Vidya Balan

Born                 1 January 1978 (age 35)

                        Ottapalam, Kerala, India

Alma mater University of Mumbai

Occupation Actress

Years active 2003–present

Spouse(s)         Siddharth Roy Kapur (2012–present)

Siblings            Priya Balan

Height              1.63 m

Vidya Balan born 1 January 1978 is an Indian film actress who appears in Hindi and Bengali language films. At age sixteen, Vidya landed her first acting role, in the sitcom Hum Paanch (1995). After making several unsuccessful attempts to start a career in film, she acted in television commercials and music videos. In 2003, she made her feature film debut with the independent Bengali drama Bhalo Theko.

In 2005 Vidya garnered praise for her first Hindi film, Parineeta, and followed it with a leading role in the blockbuster Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006). Her subsequent portrayal of glamorous characters in the films Heyy Babyy (2007) and Kismat Konnection (2008) met with negative comments from film critics. The year 2009, however, marked the beginning of the most successful period in Vidya's career as she portrayed five consecutive roles to wide critical acclaim in Paa (2009), Ishqiya (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011), The Dirty Picture (2011), and Kahaani (2012). These roles have earned her the tag of a "female hero" and established her as a leading contemporary actress of Hindi cinema.

Vidya has received one National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards and five Screen Awards. She initially drew criticism for her fluctuating weight and poor dress sense, but was later credited in the media for retaining her individuality and breaking stereotypes of a Hindi film heroine. Vidya is a social activist and supports the empowerment of women. In December 2012, she married film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur.