Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan (Malayalam:, Tamil: வித்யா பாலன்; born on January 1, 1982)is an Indian film actress, who appears in Bollywood films. After graduating in sociology, she began her career starring in many music videos, soap operas and many commercials, before appearing in feature films.

Balan made her acting debut in the Bengali film, Bhalo Theko in 2003, for which she won critical acclaim. She later made her Hindi film debut with Parineeta (2005), her performance in which earned her a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award as well as her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination. She subsequently essayed a variety of character roles, receiving her first commercial success with Rajkumar Hirani's Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), and followed it with Heyy Babyy (2008) and Bhool Bhulaiya (2008),the latter earning her another nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. In 2009, she appeared in R. Balki's Paa, her portrayal of a single-mother of a progeric child in the film got her high critical acclaim and eventually her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Early life
Born into a Iyer family in Palakkad, Kerala to P.R. Balan (Vice President of ETC Channel) and a housewife mother. She has an elder sister, Priya. In a video interview, she stated that she is "extremely spiritual", and visits temple every Friday.

She did her schooling at St. Anthony's School, Chembur, Mumbai and later at St. Xavier's College from where she graduated in sociology.She was then doing her MA at the University of Mumbai, when she got her first film offer.
Career
Early career
Her acting career started when she was signed to appear in the Malayalam film Chakram, alongside Mohanlal but the film was shelved. After that, she was signed for a Tamil film, Run, but for reasons undisclosed, she was dropped after a first schedule and replaced by Meera Jasmine.When Chakram was restarted with Prithviraj in the lead, Meera Jasmine was chosen ahead of Balan again. Balan was dropped from her second Tamil film Manasellam opposite Srikanth, on the grounds of 'non-performance' and was replaced by Trisha Krishnan.

She then turned to television advertising. From 1998 onwards, she appeared in numerous television ads, many of which were directed by Pradeep Sarkar. She also took supporting roles in music videos, appearing with singers and bands such as Euphoria, Shubha Mudgal, and Pankaj Udhas. Balan also portrayed the role of Radhika Mathur in a few episodes of the first season of Hum Paanch, but was later replaced by Amita Nangia at the end of the first season.

Turning point, 2005-present
In 2003, she appeared in the Bengali film, Bhalo Theko directed by Goutam Halder , for which she won the Anandalok Puraskar Best Actress award in Kolkata. Balan next made her Hindi film debut in the critically acclaimed Parineeta. Her performance in that film was acclaimed by critics,earning her a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and a nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award. After the success of her first two films, the same producer who dropped her from Manasellam was keen to sign her opposite Kamal Hassan for Dasavathaaram but she rejected the offer and Asin Thottumkal was signed instead. In 2006, she appeared opposite Sanjay Dutt in the blockbuster film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Once again her performance was well received by critics and the film went on to become the second highest grossing film of that year.

Mani Ratnam's critically acclaimed Guru was Balan's first release in 2007, in which she played a woman suffering from Multiple sclerosis. The film did very well at the box office and her role was appreciated.Her next two releases, Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007) and Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007) failed to do well but the latter was selected as India's official entries to the Oscars for the 80th Academy Awards.Balan's last two releases of the year, Heyy Babyy (2007) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) fared very well at the box office.

Her performance in Paa was highly appreciated and her performance in the film won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award and Star Screen Award for Best Actress. Her next release was Ishqiya, where she played a very different role, also got excellent reviews. Her current project is entitled Chenab Gandhi directed by Vibhu Puri and written by Bhavani Iyer, who also wrote for Black. A departure from romance, this songless film revolves around three characters played by Amitabh Bachchan, Rajeev Khandelwal and Vidya Balan and centers around Indian freedom fighter, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Frontier Gandhi.

Director Nikhil Advani announced in late January 2009 that he is to work with Vidya. Chand Bhai will be the title of this film and Akshay Kumar will co-star. The film is based on juvenile delinquency.Balan is also set to star in UTV Spotboy's No One Killed Jessica alongside Rani Mukerji.

Awards and nominations
Filmfare Awards
Winner

2006: Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, Parineeta
2006: Filmfare Face of the Year, Parineeta
2010: Filmfare Best Actress Award, Paa
Nominated

2006: Filmfare Best Actress Award, Parineeta
2008: Filmfare Best Actress Award, Bhool Bhulaiyaa
Star Screen Awards
Winner

2006: Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female, Parineeta
2010: Star Screen Award for Best Actress - Paa
Zee Cine Awards
Winner

2006: Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut, Parineeta
Nominated

2006: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor - Female, Parineeta
International Indian Film Academy Awards
Winner

2006: IIFA Best Female Debut, Parineeta
2010: IIFA Best Actress Award, Paa (shared with Kareena Kapoor)
Nominated

2007: IIFA Best Actress Award, Lage Raho Munnabhai
2008: IIFA Best Actress Award, Bhool Bhulaiyaa
2008: IIFA Best Villain Award, Bhool Bhulaiyaa
2008: IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award, Guru
Stardust Awards
Winner

2006: Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female, Parineeta
Nominated

2008: Stardust Best Supporting Actress Award, Guru
Other Awards
2004: Anandalok Puraskar Awards, Best Actress, Bhalo Theko
2005: Apsara Producer's Guild Awards for Outstanding Debut, Parineeta
2006: Star's Sabsey Favourite Nayi Heroine, Parineeta
2007: Anandalok Puraskar Awards, Best Actress (Hindi), Bhool Bhulaiyaa
2010: Lions Gold Awards, Best Actress, Paa
2010: 'FICCI Frames 2010' Excellence Awards: Best Actress for Paa.

Filmography
Year Movie Role Note
2003 Bhalo Theko Anandi Bengali film
2005 Parineeta Lalita Double-Winner, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award &
Filmfare Face of the Year
Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
2006 Lage Raho Munna Bhai Jhanvi
2007 Guru Meenu Saxena
Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love Tehzeeb Raina
Eklavya: The Royal Guard Rajeshwari India's official entries to the Oscars
Heyy Babyy Isha
Bhool Bhulaiyaa Avni/Manjulika Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
Om Shanti Om Herself Special appearance in song Deewangi Deewangi
2008 Halla Bol Sneha
Kismat Konnection Priya
2009 Paa Vidya Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award
2010 Ishqiya Krishna Verma
Mukti Hashi Filming
Chand Bhai Filming
Mathilukalkkappuram Malayalam film
Announced
No One Killed Jessica Sabrina Lal Announced