Vidya Balan is an Indian actress. She changed how women are shown in Hindi movies. She got many awards for her acting, like the National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards. In 2014, she got the Padma Shri from the Government of India.
Vidya wanted to be an actress since she was young. She acted first in a TV show called “Hum Paanch” in 1995. She also tried to start a film career while studying sociology. Her first Hindi film was “Parineeta” in 2005. After some ups and downs, she became famous for playing strong women characters in movies like “Paa”, “Ishqiya”, “No One Killed Jessica”, “Kahaani”, and “The Dirty Picture”. She won awards for these roles too. Later, she acted in successful movies like “Tumhari Sulu” and “Mission Mangal”.
Besides acting, Vidya supports causes like women’s empowerment. She also works with the Indian Central Board of Film Certification. In 2012, she became the first ambassador for India’s sanitation program. She’s also been part of campaigns for children’s education and women’s rights.
Vidya got married to Siddharth Roy Kapur, a film producer, in 2012. She’s trained in Carnatic music and has learned dance forms like Bharatnatyam and Kathak. She’s also known for her style, especially for wearing saris. Vidya is respected in the film industry for breaking stereotypes and changing how women are seen in Bollywood movies.