Vidya Balan is a formidable force in Indian cinema, widely hailed as a “female hero” for her ability to headline films in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her journey to stardom was a test of resilience; she navigated a tumultuous beginning marked by rejections, replacements, and the stigma of being labeled “jinxed.” Although her career began in Tamil cinema, her debut in Hindi films garnered immediate critical acclaim, setting the stage for a path-breaking career. Balan has since carved a niche for herself, serving as a role model who shattered established beauty and industry norms to find acceptance on her own terms. Her exceptional talent has been recognized with the prestigious Padma Shri (2014) and numerous Best Actress awards. Following her marriage to producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, she has continued to work at her own pace, recently expanding into production with the short film Natkhat (2019), which advocates for gender equality.
Quick Info:
- Name: Vidya Balan
- Date of Birth: January 1, 1979
- Birth Place: Chembur, Mumbai, India
- Occupation: Actress, Model
- Nationality: Indian
- Height: 5 ft 3 in
- Weight: 55 kg
Born Name
Vidya Balan
Nick Name
Vidhi, V
Age
Vidya Balan is currently 47 years old, born on January 01, 1979.
Sun Sign
Capricorn
Born Place
Chembur, Mumbai, India
Nationality
Indian
Education
She completed her schooling at St. Anthony Girls’ High School in Chembur, Mumbai, where actress Shilpa Shetty was her senior by three years. She later attended St. Xavier’s College to major in Sociology and went on to pursue a Master’s degree (MA) at the University of Mumbai, where she received her first film offer.
Occupation
Actress
Family
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Father: P. R. Balan (Executive Vice-President of Digicable)
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Mother: Saraswathy Balan (Homemaker)
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Siblings: Priya Balan (Older Sister, works in advertising)
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Others: Priyamani (Second Cousin, Actress)
Manager
Bling Entertainment Solutions
Build
Average
Height
5 ft 3 in or 160 cm
Weight
55 kg or 112 pounds
Boyfriend / Spouse
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Shahid Kapoor (2008): Rumored to have dated while shooting Kismat Konnection. Both denied the relationship, but reports suggest Balan walked away because she felt disrespected by constant criticism regarding her weight.
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Siddharth Roy Kapur (2012–Present): Balan confirmed she was dating the CEO of UTV Motion Pictures in May 2012. They married on December 14, 2012, in a private ceremony in Bandra, Mumbai.
Race / Ethnicity
Asian (Indian)
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She is of Tamilian ancestry.
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Black
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Her distinct voice.
Measurements
36-28-37 inches.
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Note: These measurements were recorded after her role in The Dirty Picture, for which she notably gained 12 kilosto portray the character “Silk.”
Brand Endorsements
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Commercials: She has appeared in advertisements for Surf, Clinic Plus shampoo, and UNICEF Total Sanitation.
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Campaigns: Endorsed the Samajwadi Pension Yojana (Uttar Pradesh Govt), the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour (March 2011), Nihar Hair Oils, the Indian Film Festival, and the Silk Board.
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Ambassadorship: In 2023, she became the brand ambassador for the Indian ethnic wear brand Shobitam.
Religion
Hinduism
Best Known For
Her quintessential “Indian” look and powerful performances in Hindi cinema, specifically in “Parineeta”, “The Dirty Picture”, and “Kahaani”.
First Film
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Bengali Debut: Bhalo Theko (2003) as “Anandi.”
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Hindi Debut: Parineeta (2005) as “Lalita.” This role earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Vidya Balan Favorite Things
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Favorite Films: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset
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Favorite Directors: Gulzar, Hrishikesh Mukherjee
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Favorite Actors: Morgan Freeman, Amitabh Bachchan, Al Pacino
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Favorite Actresses: Kate Winslet, Julie Delpy, Julia Roberts
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Favorite Book: Brida by Paulo Coelho
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Favorite Food: Thai Cuisine and homemade food
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Role Model: Her older sister, Priya
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Favorite Musicians/Bands: Zakir Hussain, Michael Jackson, Enrique, Indian Ocean, Midival Punditz
Vidya Balan Facts
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Her older sister, Priya, is married to Kedar.
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She is actively involved with the Harvard AIDS Institute, participating in various events throughout the year.
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Vidya is associated with AmfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) and Hale House, a home supporting children affected by HIV and drug addiction.
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She endured 40 screen tests and 17 make-up shoots before finally being selected for the lead role in her debut Hindi film, Parineeta.
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Before earning praise for her signature traditional attire, she faced significant criticism for her choice of western outfits in films like Heyy Babyy and Kismat Konnection.
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Prior to films, she acted in television shows, including Hum Paanch (produced by Ekta Kapoor) and Hanse Khelte(produced by Ashok Pandit).
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She is well-versed in English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil, and can also speak a little Bengali.
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In 2012, the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce honored her with the ‘Prabha Khaitan Puraskar’ for her extraordinary efforts in women’s empowerment.
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She was appointed as a member of the Indian Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2017.
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In an interview, she revealed facing numerous rejections in the Malayalam film industry because producers did not find her “presentable,” which initially made her feel ugly.
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She once received a legal notice from a Tamil producer after quitting a film just a few days into the shoot because she was uncomfortable with the script’s “downmarket humor.”
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She is a distant cousin of actress Priyamani, who is famous for her role as “Suchi” in the Amazon Prime web series The Family Man.
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At the 67th Filmfare Awards in 2022, she won the Best Actress (Critics) award for her performance in the film Sherni.
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While she hasn’t faced the typical “casting couch,” she once had an uncomfortable encounter where a director asked to meet in his hotel room.5 She went but intentionally kept the door open, resulting in her removal from the film.
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As a volunteer for the Indian Music Group, she once accepted a challenge to pretend to be a beggar outside the 5-star hotel Oberoi – The Palms in Mumbai; the hotel staff refused to give her food.
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During her time at St. Anthony’s Girls High School in Chembur, actress Shilpa Shetty (her senior) taught her how to play basketball.
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Vidya has strong roots in Mumbai, having spent 31 years of her life living in Chembur.