Actress · Hindi Cinema

Vidya Balan

Modern2003–present

Vidya Balan is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Hindi cinema and is regarded as one of its most acclaimed leading performers. After her Hindi debut in Parineeta (2005), she built her reputation on complex, women-centred roles in films such as Paa, Ishqiya, The Dirty Picture and Kahaani. She is widely credited with helping revive the commercial viability of female-led films in Bollywood during the 2010s. Her honours include a National Film Award, several Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri.

Honours: National Film Award for Best Actress (The Dirty Picture); multiple Filmfare Awards, including Best Actress for Paa, The Dirty Picture and Kahaani, plus a Filmfare Best Female Debut for Parineeta; Padma Shri (2014)

Filmography

35 films · compiled from Wikidata

Recent & Ongoing

2024

N.T.R: Kathanayukudu

2019

Signature Roles

Sherni

Best known for: Parineeta · Lage Raho Munna Bhai · Paa · Ishqiya · The Dirty Picture · Kahaani · Tumhari Sulu

Did You Know?

Won the National Film Award for Best Actress for The Dirty Picture (2011), in which she played a character inspired by South Indian actress Silk Smitha.
Made her film debut in the Bengali film Bhalo Theko (2003); her Hindi debut Parineeta (2005) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2014.
Served on the main competition jury at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, presided over by Steven Spielberg.
Sridevi is widely regarded as Hindi cinema’s first female superstar to open films on her name alone.
India produces more feature films per year than any other country in the world, across many languages.
The Filmfare Award trophy, nicknamed “the Black Lady,” has honoured Hindi film excellence since 1954.

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Filmography

Recent & Ongoing

Do Aur Do Pyaar

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3

Neeyat

Jalsa

Shakuntala Devi

N.T.R: Kathanayukudu

Mission Mangal

Begum Jaan

Tumhari Sulu

Te3n

Kahaani 2

2000s

Shaadi Ke Side Effects

Bobby Jasoos

Hamari Adhuri Kahani

Ghanchakkar

Kahaani

Dum Maaro Dum

The Dirty Picture

No One Killed Jessica

Urumi

Thank You

Ishqiya

Paa

Kismat Konnection

Halla Bol

Eklavya: The Royal Guard

Heyy Babyy

Guru

Salaam-e-Ishq

Bhool Bhulaiyaa

Lage Raho Munna Bhai

Parineeta

Bhalo Theko

Kalari Vikraman

Signature Roles

Sherni

Did You Know?