Vidya Balan completes 12 years in Bollywood

Recipient of five Filmfare Awards, five Screen Awards and a National Award, Padma Shri laureate, Vidya Balan has journeyed through…

Vidya Balan completes 12 years in Bollywood

Recipient of five Filmfare Awards, five Screen Awards and a National Award, Padma Shri laureate, Vidya Balan has journeyed through 12 years in Bollywood.

Vidya made a remarkable debut, portraying the role of an idealist in Pradeep Sarkar’s musical drama, Parineeta, making a transition from television to the big screen. Debutante then, she was praised by the audience and critics alike. From then on, the versatile actress worked with the most celebrated filmmakers including Rajkumar Hirani for Lage Rahe Munnabhai, Mani Ratnam’s Guru, Priyadarshan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa and R Balki’s Paa, garnering accolades with each film.

The powerhouse performer made brazen and unconventional choices such as Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica, The Dirty Picture and Kahaani which worked in her favour and elevated her prowess as an actor. Very often, she shouldered a film without a lead hero and yet that never affected the impact and the business of the movie. Balan is known for her diligence and attention to detail while fleshing out characters to make them relatable to the viewers.

Reflecting on her 12 year long career she says, “It’s unbelievable! Parineeta seems like yesterday. I had the opportunity to work on such wonderful films, tell beautiful stories, live really exciting parts, work with people I admire, people I have learnt so much from, people who have invested faith in me. I have received so much love. I feel extremely humbled and blessed to be living my dream every single day. Of course there have been ups and downs, but the one thing that has kept me going is that I really love what I do and I’m so grateful to the universe. People ask me what would you be if not an actor, and I say I wouldn’t be so there you go!”