Vidya Balan Birthday: From 60 ads to National Award, her inspiring journey

Vidya Balan is an Indian actress. Considered a pioneer in the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema through her women-centric films, Vidya has received numerous honors, including a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards. The Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri in 2014. In 2021, she was invited to join the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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Vidya dreamed of a career in films from a young age and made her acting debut in the 1995 sitcom Hum Paanch. While pursuing a master's degree in sociology from the University of Mumbai, she made several unsuccessful attempts to break into films, appearing in television commercials and music videos. Her film debut was with the Bengali film Bhalo Theko (2003). Her performance in her first Hindi film, Parineeta (2005), was critically acclaimed. This was followed by commercial successes like Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), although some of her subsequent roles received negative reviews.

Vidya then established herself by playing strong, independent women in five consecutive successful films—Paa (2009), Ishqiya (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011), Kahaani (2012), and the biopic The Dirty Picture (2011). She received the National Award for Best Actress for The Dirty Picture. After a brief pause, she made a strong comeback with roles of cheerful women balancing work and family life in Tumhari Sulu (2017) and Mission Mangal (2019). She then starred in the Amazon Prime Video films Shakuntala Devi (2020), Sherni (2021), and Jalsa (2022). Her highest-grossing film to date was the comedy-horror sequel Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024).

Vidya promotes humanitarian causes and supports women's empowerment. She has been a member of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and has hosted a radio show. Early in her career, she was criticized for her weight fluctuations and dressing style, but later received media acclaim for her exceptionalism. Vidya is married to film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur.

Early life and early struggles

Vidya Balan was born on January 1, 1979, in Mumbai to a Tamil Brahmin family. Her father, P.R. Balan, is a corporate professional and served as Executive Vice President at Digicable, while her mother, Saraswati, is a homemaker. Vidya has an elder sister, Priya Balan, who is involved in the advertising industry. Both Tamil and Malayalam are spoken in their household, and the family traces its roots to Palakkad, Kerala, although Vidya was raised in the Chembur area of ​​Mumbai. She also has a family connection to the film world—South Indian actress Priyamani is her second cousin. In 2012, Vidya Balan married renowned film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, former CEO of UTV Motion Pictures.

From a young age, Vidya wanted to pursue a career in films and was inspired by Shabana Azmi and Madhuri Dixit. At the age of 16, she played Radhika in the first season of Ekta Kapoor's sitcom Hum Paanch. After the series, she turned down offers for a TV soap opera because she wanted to focus on films. Her parents supported her, but advised her to complete her studies first. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from St. Xavier's College and later a master's degree from the University of Mumbai.

While pursuing her master's degree, she was cast as the lead in the Malayalam film Chakram opposite Mohanlal, but the film was shelved due to production problems. Unfortunately, this delay was considered a "bad omen" and she was removed from several projects. In Tamil cinema, she was also replaced in films such as Run (2002), Bala (2002), and Manasellam (2003). The Malayalam film Kalari Vikraman, completed in 2003, remained unreleased. Failing to establish a film career, Vidya acted in approximately 60 television commercials and music videos for Euphoria and Shubha Mudgal—many of which were directed by Pradeep Sarkar.

Career: Early work (2003–2008)

Vidya's film debut was in the Bengali drama Bhalo Theko (2003), in which she played the central role of Anandi. For this performance, she received the Anandalok Award. On the recommendation of Pradeep Sarkar, she auditioned for the Hindi film Parineeta (2005). The producer cast her after a rigorous six-month vetting. Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel, her performance in the film was critically acclaimed and earned her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award.

She then played a radio jockey in Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) alongside Sanjay Dutt. In 2007, she played a supporting role in Mani Ratnam's Guru. She played small roles in ensemble films like Salaam-e-Ishq and Eklavya: The Royal Guard—which she described as part of her learning phase. She also turned down offers for films like Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Khoya Khoya Chand due to scheduling conflicts.

Upcoming movie

Vidya Balan's most recent theatrical release was Do Aur Do Pyaar in April 2024, and before that, the blockbuster Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 in November 2024. Her last major release was the film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, although Do Aur Do Pyaar came earlier in 2024. Vidya Balan's upcoming films include Jailer 2 with Rajinikanth, which will be released in 2026, and an untitled film with Akshay Kumar, which will begin shooting in January 2026. According to reports, she is also working on Riteish Deshmukh's directorial debut, Raja Shivaji, and there are also rumors of Kahaani 3 with Sujoy Ghosh.

Songs

FAQs

Vidya Balan belongs to which family?

Answer: Vidya Balan comes from a Tamil Brahmin family.

Where was Vidya Balan born?

Answer: He was born in Mumbai, although his family roots are from Palakkad, Kerala.

Who is Vidya Balan's father, and what did he do?

Answer: His father's name is P.R. Balan, who has worked as the Executive Vice President of Digicable Company.

What does Vidya Balan's mother do?

Answer: His mother, Saraswati, is a housewife.

Does Vidya Balan have siblings?

Answer: Yes, Vidya has an elder sister, Priya Balan, who works in the advertising industry.

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