--- About Vidya Balan ---


Birth name: Vidya P. Balan

Meaning of the name: Vidya - "Knowledge" (Origin: Sanskrit)

Date of Birth: 1 January 1979 (confirmed here: http://bit.ly/1aL5bMV)

Place of Birth: Ottapalam, Kerala, India

Nationality: Indian

Religion: Hindu

Nicknames: Vids, Vidhi

Occupation: Actress

Zodiac sign: Capricorn

Education: Master's degree from the University of Mumbai

Height: 5' 4" (1.63 m)

Marital status: Married

Date of Mariage: 14 December 2012

Husband: Siddharth Roy Kapur (film producer)

Father: P. R. Balan (Executive Vice-President of Digicable)

Mother: Saraswathy Balan (homemaker)

Sister:  Priya Balan (advertising)

Grandfather: Director G Rakesh (film producer)

Mother-in-law: Salome Roy Kapur nee Aaron (Miss India in 1972)

Brothers-in-law: Aditya Roy Kapur (actor) and Kunaal Roy Kapur (actor)

Mother Tongue: Tamil

Languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, knows reading Urdu

Past love relationships: Shahid Kapoor (as per the rumours)

Friends from film industry: Rekha...

Hobbies: Reading poetry, listening to classical music, watching films, going for drives, spending time with
her loved ones, chatting on the phone and just watching a lot of TV shows

 
Bad habit: She is really bad at keeping in touch with people and even forgets to check her mobile
phone for days

Motto: "What the mind conceives and believes in, it can achieve."

Dislikes: Things all over the place; insensitive and rude people, or those behaving like they know it
all or those who take themselves too seriously: negativity and pessimism, arrogance

What she hates about her husband: The fact that he’s so punctual "

What she loves about her husband: "Amongst other things, what I admire about him is the warmth
with which he meets people. He’s non-judgmental and accepting."

Phobia: Cats

Afraid of: Loosing her family and loved ones

Obsessive about: cleanliness and having arranged cupboards

Her weekness: Earrings

Hot actress: Salma Hayek

Hot actors: George Clooney and Sean Pen

Her insirations: Shabana Azmi and Madhuri Dixit

Character traits she thinks are important: Self respect, respect for others and integrity. 

The deal breaker in a marriage: "Undoubtedly, infidelity!"

Debut film: Bhalo Theko (2003; Bengali)

Debut Award: Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for Parineeta (2005)

Best movies in the career by now: Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Heyy Babyy, Paa, Ishqiya,
No One Killed Jessica, The Dirty Picture, Kahaani...

Dream Role: A biopic on Indira Gandhi or Lata Mangeshkar

Dream Co-star: Shah Rukh Khan

TV Shows: Hum Paanch (1995)

Music Videos: For Pankaj Udhas, Euphoria, Shubha Mudgal

Inspiration: The Sun

--- Favourites ---


Favourite food: Indian, Thai, Mexican, French and Italian

Favourite beverage: Masala Chai, strong coffee

Favourite desserts: Cakes and chikkis

Favourite spice: Adrak

Favourite travel destination: New York, New Zealand

Favourite actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Mohan Lal

Favourite actresses: Madhuri Dixit, Rani Mukerji, Sridevi, Meryl Strip, Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts,
Kate Winslet

Favourite movie: old Golmaal and Before Sunrise and Before Sunset 

Favourite romantic song: Mitwa Kahe Dhadkanein Tujhse Kya

Favourite singers: Shivkumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia to Shubha Mudgal and Kishori Amonkar

Favourite colour: Red (because it is colour of love and romance)

Favourite perfume: Issey Miyake, Elizabeth Arden

Favourite writer: Paulo Coelho

Favourite outfit: Saree, Track suit

Favourite accessory: Ear-rings, Sunglasses

Favourite male co-star: Abhishek Bachchan

Favourite hero: Shah Rukh Khan

Favourite lyricist: Gulzaar

Favourite pass-time with husband: Going for long drives, even if it means late at night.

Favourite person from the industry: Sanjay Dutt

Favourite shooting location: Toronto

--- Interesting Facts --- 


--> She pursued a master's degree in sociology from the University of Mumbai and simultaneously
made several unsuccessful attempts to start a career in film.

--> Vidya aspired to a career in film from a young age, and at the age of sixteen, she starred in the
first season of Ekta Kapoor's sitcom Hum Paanch as Radhika, a bespectacled teenager.

--> She speaks English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil. After filming Parineeta (2005), can also speak
Bengali quite well and knows reading Urdu.

--> She is known for portraying strong female protagonists and has been acknowledged in the media
for breaking stereotypes of a Hindi film heroine.

--> Her movie  roles established her as a leading actress of Hindi cinema and earned her the tag of
a "female hero".

--> Vidya is trained in carnatic music and briefly studied the dance forms of Bharatnatyam and Kathak.
She is also trained singer.

--> An ardent devotee of Bhagwan Shri Sai Baba, she makes it a point to attend Mandirs every
Thursday.

--> Vidya and her family speaks a mix of Tamil and Malayalam at home.

--> Vidya met her husband at the Filmfare Awards night in 2010. After receiving her award for
Best Actor (Female) for Paa, she was rushing out as she had to catch a flight to Delhi where she was
shooting for No One Killed Jessica when someone from UTV introduced her to Siddharth. That was their
first meeting and a brief one. Siddharth and her met again at a dinner at Karan’s house. They ended
up talking a little then. Karan Johar intentionally or otherwise played a Cupid between the two of them.

--> Her husband Siddharth is Punjabi Jew.

--> Vidya writes her diary every day.

--> Was obsessed with Amitabh Bachchan in her childhood.

--> Vidya realized she want to be an actor when 'Ek Do Teen (song from Tezaab, 1988) was released.
She used to stand in front of the mirror and dance all the time. She wanted to be junior Madhuri Dixit. 

--> In addition to acting in films, Vidya promotes humanitarian causes and supports the empowerment
of women.

--> She initially drew criticism for her fluctuating weight and "questionable" dress sense, but was later
credited in the media for "not morphing herself to fit into any conventional slot".

--> Vidya loves drinking chai. She starts her day with it and has it five times a day.

--> She never cooks. 

--> She practices vegetarianism and was listed as "India's hottest vegetarian" in polls conducted by PETA
in 2011 and 2012.

--- Personal Quotes ---


"I never had goals in my life."

"I realised that there is one person whose happiness is in my control and that is me. I started living
according to what made me happy and it has changed my life."

"My soul is highly romantic. I look for romance everywhere."

"Siddharth accepts me in the way I am. In the first few months of marriage I got bogged down by the
notion that I had to juggle between handling home duties and starting work on a new film. He explained
I needn’t be a superwoman. He understands that if he could go out to work and end up neglecting things
at home, so could I."

"Somewhere I have become more complacent. My biggest dream of becoming an actor has come true...
I am working with people I always wanted to work with." 

"I faced a long period of rejection. I am thankful to my friends and family, whom I could turn to for
strength and support. I am someone who has prayed a lot...that's the way I have been brought up.
My initial days were the true test of my prayers...which is why; in very early in my life, I realized
the true meaning of surrender. At one time I was even scared to look at the mirror because that
reminded me of all the ugly words people used to say to me." 

"You know, earlier when people used to tell me that I look 'extremely Indian', I didn't take it as a
compliment. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I used to think 'Oh my God! may be'...and went on
to try out all sort of things. But then, I realized it's not working for me. I decided to be myself,
irrespective of what others think. That's when compliments started coming. You can lose or gain weight,
but it's most important to have attitude in place. I feel self-assured."

"I love living with Siddharth. I am going through a time of discovery. Apart from discovering each other,
I am also getting insights into small things. There were certain things that I took for granted, like my
mother running the house all these years. I value it more now since I have realised what goes in
handling the running of a house. It is a beautiful time for me. As far as work goes, I discuss my projects
with Siddharth but the decision is mine. Both of us are of the belief that you should do what you feel is
right."

"Marriage is no longer a barrier for career now for women. Though it is happening in every sphere, but
in films it is more visible. Women are leading their lives on their own terms. They are coming on their
own in their 30s and 40s more today than before. Women are more aware of what makes them more
desirable and what doesn't. It is a good sign."

"Earlier I used to get fed up when people discussed what I wore, but now I feel it is a good thing. I
wasn't aware that so much hullabaloo was being created at the Cannes Film Festival about what I wore...
I am a person who is not on social networking websites, so I wasn't aware of what was going on. It was
only when I came back that I realised that this was the reaction. Honestly, every time I walked out of
the room at Cannes, I felt happy. It is all that matters."

"If I’m brave as an actor, it’s because I’m brave as a person too. As an actor I get leeway to do anything,
wear anything and live many lives. You can make me do anything in front of the camera. But I may not
be able to do all that in a social setting. I’ve realised I’m shy even though I love meeting people, knowing
them and chatting with them. But what I love the most is being with myself. It works for me."

"I am very happy being an actor. If being a known face, a film star or celebrity can draw attention to a
cause and get people interested in knowing more about it... I am happy. But acting is what I live for
and I don't see myself ever entering politics."

"I’m not a calculative person. When I tried to be like that, things went horribly wrong." 

"When I am working, I am selfish about my 'me time' every night, before going to bed. Just some time
to unwind. Whether it's talking to family or writing my diary or listening to music or doing nothing, it's
something that helps to relax me."

"There are good as well as bad effects of marriage. I am still experiencing it (married life) so I can't give
tips. I feel you should be yourself as women end up losing themselves in marriage.. That should not
happen."

"Earlier when people used to tell me that I look extremely Indian, I didn't take it as a compliment.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I used to think 'Oh my God!May be' and went on to try out all
sort of things. But then, I realized it's not working for me. I decided to be myself, irrespective of what
others think. That's when compliments started coming. You can lose or gain weight, but it's most
important to have attitude in place."

"The way the world is going now, a woman is hotter after marriage to men. They like the forbidden fruit
even more now."

"She (her sister, Priya) has always been my hero. She feels awkward when I say this. Most of my
impressions in life have come through her. We have a four year age gap between us. She has read a lot
and has been exposed to many things. (Laughs) I was a fat kid who was happy sitting at home doing
nothing. Whenever my mom and Priya would ask me to read a book, I’d read it aloud deliberately. Priya
would get annoyed and ask me to stop."

"I take myself less seriously (now). I enjoy life far more now. I get angry if I allow things to affect me.
(Laughs) I still feel jealous!"

"When Shah Rukh looks at a woman, you wish you could be that woman."

"Acceptance is always encouraging. I’ve realised that when you do what you want to do and not what
others want you to do then people accept you."

"I’d rather say ‘dressing healthy’ is important as ‘eating healthy’. And by healthy I mean what makes you
feel good. There is no foolproof diet that can be given to everyone... When you feel healthy and by
‘healthy dressing’ I mean good, sexy and desirable, even if it’s a drag, please go ahead and wear it."

"Siddharth is easy to live with. He’s not fussy. When you get away from the city you get a completely
different perspective. It helps the film; it helps you to live that reality. When I was seeing Sidharth, I
wanted to keep going back. Post marriage I thought I wouldn’t be able to stay away from home. But with
someone like Siddharth, I am blessed. He tells me, ‘If your work requires you to go for two months, don’t
worry, I’ll figure out things at home.’ Even on a regular day we have work distributed between us."

"People have told me that marriage changes things. But with someone like him (her husband, Sidharth),
what you see is what you get. It’s extremely reassuring. There have been no unpleasant surprises. When
you find someone who accepts you the way you are, it just works out fine. Even though I have been
enjoying the outdoor shoots, I feel the pangs, especially when it gets cold or rains. I feel miserable
without him. That’s a nice feeling."

"I’m a one-man woman. I enjoy spending time with the entire team. I like to talk to people but he
(her husband, Sidharth) knows that’s my personality. He’s also a people-oriented person. We know what
we mean to each other Touch wood!"

"If you accept yourself, the world accepts you. But I am much kinder to myself, courtesy Siddharth. I’m
more appreciative of myself because of him. I’m not saying this in a poetic kind of way. All the
marriages that I have seen work have done so because of mutual appreciation. One day you look like a
disaster and one day you wake up and look like a dream. That’s the joy of living together. You get to
see the person in all his avatars. Love grows."

... READ MORE VIDYA BALAN QUOTES

--- Connect With Vidya ---


Vidya on Twitter: https://twitter.com/vidya_balan

VIEW OTHER CELEBRITIES