Vidya Balan (pronounced [ʋɪd̪jaː baːlən]; born 1 January 1978) is an Indian actress, who appears mainly in Hindi films, in addition to Bengali and Malayalam films. After graduating with a degree in sociology, she started her career starring in music videos, television shows and commercials, before making her feature film debut with the independent Bengali drama Bhalo Theko (2003). Balan received positive notice for her first Hindi film, Parineeta (2005), and followed it with a leading role in the blockbuster Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), and other such hit films as Guru, Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (all 2007).
2009 marked the beginning of the most successful period in Balan's career as she portrayed five back-to-back roles to wide critical acclaim in Paa (2009), Ishqiya (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011), The Dirty Picture (2011) and Kahaani (2012). These roles have further established her as one of the leading contemporary actresses of Hindi cinema and earned her several major awards.[3][4] Balan has received one National Film Award for Best Actress, four Filmfare Awards, including two for Best Actress and one for Best Actress - Critics, as well as three consecutive Screen Awards for Best Actress.
Early life
Vidya Balan was born in India in Ottapalam, Palakkad District, Kerala, to P. R. Balan (Vice President of ETC Channel) and Saraswathy Balan, a housewife mother in a Tamil speaking[5] family.[6] According to Balan, they speak at home "a mix of Tamil and Malayalam", but she is also well versed in Hindi, Marathi, English and Bengali.[7]
She did her schooling at St. Anthony Girls' High School,[8][9] Chembur, Mumbai, and later attended St. Xavier's College where she majored in Sociology.[10] She went on to study MA at the University of Mumbai, when she received her first film offer.
2009 marked the beginning of the most successful period in Balan's career as she portrayed five back-to-back roles to wide critical acclaim in Paa (2009), Ishqiya (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011), The Dirty Picture (2011) and Kahaani (2012). These roles have further established her as one of the leading contemporary actresses of Hindi cinema and earned her several major awards.[3][4] Balan has received one National Film Award for Best Actress, four Filmfare Awards, including two for Best Actress and one for Best Actress - Critics, as well as three consecutive Screen Awards for Best Actress.
Early life
Vidya Balan was born in India in Ottapalam, Palakkad District, Kerala, to P. R. Balan (Vice President of ETC Channel) and Saraswathy Balan, a housewife mother in a Tamil speaking[5] family.[6] According to Balan, they speak at home "a mix of Tamil and Malayalam", but she is also well versed in Hindi, Marathi, English and Bengali.[7]
She did her schooling at St. Anthony Girls' High School,[8][9] Chembur, Mumbai, and later attended St. Xavier's College where she majored in Sociology.[10] She went on to study MA at the University of Mumbai, when she received her first film offer.