Indian movie actress Vidya Balan is an upcoming star of these days who was born on 1 January 1978 in Palakkad Kerala. Vidya grew up in Mumbai and did her schooling in St. Anthony`s Girls High School and attended St. Xavier`s College in the same place. She graduated with a Degree in Sociology. Vidya is conversant in many languages including her native Tamil, Malayalam, English, Hindi, and Bengali. Her father, P. R. Balan is the Vice President of ETC Channel.

Career of Vidya Balan
Vidya first began her career by modelling in the Surf Excel ad in the year 1998. She was successful in the field and continuously acted in not less than 25 TV advertisements. Most of the ad films were directed by Pradeep Sarkar. She acted in three music videos with Pankaj Udhas, Euphoria and Shubha Mudgal, directed by Pradeep Sarkar.

While she was studying in college, she got some offers of films from south. Out of them there was a Malayalam film titled Chakram with Mohanlal and a Tamil film. However, Chakram was postponed mid-way and she was dropped from the Tamil film. Her next film was in Bengali. She acted in Bhaalo Theko and won awards for her performance. She also acted in two Hindi TV serials `Hanste Khelte` and Ektaa Kapoor`s `Hum Paanch`, which was a sitcom.

This beautiful actress made her Hindi film debut with Vidhu Vinod Chopra`s Parineeta, which was directed by Pradeep Sarkar. The movie was well received by the audiences. Her next hit was Lage Raho Munna Bhai opposite to Sanjay Dutt. The film became a phenomenal success and even went to the Oscars. Guru was her next release, directed by acclaimed director Mani Ratnam where she played a woman with a physical disability. The film was a great success too. Although she had only a small role, it was quite appreciated. Her recent releases Salaam E Ishq and Eklavya: The Royal Guard also did well. Her other past releases are Bhool Bulaiyan with Akshay Kumar and Shiney Ahuja, Heyy Baby with Akshay Kumar, Rhitesh Deshmukh and Fardeen Khan, Halla Bol directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Suryamukhi directed by acclaimed director Shaji Karun, a film on famous painter Raja Ravi Varma. In recent past Vidya has also acted in movies like Paa opposite Amitabh Bachchan as his mother, Ishqiya with Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah and No One Killed Jessica with Rani Mukherjee.

Vidya Balan outside Bollywood
Vidya is associated with AmFar (Americans for AIDS Research) and Hale House, a home for children born with HIV and those affected by Drug Addiction. She also involves herself with the Harvard AIDS Institute, by Hosting Forums and participating in events throughout the year.

Awards and Honours of Vidya Balan

Filmfare Awards
2006: Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, Parineeta
2006: Filmfare Face of the Year, Parineeta
2010: Filmfare Best Actress Award, Paa
2011: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance, Ishqiya

Star Screen Awards
2006: Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female, Parineeta
2010: Star Screen Award for Best Actress - Paa
2011: Star Screen Award for Best Actress - Ishqiya

Zee Cine Awards
2006: Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut, Parineeta
2011: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor - Female, Ishqiya

International Indian Film Academy Awards
2006: IIFA Best Female Debut, Parineeta
2010: IIFA Best Actress Award, Paa

Stardust Awards
2006: Stardust Award for Superstar of Tomorrow - Female, Parineeta

Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards
2005: Outstanding Debut, Parineeta
2010: Best Actress, Paa
2011: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Ishqiya

Other Awards
2004: Anandalok Puraskar Awards, Best Actress, Bhalo Theko
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
2011: Global Indian Film & Television Honors, Best Actor in a Lead Role - Female, Ishqiya

Filmography

Year Movie
2003 Bhalo Theko
2005 Parineeta
2006 Lage Raho Munna Bhai
2007 Guru, Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love, Eklavya: The Royal Guard, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa
2008 Halla Bol, Kismat Konnection
2009 Paa
2010 Ishqiya
2011 No One Killed Jessica