a"ni 4557 B"ool B"ulaiyaa *,ani @"atur,edi N 2anjuli-a (o&inatedL)il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress 4557 =& !"anti =& $ersel# @a&eo appearance in son% ?>ee'an%i >ee'an%i? 4558 $alla Bol !ne"a 4558 ;is&at ;onnection /riya 4559 /aa Vidya )il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress 4515 Is"3iya ;ris"na Ver&a )il&#are @ritics *'ard #or Best *ctress (o&inatedL)il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress 4511 (o =ne ;illed Jessica !abrina 9al (o&inatedL)il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress 4511 1ru&i B"u&i N 2a--o& 2alayala& #il& Euest appearance 4511 7"an- Mou ;is"an0s 'i#e !pecial appearance 4511 >u& 2aaro >u& 2rs ;a&at" !pecial appearance 4511 7"e >irty /icture !il- N :es"&a (ational )il& *'ard #or Best *ctress )il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress 4514 ;a"aani Vidya Ba%c"i )il&#are *'ard #or Best *ctress 4514 )errari ;i !a'aari 1n-no'n !pecial appearance in son% ?2ala Jau >e? 4516 Bo&bay 7al-ies $ersel# @a&eo appearance in son% ?*pna Bo&bay 7al-ies? 4516 E"anc"a--ar (eetu *t"ray 4516 =nce 1pon *y 7i&e in 2u&bai >obaaraO 1n-no'n @a&eo appearance in son% ?7ayyab *li? 4516 2a"ab"arat >raupadi (,oice) 451C !"aadi ;e !ide A##ects 7ris"a /ost<production 451C Bobby Jasoos Bobby )il&in% 451C $a&ari *d"uri ;a"aani 7B* /re<production