Vidya Balan is an Indian actress. She has established a career in Bollywood and is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards, and five Screen Awards, and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2014. She is known for portraying strong female protagonists and has been acknowledged in the media for pioneering a change in the concept of a Hindi film heroine. She was born on 1 January 1978 in Poothamkurussy, Puthur, Palakkad, Kerala, India. Vidya Balan finished her schooling and college at St. Anthony’s Girls School and St. Xavier’s College respectively and thereafter went on to do her Masters. Vidya Balan made her debut in the Bengali film, Bhalo Theko (2003). Her role was much appreciated. She then made her debut in Bollywood in Parineeta (2006) and excelled in her role, winning the Award for Best Female Debutant. She appeared in the blockbuster Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006). In 2007, she acted in Mani Ratnam’s Guru as a girl suffering from multiple sclerosis, Salaam-e-Ishq, Eklavya: The Royal Guard, Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. All these films proved her versatility and her defiance to not fit into the glam doll mould of Bollywood actresses. Her movie, No One Killed Jessica (2011), did well at the box-office and her role in the movie was appreciated too. In 2011 her last release was super-hit film The Dirty Picture.Vidya was widely appreciated for her role and won almost all major awards in best actress category for her role in this film.