VIDYA BALAN - WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH KHANS

VIDYA BALAN was speaking during one of the panel discussions at FICCI Frames 2012 on the subject of 'Women in Media & Entertainment circa 2012: Leading From the Front?' The session was moderated by Rajeev Masand and Barkha Dutt, Ekta Kapoor, Jeni Tosi, Usha Uthup, and Anuradha Prasad were the other participants. The panel focused on the journey and the challenges women achievers in the media and entertainment industry have to traverse and their current success and stature in a world that has primarily been a male bastion.

To a question if she aspires to work with Khans, contrary to what everyone believes, she replied in an affirmative. She would love to work with Khans if an opportunity comes her way. She also added that she had been fortunate to be offered good scripts and varied roles that allow her to explore herself as an actor. Adding a personal note she said that the success of her last few films has helped her feel comfortable about herself. On being asked if she ever felt discriminated against as a woman, she said she was brought up in an environment where no restrictions were put on her because she was a girl. She could do what she wanted to and never ever felt disadvantaged because of her gender.

BOTH KATRINA AND VIDYA IN ITEM SONG

After Katrina Kaif's sizzling performance in Chikni Chameli, it's actress Vidya Balan's turn to take lavani to another level.

The news of Vidya Balan's first item song in FERRARI KI SAWAARI has already attracted people's attention. Vidya Balan will rehearse for three weeks to understand nuances of the dance form.

Director Rajesh Mapuskar says, 'Yes finally we have short listed and decided to do a Lavani song featuring Vidya Balan in FERRARI KI SAWAARI. Vidya too is extremely excited and would rehearse extensively for three weeks. Katrina's dance in Chikni Chameli has inspired us to do better.'

DIRTY PICTURE GIRL, VIDYA IS NOW IN DEMAND FOR STAGE PERFORMANCE

‘The Dirty Picture’ has turned out to be a major milestone in Vidya Balan’s career as the movie has suddenly turned Vidya from mature actress to a glamorous and sexy one. Though Vidya has always been the critic’s favourite owing to her crisp performances, but she had never been considered as a hot and demanded actress for events and stage shows. However, the actress has suddenly become a much sought after actress by event organisers, who are now offering her Rs 50 to 75 lakh to perform at shows. Vidya is also being asked for performances in award shows. Apart from being approached to perform on the ‘Ooh la la’ and ‘Naaka mukka’ tracks, she’s also being offered a handsome fee, averaging to about Rs 50 lakh per event.

Talking about sudden increase in demand for Vidya’s performances, Mohammed Morani, one of the top event organisers says, “A chartbusting song and a super hit film is what is required of a star for the award functions.”

However, Morani refuses to talk about money being offered to her. Instead, he said, “Vidya is getting good money.”

TODAY BOLLYWOOD SEXY STAR, "VIDYA BALAN TURNS 33

TODAY, bollywood hot and sexy actress, Vidya Balan turns 33 who has acted in popular films like Parineeta and Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Hailed as the next big thing, among the current lot of Bollywood actresses, she was born in Palakkad, on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, in 1978.

Unlike her other competitors, she banks on her beauty, grace and talent rather than on exposure. Vidya first started out by modeling in the Surf Excel ad in the year 1998. Success of the ad saw her doing a lot of commercials. Her mentor Pradeep Sarkar directed most of them. She did some 25 TV advertisements.

She did three music videos as well, with Pankaj Udhas, Euphoria and Shubha Mudgal, again directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Balan made her film debut in the year 2003 with the Bengali film Bhalo Theko for which she won the 'best actress' Anand Lok Puraskar in Kolkata. She also acted in two television serials including the superhit Hum Panch and Hanste Khelte.

Balan made her Hindi film debut with Pradeep Sarkar's highly acclaimed Parineeta playing the graceful Lolita. It was a big challenge for even a seasoned actor to capture the grace and subtle nuances of the character, Lolita. But she made it look easy, drawing applause from all quarters. She hasn't looked back ever since.

Lage Raho Munna Bhai, with Sanjay Dutt followed. The film became a phenomenal success and even went to the Oscars. Guru was her next release, directed by acclaimed director Mani Ratnam. The film was a great success too. Although she had only a small role, it was appreciated.

Her next two releases, Salaam-e-Ishq and Eklavya failed to do well, but the latter was selected as India's official entries to the Oscars for the 80th Academy Awards.

Among Balan's last few releases, Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa have fared very well at the box office, but Rajkumar Santoshi directed Halla Bol flopped despite critical acclaim.

Her film with Shahid Kapur Kismat Konnection was also a success, during which it was rumoured that they were dating. Her current release Paa with Bachchans - Amitabh and Abhishek, in which she portrayed Amitabh's mother, has got her rave reviews.

Her forthcoming films are - Vishal Bhardwaj's Ishqiya, in which she is paired with Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Chenab Gandhi.

VIDYA BALAN - IN DIRTY PICTURE

Besides being the boldest film, THE DIRTY PICTURE is also a refreshing film for Vidya Balan as the dainty Bollywood actress got to live the 80s era up with it. She got the opportunity to do everything what an 80s actress would do.

Says Vidya, "THE DIRTY PICTURE is so much like 80s film. 80s was really a fun era to sing, dance and dress with. The polka dots, bell bottoms pants, big glairs, dancing amidst props (like oranges), posing like sculptures, etc...I have enjoyed it all and lived upto the fullest."

Another exciting part about the film is Vidya, who only donned uninteresting outfits in her career, gets to wear some glamourous outfits in THE DIRTY PICTURE. "For all the characters which I have played till date, I hardly had any costumes. With just two-three costumes my entire film would do. But for THE DIRTY PICTURE I have donned as many as 100 costumes," says the elated actress.

Vidya found exhilarating working for THE DIRTY PICTURE. "Not just emotionally but physically and mentally also this film has been exhausting and draining. But at the same time very very exhilarating mentally," said Vidya on a concluding note.

BIG B WITH VIDYA BALAN IN "KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI-SEASON 5"

Guess who will be seen having a whale of a time getting quizzed by the legend Amitabh Bachchan on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati-Season 5'

It is none other than the latest talk of the town Vidya Balan who will be promoting her keenly anticipated film THE DIRTY PICTURE in the coming episode of KBC.

Looking red hot in a lovely red saree, Vidya made Big B groove to the sensational 'Ooh La La' track from the film, which has taken the nation by storm!

VIDYA AND NASEER TOGETHER IN "DIRTY PICTURE"

Director Milan Luthria recently ordered two truckloads of oranges for a sensational song sequence in Balaji's forthcoming THE DIRTY PICTURE.

The track was picturised on Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah and shot at Hyderabad's Ramoji Film City.

In true South style, over a thousand oranges were rolled down a hillside as the actors danced to choreographer Pony Verma's matkas and jhatkas - reminiscent of the erstwhile Jeetendra-starrer HIMMATWALA!

In THE DIRTY PICTURE, Naseer, who plays a South-Indian superstar, consented to dancing after 20 years, as it was in line with the requirements of his character. He was last seen dancing with Sonam in Rajiv Rai's smash hit, TRIDEV.

IS SONAKSHI TRACING VIDYA'S FOOTSTEPS?

Sonakshi Sinha may be the flavour of this season given the fact that her debut film is still plucking awards here and there, but there is a parallel debate going on about this DABANGG girl and that has to do with the kind of roles that she has chosen to play.

Increasingly many industry insiders are tracing parallels between Sonakshi Sinha and Vidya Balan. Though the two actresses might actually belong to different generations, but it seems they have a lot in common.

Adds our source, "The reason for drawing comparisons between Vidya Balan and Sonakshi Sinha have their own logic. Firstly, like Vidya, Sonakshi is trying to project an image of the earthly heroine. Not only that, both Vidya and Sonakshi are reluctant to expose their bodies beyond a certain point. While, Vidya might have changed her ideas now given the fact that her upcoming film "THE DIRTY PICTURE" will have lot of skin show, Sonakshi for the moment seems to be overlooking this fact."

No one can deny that bollywood actresses who have tried to play safe have ended up paying big time and even changing their stand later, Sonakshi Sinha seems to be making the same mistake. Adds a bollywood veteran, "Vidya Balan has come a long way. Now, she has no issues with exposing her body. I think it dawned on her late that bollywood actresses with little sex-quotient don't make up for popular icons. Now, she is trying to go for an image makeover with THE DIRTY PICTURE."

Now, the onus is on Sonakshi to take a few tips from Vidya. Her ban on bikinis and exposing her body is not a success formula that worked with her apparent inspiration Vidya Balan, so most likely it won't work for her too.

VIDYA BALAN PUT OBJECTION FOR GETTING NUDE FOR M.F. HUSSAIN

Now its Vidya Balan who has caught M.F Hussain’s Fancy. Rumor had it a few days ago that Ms. Balan would go all nude to grace the painter’s canvass. This news seem to have disturbed the conservative Vidya. Sources say that the news has not amused Vidya and she seems to be disturbed by it. A friend of the actress has allegedly told the media that Vidya has no plans of going nude for M.F Hussain.

VIDYA BALAN - THE HOTTEST AND MOST SEXY LADY IN BOLLYWOOD

BOLLYWOOD most hottest and sexy actress, VIDYA BALAN is going great guns these days. After sweeping Best Actress awards in every award function, the latest we hear is she’s been voted the hottest vegetarian in an online poll by the animal rights organization PETA, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Beating other powerful contenders like Lara Dutta, Mallika Sherawat, Kareena Kapoor and even the recent Golden Globe winner Natalie Portman, Vidya was voted the hottest vegan. The other was Shashi Tharoor, the former union minister of state for external affairs. He scored over the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Shahid Kapoor and Madhavan to become the hottest male vegan.

“Vidya Balan and Shashi Tharoor embody many admirable qualities, but their commitment to a vegetarian diet that’s as kind to animals and the earth as it is to their own health makes them true royalty in our book,” Poorva Joshipura, chief of PETA, said in a statement.

Looks like this year all the stars are in Vidaya’s favor.

VIDYA BALAN ON FILMFARE JAN, 2011

Bollywood hot and sexy actress, Vidya Balan is the single woman on the cover page of showbiz magazine Filmfare India for the month of January 2011. Vidya rolls out the wicked punches in an exclusive photo spread.

VIDYA BALAN IN "KAHANI"

Director Sujoy Ghosh, who has roped in Vidya Balan for his forthcoming film "Kahani", believes the actress can indentify good scripts. "What I like about Vidya is that she is dead fussy, but in a good way. She has an uncanny sense about scripts," Ghosh said in a statement. Ghosh is justified in his belief - with roles like a struggling mother of a progeria patient in Paa to a brutally seductive rural woman in Ishqiya, she has always treaded different path.

Not only that, her next release "No One Killed Jessica", based on the real life incident of model Jessica Lal's murder, will see her playing Sabrina Lal, who fought tooth and nail to get justice for her sister. Set in Kolkata, Ghosh's Kahani is a woman-oriented thriller.

"Much like Hrithik Roshan, Vidya is quite a risk taker. She loves getting out of her comfort zone and pushing herself with every single film. She loves experimenting and she is the kind of actress who can pulls off every role. She is on a high as her films are critically acclaimed and commercially successful as well," said an industry source.

VIDYA BALAN CELEBRATED DIWALI WITH HER PARENTS

This was Vidya Balan's first Diwali in her new home in Khar, so she took a day off from Kolkata where she's shooting for Sujoy Ghosh's Kahani to be home in Mumbai for the festival of lights.

The actress  says, "This is something I had to do. My parents insisted I come back home. My sister Priya was so excited about Diwali I can't understand it. It was almost as if I was getting married.

She offered to speak to my director Sujoy Ghosh in Kolkata, as if I am in school and I needed the teacher's permission to go home."However the actress decided to speak to the 'headmaster' directly, "I spoke to Sujoy and left for a much-needed break.

In my absence my sister alongwith my brother-in-law whom I regard as my second set of parents decorated my whole house. And then she had made a complete itinerary for Diwali from a visit to the temple in the morning to visiting relatives to the lighting of diyas in the evening."

TABU IN SANTOSH SIVAN'S MOVIE "URMI"

Now we are going to see Vidya Balan and Tabu together in Santosh Sivan's "Urmi". We all are witness to Vidya Balan's acting prowess and her dancing excellence. No wonder then that director Santosh Sivan didn't blink an eye before approaching Balan for a dance number based on the traditional Mohiniattam dance form, in his yet to release film titled Urmi. The song has been choreographed by the well known south dance director Ulhas.

Santosh Sivan’s Urumi is now in full swing in the forests of Malshej Ghat near Mumbai. Tabu is in Malshej Ghat to do a cameo appearance. Not only is Vidya performing a dance number but she has an extended part in the film as well. This Malayalam film is a period drama set in the 15th Century and deals with the killer of Vasco Da Gama. The leading actors of the film are Genelia D'Souza and Prabhudeva.

VIDYA BALAN ONCE AGAIN WITH PRADEEP SARKAR

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who started her career with Pradeep Sarkar’s movie Parineeta in 2005, had done several films all these years. She has received critical acclaims for many of them and some bombed badly at the box office. But, she did not get a chance to work with Sarkar, who made her popular with her film "Parineeta".

However, the actress has now got the chance to work with her mentor once again after five long years. The duo shot together for an hair oil ad. Vidya admitted that she felt nervous and preferred to have a rehearsal before going for the first take. She said that it has been long time she had not worked with “dada’ (Sarkar) and was wondering if they can connect the same way as they did during Parineeta. Vidya said that she could understand what Pradip wanted even before he could speak out and thankfully she re-discovered the same chemistry once again.

According to Vidya, it was just like cycling; one cannot forget it once u have learnt it. The camera was being handled by the cinematographer N Nataraja Subramaniam, who was worked in Parineeta so it was like a house on fire for them.

On the other hand, the director Pradip Sarkar said that Vidya had grown up as an actress and he would love to work with her again. There is a report that Sarkar wants to make a costume drama with the actress.
However, viewers will have to wait and watch to see Vidya creating that magic with Pradeep Sarkar all over again!