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COVER STORY

You will see me
working with
the Khans only
if I have a role of
equal prominence
in the film

the role of a radio jockey in the musical Her first national award and recognition
comedy, Lage Raho Munna Bhai. The film It was her sensational performance in The
became the second highest grossing film of Dirty Picture that gave Vidya Balan the
the year with a net total of 118.57 crore. distinction of being one of the most talented
That was followed by a supporting role in and versatile actresses in the industry. Vidya
Mani Ratnam’s semi-biographical drama, played the bold and brazen character of
Guru. Silk in the biopic based on the life and
death of the controversial Indian actress Silk
The low phase in her career Smitha. She received unanimous praise for
Vidya’s career graph witnessed a sharp her portrayal in the film, which was declared
drop after the disastrous response to a blockbuster soon after it got the biggest
Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love, a opening ever in the history of Indian Cinema
romantic comedy featuring her in an for a woman-oriented film. Vidya also won
ensemble cast. Her subsequent films like her first National Award for Best Actress.
Vinod Chopra’s Eklavya, Sajid Khan’s Heyy In 2013, Vidya once again proved that
Babyy and Kismat Connection, were equally she was an actress par excellence when
inconsequential at the box office. Vidya was she played the role of a pregnant woman Vidya the philanthropist
also criticized for her dress sense and her in search of her missing husband in Sujoy Vidya supports PETA and is listed as one
weight, with critics labelling her as a sore Ghosh’s Kahaani. of India’s hottest vegetarians. She also
thumb in films. However the actress went on promotes humanitarian causes and supports
to regain lost ground and won appreciation Forthcoming releases charitable institutions. She has endorsed
for her performance in the psychological Vidya’s last two films, Ghanchakkar and World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour campaign
thriller Bhool Bhulaiya. In the film she played Shaadi Ke Side Effects made little impact at in India and has campaigned for the cause
the role of a woman suffering from a the box-office. The actress is now looking of nutrition in India for CINI (Child in Need
dissociative identity disorder. forward to her next release, Bobby Jasoos, in Institute), a non-profit organisation based
which she plays the role of a lady detective. in Kolkata. Vidya has also been appointed
Critical acclaim She also has Mohit Suri’s Hamari Adhuri by the Government of India as their brand
Vidya’s talent came to the fore in 2009 when Kahani opposite Emraan Hashmi among her ambassador in the drive to improve the
she played the role of a young independent future projects. country’s sanitary conditions. In August
gynaecologist and single-mother struggling 2013, she served as the grand marshal of
with her 12-year-old son’s progeria Vidya’s personal life the India Day parade held in New York
syndrome in Paa. Amitabh Bachchan played The actress was said to be in a short-lived City. In September that year, she launched
the role of her son Auro. Vidya was widely relationship with Shahid Kapoor at one a technology-based learning platform for
appreciated for her performance in the film. stage though both actors denied it. Later she underprivileged children in a village in
That was followed by the black comedy was also said to be dating John Abraham Uttar Pradesh.
Ishqiya in which she played the role of a briefly. However the news fizzled out as
sexually manipulative abandoned wife. John was going steady with Bipasha Basu Her endorsement deals
Her performance in the film got her several at the time. In 2012, Vidya finally admitted Vidya Balan has been roped in as a brand
awards including a Filmfare Critics Award that she was dating Siddharth Roy Kapur, ambassador for a number of products like
for Best Actress. the CEO of UTV Motion Pictures. On 14 Dabur Vatika, Aliva, and Toshiba range of
th
In 2011, Vidya was seen in the semi- December 2012, the couple got married products, Goodnight mosquito repellent,
biographical thriller, No One Killed Jessica in a private ceremony. More recently, there Catch Masala and others.
with actress Rani Mukerji. The film, based were rumours that she was pregnant after
on the Jessica Lal murder case, saw her she opted out of a couple of projects, but
play the real-life character of Sabrina Lal, Vidya has denied those stories.
Jessica’s reticent sister who struggled for
years to get justice.

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