Vidya Balan
Born: 1978-01-01 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Known For: Acting
Biography
Vidya Balan (born January 1, 1979) is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. After appearing in the television sitcom *Hum Paanch* (1995) and the Bengali independent film *Bhalo Theko* (2003), she made her Hindi feature debut in the musical drama *Parineeta* (2005), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Her subsequent releases included *Lage Raho Munna Bhai* (2006), *Guru* (2007), and the psychological comedy thriller *Bhool Bhulaiyaa* (2007). Balan earned the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the comedy drama *Paa* (2009), followed by the black comedy *Ishqiya* (2010), for which she won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. For her portrayal of Silk in the biographical drama *The Dirty Picture* (2011), she won the National Film Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She earned a third Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the mystery thriller *Kahaani* (2012). Her credits during this period included *No One Killed Jessica* (2011), *Kahaani 2* (2016), and *Tumhari Sulu* (2017), which earned her a fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actress. In 2019, Balan expanded into South Indian cinema with the two-part biographical drama *N.T.R: Kathanayakudu* and *N.T.R: Mahanayakudu*, and appeared in the Tamil release *Nerkonda Paarvai* and *Mission Mangal*. Her subsequent projects included the biographical drama *Shakuntala Devi* (2020), *Sherni* (2021), *Jalsa* (2022), *Neeyat* (2023), *Do Aur Do Pyaar* (2024), and *Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3* (2024). In 2026, she appeared in the historical drama *Raja Shivaji* and *The Last Tenant*.
Filmography
2026
- Jailer 2 as Kantha
- Raja Shivaji as Tajul Mukkhidarat Haji Badi Sahiba
- Mauja Hi Mauja
- The Last Tenant
2024
- The Great Indian Kapil Show as Self
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 as Mallika / Manjulika
- Do Aur Do Pyaar as Kavya
2023
- Neeyat as Mira Rao
2022
- Jalsa as Maya Menon
2021
- Sherni as Vidya Vincent
2020
- Shakuntala Devi as Shakuntala Devi
- Natkhat as Surekha
2019
- Superstar Singer as Self
- N.T.R: Kathanayakudu as Basavatarakam
- N.T.R: Mahanayakudu as Basavatarakam
- Mission Mangal as Tara Shinde
- Nerkonda Paarvai as Kalyani Bharath
2018
- Amoli as Narrator (English)
2017
- Rising Star as Self
- Begum Jaan as Begum Jaan
- Tumhari Sulu as Sulochana "Sulu" Dubey
2016
- The Kapil Sharma Show as Self
- Yaaron Ki Baraat as Self
- Ekk Albela as Geeta Bali
- Kahaani 2 as Vidya Sinha / Durga Rani Singh
- Te3n as Sarita Sharma
2015
- Hamari Adhuri Kahani as Vasudha Prasad
2014
- Son of Abish as Herself
- The Anupam Kher Show as Herself
- Shaadi Ke Side Effects as Trisha Roy
- Bobby Jasoos as Bobby
2013
- Comedy Nights with Kapil as Self
- Bombay Talkies as Self, special appearance in "Apna Bombay Talkies" (uncredited)
- Mahabharat as Draupadi (voice)
- Ghanchakkar as Neetu Athray
2012
- Kahaani as Vidya Bagchi
- Ferrari Ki Sawaari as Special Appearance in Song "Mala Jau De"
2011
- The Dirty Picture as Reshma / Silk
- No One Killed Jessica as Sabrina Lal
- Thank You as Divya
- Dum Maaro Dum as Cameo as Mrs Kamath
- Urumi as Makkom / Bhumika
2010
- MasterChef India as Guest Star
- Ishqiya as Krishna Verma
2009
- Paa as Vidya Arte
2008
- Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as Self
- Kismat Konnection as Priya
- Halla Bol as Sneha Chauhan / Sneha A. Khan
2007
- Om Shanti Om as Self
- Guru as Meenakshi "Meenu" Saxena
- Heyy Babyy as Esha Sahni
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa as Avni S. Chaturvedi
- Salaam-e-Ishq as Tehzeeb Raina
- Eklavya: The Royal Guard as Rajeshwari / 'Rajjo'
2006
- Lage Raho Munna Bhai as Jhanvi
2005
- Parineeta as Lalita
2004
- Koffee with Karan as Self
2003
- Bhalo Theko as Anandi
2000
- Kaun Banega Crorepati as Self
1995
- Hum Paanch as Radhika Mathur
1992
- Aap Ki Adalat as Herself