Setting a new trend of the portrayal of a strong female protagonist in Hindi films, Vidya Balan has won various awards including one national award, five Filmfare, five Screen awards and the Padma Shri in 2014. Journeying from TV serial Hum Paanch to critically acclaimed films like Dirty Picture and Kahaani, Vidya has established herself as a leading actor of Bollywood. Besides acting, Vidya promotes humanitarian causes including environment, child nutrition and education and women empowerment. In 2012, she teamed up with the then union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh as the brand ambassador for promoting hygiene and sanitation and is endorsing the government’s initiative of eradicating open defecation. She appears in radio and television advertisements in which she encourages villagers to build and use toilets in their homes.


If not an actor: I would be an aspiring actor

Best thing about being a film star: is that people are welcoming whenever and wherever you go

A movie role I enjoyed playing: Every character actually... But if I have to pick one, it is Krishna in Ishqiya

A role I long to play: A Woody Allen heroine

A memorable moment I cannot forget: My first best actor award speech

The defining moment in my life: Too many… the birth of my sister’s twins… the moment I realised Siddharth is the one for me.

The last book I read: Diane Keaton’s autobiography, Then Again

My favourite pastime:  Watching movies

My comfort food: Home-cooked South Indian food

My most fulfilling moment: Comes at the end of a good work/shoot day

Conserving resources is important because: We have no choice, honestly

Things I could change to make my country better: Stop complaining and start contributing to make India of our dreams

My conviction for supporting social and humanitarian causes I take up comes from: Wanting to do my bit

Follow instincts or follow convention: Instinct always

Best decision of my life so far: To follow my instinct and be an actor

My strength comes from: My family

My weakness: Self-dependence

What is real Vidya Balan like: I am still figuring...

At present I am busy with: Playing Geeta Bali for a Marathi biopic on Bhagwan Dada


(The interview appears in the October 1-15, 2015 issue)