,Vidya Balan Vidya Balan (pronounced [ʋɪd̪jaː baːlən]; born 1 January 1978)[1] is an Indian film actress, who appears in Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam language films. At age sixteen, Balan 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, Balan 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. 2009, however, marked the beginning of the most successful period in Balan'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 fetched her the tag of a "female hero" and established her as a leading contemporary actress of Hindi cinema.[2][3] [4] Balan has received one National Film Award, four Filmfare Awards and four Screen Awards. She is a social activist and supports the cause of women empowerment. She initially drew criticism for her weight and dressing sense, but was later credited in the media for retaining her individuality and breaking stereotypes of a Hindi film heroine. She is in a relationship with Siddharth Roy Kapur and lives in Khar, Mumbai with her parents. Early life and background Vidya Balan was born on 1 January 1978 in Ottapalam, a town in the Palakkad District of Kerala, to P. R. Balan, currently the Vice President of ETC India, and Saraswathy Balan, a homemaker.[5][6] According to Balan, they speak "a mix of Tamil and Malayalam" at home; she is also well versed in Hindi, Marathi, English and Bengali.[7] Her elder sister, Priya Balan, and brother-in-law work in the field of advertising.[5] Balan grew up in the suburban neighbourhood of Chembur, Mumbai ,