Vidya Balan

Infobox actor
name = Vidya Balan


imagesize = 200px
caption =
birthdate = birth date and age |1978|1|1
location = Ottapalam, Kerala, India
yearsactive = 2002 - present
occupation =Model , Actress
spouse = None
birthname = Vidya P Balan
filmfareawards=Best Female Debut: "Parineeta" (2006)
Face of the Year: "Parineeta" (2006)

Vidya Balan (Tamil: வித்யா பாலன், Malayalam: വിദ്യ ബാല൯, Hindi: विद्या बालन, born January 1, 1978 [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1799038 Vidya Balan Profile] IMDB.com Retrieved on 19 september 2008] ) is an award-winning Indian actress who appears in Bollywood movies.

Balan, who began her career starring in many music videos, soap operas and commercials, made her acting debut in the Bengali film, "Bhalo Theko" (2003), for which she won critical acclaim. She later made her Hindi film debut with "Parineeta" (2005), for which she received a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, and received her first commercial success with Rajkumar Hirani's "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" (2006). Balan has thus established herself as one of the most promising actresses of the industry. [Kulkarni, Ronjita (December 23, 2005). [http://specials.rediff.com/yearend/2005/dec/23yend9.htm Ten best Bollywood actresses of 2005] . Rediff.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2008
Sen, Raja (August 25, 2006). [http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/aug/25sd4.htm Powerlist: Top Bollywood Actresses] . Rediff.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2008
Sen, Raja (December 18, 2007). [http://specials.rediff.com/yearend/2007/dec/18yrpoweractress8.htm The most powerful actresses of 2007] . Rediff.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2008]

Career

Early life, until 2002

She was born to a Tamil Palakkad Iyer [ [http://www.webindia123.com/movie/profiles/vidya.htm Vidya Balan profile] webindia123.com Retrieved on 9 July 2008] family in Kerala. Balan grew up in Mumbai and attended St. Anthony's Girls High School in Chembur. She later attended St. Xavier's College, where she graduated with a sociology degree, and the University of Mumbai.

Her movie career started when she was signed to appear in the Malayalam film "Chakram", alongside superstar Mohanlal but the movie 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. [cite web|title=The Vidya magic!|work=Sify.com|url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=13890560|accessdate=2006-11-23|date=2005-07-07] In the jinx driven industry, Balan was dropped from her second Tamil movie "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.

Breakthrough, 2003 - present

In 2003, she appeared in the Bengali film, "Bhalo Theko", for which she won the "Anandalok Puraskar Best Actress" award in Kolkata. Balan next made her Hindi film debut in the critically acclaimed "Parineeta". Though the film didn't do well, [cite web|title=Box Office 2005|work=Parineeta does not do well at the box office|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=211&catName=MjAwNQ=|accessdaymonth=9 January|accessyear=2008] her performance was acclaimed by critics, [cite web|title=Parineeta|work=Movie Review: Parineeta|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/11638/index.html|accessdaymonth=10 June |accessyear=2005] 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 [cite web|title=Lage Raho Munna Bhai|work=Movie Review: Lage Raho Munna Bhai|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/12567/index.html|accessdaymonth=31 August |accessyear=2006] and the film went on to become the second highest grossing film of that year. [cite web|title=Box Office 2006|work=Lage Raho Munna Bhai becomes second highest grossing film of 2006|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=212&catName=MjAwNg=|accessdaymonth=9 January|accessyear=2008]

Mani Ratnam's critically acclaimed "Guru" was Balan's first release in 2007, in which she played a woman with a physical disability. The film did very well at the box officecite web|title=Box Office 2007|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214&catName=MjAwNw=|accessdaymonth=9 January|accessyear=2008] and her role was appreciated. [cite web|title=Guru|work=Guru: Movie Review|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/12838/index.html|accessdaymonth=12 January |accessyear=2007] Her next two releases, ' (2007) and ' (2007) failed to do well but the latter was selected as India's official entries to the Oscars for the 80th Academy Awards. [cite web |url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/09/26/10159/index.html|title=Eklavya is India's official entry to the Oscars|work=India's choice for Oscars|accessdate=26 September|accessyear=2007] Balan's last two releases of the year, "Heyy Babyy" (2007) and "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" (2007) have fared very well at the box office.

Personal life

Her father, P. R. Balan, is the Vice President of ETC Channel whilst her mother is a homemaker. Balan also has an older sister named Priya. In a video interview, she stated that she was "extremely spiritual", had a "firm faith in God" and visited temples every Thursday. [cite video
people =
year = 2006
title = Rendezvous with Simi Garewal
url = http://starworld.indya.com/simi/index.htm
medium = Television series
location = India
publisher = Star World]

Gossip columnists have linked Balan with many of her co-stars but she strongly denied the allegations, saying that they were "vile". [cite web | title="I want to be versatile, says Vidya Balan"|work= [http://movies.monstersandcritics.com Monsters and Critics] | url=http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/indiancinema/article_1204108.php/I_want_to_be_versatile_says_Vidya_Balan| accessdaymonth=23 November | accessyear=2006]
Priyamani , a tamil actress who has won the National Award for the best actress -
Paruthiveeran is Vidya Balan`s first cousin.

Awards and nominations

Filmfare Awards

Winner
* 2006: Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, "Parineeta"
* 2006: Filmfare Face of the Year, "Parineeta" [cite web|title=Winners Interviews|work=Vidya Balan on winning Best Debut & Face of the Year for Parineeta|url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1439990.cms|accessdaymonth=7 September|accessyear=2007]

Nominated
* 2006: Filmfare Best Actress Award, "Parineeta" [cite web|title=Filmfare Best Actress Nominees|work=Vidya Balan nominated for Best Actress|url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1405838.cms|accessdaymonth=7 September|accessyear=2007]
* 2008: Filmfare Best Actress Award, "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" [cite web|title=Nominees - 53rd Annual Filmfare Awards|work=Vidya Balan again nominated for Best Actress|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/02/06/3548/index.html|accessdaymonth=6 February|accessyear=2008]

Star Screen Awards

Winner
* 2006: Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female, "Parineeta"

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"

Nominated
* 2007: IIFA Best Actress Award, "Lage Raho Munnabhai"
* 2008: IIFA Best Actress Award, "Bhool Bhulaiyaa"
* 2008: IIFA Best Villain Award, "Bhool Bhulaiyaa"

Stardust Awards

Winner
* 2006: Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female, "Parineeta"

Other Awards

* 2003: Anandalok Puraskar Awards, Best Actress, "Bhalo Theko"
* 2006: Star's Sabsey Favourite Nayi Heroine, "Parineeta"
* 2007: Anandalok Puraskar Awards, Best Actress, "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" [cite web|title=SRK, Vidya Balan get Anandalok Puraskar|work=Vidya Balan wins for Bhool Bhulaiyaa|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/12/24/10647/index.html|accessdaymonth=24 December|accessyear=2007]

Filmography

See also

* List of Indian movie actresses

References

External links

*

-! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Filmfare Awards
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