ABOUT VIDYA BALAN

Vidya Balan Vidya Balan is smiling at the camera Vidya at the DVD launch of "The Dirty Picture " in 2012 Born1 January 1978 (age 37) Poothamkurussy, Puthur ,Palakkad , Kerala , India Alma materUniversity of Mumbai OccupationActress Years active2003–present Spouse(s)Siddharth Roy Kapur  (2012–present) RelativesPriyamani  (second cousin) *Vidya Balan* (pronounced [ʋɪd̪jaː baːlən] ; born 1 January 1978) is an Indian actress. She has established a career in Bollywood  and is the recipient of several awards , including a National Film Award , five Filmfare Awards , and five Screen Awards , and was awarded the Padma Shri  by the Government of India  in 2014. She is known for portraying strong female protagonists and has been acknowledged in the media for pioneering a change in the concept of a Hindi film heroine. Vidya aspired to a career in film from a young age, and had her first acting role in the 1995 sitcom "Hum Paanch ". She pursued a master's degree in sociology from the University of Mumbai  and simultaneously made several unsuccessful attempts to start a career in film. She subsequently featured in various television commercials and music videos, and in 2003 made her feature film debut as the protagonist of the independent  Bengali  drama "Bhalo Theko ". In 2005 Vidya garnered praise for her first Hindi film, the drama"Parineeta ", and followed it with a leading role in the highly successful 2006 comedy film "Lage Raho Munna Bhai ". This initial success was followed by roles in the romantic comedies  "Heyy Babyy " (2007) and "Kismat Konnection "(2008) which met with negative reviews. The year 2009 marked the beginning of the most successful period in Vidya's career as she portrayed five consecutive roles to wide critical acclaim in the 2009 drama "Paa ", the 2010 black comedy  "Ishqiya ", the 2011 semi-biographical thriller "No One Killed Jessica ", the 2011 biopic  "The Dirty Picture ", and the 2012 thriller "Kahaani ". These roles established her as a leading actress of Hindi cinema and earned her the tag of a "female hero". In addition to acting in films, Vidya promotes humanitarian causes and supports the empowerment of women. She initially drew criticism for her fluctuating weight and "questionable" dress sense, but was later credited in the media for "not morphing herself to fit into any conventional slot".[1]  She is married to the film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur . Early life and backgroundCareerPersonal life and off-screen workMedia image and artistryEdit Vidya Balan holds a ball in her hand at a soccer field. Vidya at the Melbourne Cricket Ground  in 2012 Following the success of "Parineeta" and"Lage Raho Munna Bhai", Vidya's film roles were subject to wide critical analysis.[114]  Vir Sanghvi  noted that the films "Heyy Babyy" and "Kismat Konnection" were "strange films [...] in which she tried to pretend to be what she is not — a Bollywood bimbette."[12] Vidya described that particular phase in her career as a "struggle to be someone else".[115]  Due to the criticism that her film choices evoked, Vidya decided to choose roles that she "believed in" rather than choose by convention.[116]  Members of the media have subsequently labelled her as "bold" and "daring" in her choices.[117] [118] Her starring roles in "Heyy Babyy" and"Kismat Konnection" also led to considerable attention in the media for her "questionable wardrobe". Several publications listed her as the "worst dressed actress" and her costume designers attributed her failure to carry off western clothes due to her weight and body structure.[119] [120] [121]  She was later praised in the media for wearing saris  at public events; designerNiharika Khan  explained, "Vidya's beauty lies in her curves. She's comfortable in her voluptuousness, and therefore in a sari."[122]  Vidya has since been identified as defying "an anglicised idea of sexuality" and embody the idea of "raw Indian sexuality".[116] After portraying strong female protagonists in "Paa", "Ishqiya", "No One Killed Jessica", "The Dirty Picture" and"Kahaani", Vidya was credited in the media for pioneering a movement that breaks the stereotypical portrayal of heroines in Bollywood.[123] [124]  The major commercial success of the latter two earned her the title of a "female hero"[65] [125]  and Kalpana Nair of "First Post " noted that with these two films Vidya spearheaded a change in the roles that were offered to actresses over thirty.[126]  Film critic Mayank Shekhar  predicted, "Just a few smart male actors can completely change the face of a commercial, star-driven film industry. Looking at [...] Vidya Balan [...] it appears, that change could well originate from the leading lady instead."[127]  "India Today " featured her in their listing of the "25 Power Women" and noted that "she has toppled the all dominating hero, reducing him to a supporting role in a male dominated film industry".[128] Vidya occupied the top slot in Rediff.com's annual listing of "Bollywood's Best Actress" for two consecutive years (2010–11).[117] [129] She also featured in the list for the years 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2012.[130] [131] [132] [133]  In 2010, she featured in "Filmfare "‍ ' s listing of the "Women we love".[134]  In 2012, the magazine "Verve" listed her as one of India's "Young Power Women" and wrote, "In a reel world peopled by size zero -toned bodies and pretty-as-a-picture heroines, Vidya comes across as completely real and natural – a woman who has followed her own instincts and dared to live her destiny by being her own person and not morphing herself to fit into any conventional slot."[1]  In 2014, Vidya was awarded the Padma Shri , the fourth highest civilian award in India, for her contributions to the entertainment industry.[135] Filmography and awardsEdit Selected filmographyEdit Main article: Vidya Balan filmography * "Parineeta " (2005) * "Bhool Bhulaiyaa " (2008) * "Paa " (2009) * "Ishqiya " (2010) * "No One Killed Jessica " (2011) * "The Dirty Picture " (2011) * "Kahaani " (2012)Awards and nominationsEdit Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Vidya Balan Among Vidya's film awards are aNational Film Award for Best Actress for "The Dirty Picture" (2011),[70]  and five Filmfare Awards: Best Female Debut  for"Parineeta" (2005),[29]  Best Actress  for"Paa" (2009),[29]  "The Dirty Picture"(2011),[54]  and "Kahaani" (2012),[78]  andCritics Award for Best Actress  for"Ishqiya" (2010).[54]