Bollywood XXX

Actress Deepika Padukone has hinted that she is starring in Vin Diesel’s next “XXX” francishe “Xander Cage Returns” by posting a picture with the Hollywood star.

In the photo, posted in her social media pages, the 29-year-old actress is seen hugging Diesel in the backdrop of the logo of the movie franchise “XXX”. (Read: Confirmed! Deepika Padukone will work with Vin Diesel in the new XXX film)

“Vin Diesel,” Deepika posted on Facebook.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/deepika-padukone-to-star-in-vin-diesels-next-xxx-film/#sthash.qsyMxhW4.dpuf

Despite being a production house that has often pushed the envelope with their choice of scripts, this time when they are bringing erotica onscreen, Balaji Production head honcho, Shobha Kapoor felt it was best her name be excluded from the credits. 

According to sources who have worked on XXX, the lady thought it was best not to include her name given the risque content of the film. Given that Shobha along with daughter Ekta Kapoor have managed to make the company into one of the biggest names in the business of production, when she decided to be excluded from the project everyone seemed to understand. 

Says the source, "The content of the film is staying true to the premise of erotica, while it is a subject that is intriguing to all, it is something no one feels comfortable seeing around your parents so it's completely understandable that Mrs. Kapoor felt it best to keep away from it. She has been there as a producer in every possible way. We are more than glad about that." 

Directed by Ken Ghosh, XXX will be a compilation of six stories based on sex and erotica.

One of the scenes also includes a conversation between male and female sex organs…

In a country where porn is legally getting banned, Ekta Kapoor is daring to come up with an adult film titled, XXX. While Ken Ghosh will be seen directing several hot chicks in this film. The title by itself is giving rise to much speculations for most feel it’s an erotic thriller, replete with sex and nudity. We’ve found out that the film is segmented into a series of short stories. One of these stories has a penis talking to a vagina.

Urmila Matondkar (born 4 February 1974) is an Indian film actress and model, who has appeared in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam language films. Her film roles contributed to a then-new screen persona for a Hindi film heroine, in which she was known for her intense style and dancing skills.

Matondkar made her acting debut as a child artist in Shreeram Lagoo's 1980 marathi filmZaakol and went on to feature in several other films as a child. Her first adult role was in theMalayalam film Chanakyan (1989), in which she was cast alongside Kamal Hassan. She went to star in several Bollywood films, including theRam Gopal Varma-directed musical dramaRangeela (1995), the drama Judaai (1997), and the crime thriller Satya (1998), all of which earned her Filmfare Award nominations. These roles established her in Bollywood and earned her the tag of a sex symbol. Matondkar also gained recognition in Telugu and Tamil cinemawith roles in Antham (1992), Gaayam (1993), Indian (1996), and Anaganaga Oka Roju(1997).

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Urmila garnered critical praise for portraying a range of intense, psychological characters. Among these roles were that of a serial killer in Varma'sKaun (1999), an obsessive lover in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), a possessed woman in Varma's Bhoot (2003), and a violent avenger in Ek Hasina Thi (2004). For her performance in Bhoot, she won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. She has also played leading roles in lesser-publicised films of independent directors, including Tehzeeb (2003), Pinjar(2003), Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005), Bas Ek Pal (2006), and the Marathi film Ajoba(2014).

Early life

Urmila Matondkar was born in Mumbai on February 4, 1974. Her father was a lecturer. Her native language is Marathi.

Career

As a child artist (1977–1983)

Urmila's first role as a child artist was in 1977 in the film Karm. Following minor roles inShreeram Lagoo's marathi film Zaakol (1980) and Kalyug (1980), she achieved success at the age of 9 in Shekhar Kapur's Masoom in 1983.

Professional expansion (1989–1994)

She made her debut as a mainstream actress with the film Bade Ghar Ki Beti. She next starred in the fantasy film Chamatkar, along with Shahrukh Khan. In 1989, Urmila was paired opposite Kamal Haasan in the Malayalam blockbuster Chanakyan. She went on to frequently collaborate with film director Ram Gopal Verma, who is known for his thrillers. Her first film with him was Antham (Telugu film), which was a bilingual film and was titled as Drohi in Hindi. She has also made her appearance in Doordarshan serial Bible Ki Kahaniyan. Since then, she has starred in numerous subsequent RGV pictures, like Gaayam (Telugu).

Rangeela and commercial success (1994–2003)

Urmila returned to film as the female protagonist Mili Joshi, in the romantic comedy Rangeela(1995). Featured opposite Aamir Khan, the film relates the story of two people with contrasting personalities. The film was received favourably by critics and became successful at the box office with gross earnings of ₹1160.5 million (US$17 million). Gomolo described "urmila looking the glam girl as ever and superb performances", at the 41st Filmfare Awards, Rangeela was nominated for twelve awards including a Best Actressnomination for Matondkar. In the same year, she also starred alongside Mohanlal in theMalayalam film Thacholi Varghese Chekavar.

Following RGV projects were Anaganaga Oka Roju (1997), Daud (1997), Satya (1998), Kaun(1999), Mast (2000), Jungle (2000), Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), Bhoot (2003), and Ek Hasina Thi (2004).

In 1997 her film Judaai was a hit but her other releases such as Daud and Aflatoon were not as successful. Her performance in Judaai earned her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award nomination.The film, which co-starred Anil Kapoor and Sridevi, also emerged as a major commercial success.

In 1998, she earned critical acclaim for her performance in Satya, for which she received another Filmfare nomination. The film was received favourably by critics and became successful at the box office with gross earnings of ₹988.55 million (US$15 million).Mohammad Ali Ikram of Planet Bollywood described Matondkar as "Urmila Matondkar as Vidhya, an aspiring singer caught in the deceptive web of Satya's love, proves she is a multi-faceted actress. If in one movie this actress can be street-smart and sexy (Daud), the next minute she is convincingly conservative, innocent and docile.

In 1999, she got rave reviews for her performance as a psychopath in Kaun, which was a moderate success. Khalid Mohamed of The Times of India (who would later cast her inTehzeeb) wrote that she "rivets the viewer's interest, carrying off entire reels on her shoulders, through a gamut of quicksilver facial expressions. Vulnerable and baffled, she is utterly believable as the traumatised girl-next-door." She saw further success with Jaanam Samjha Karo, Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain and Khoobsurat, all moderate successes at the box office. However, Matondkar's performance was generally well received by critics ( Rediff describing "Urmila is just about the only heroine who can give Karisma a run for her money when it comes to pelvic thrusts").

During the 2000s, Matondkar revealed strong, dramatic and psychological features in her roles, and delivered a number of critically acclaimed performances. In 2000, Matondkar co-starred in David Dhawan comedy Kunwara, the film under-performed at the box office grossing of ₹430.3 million (US$6.4 million). She won favourable reviews for her role as an obsessive lover in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), and received various Best Villain nominations for her performance.The film was received favourably by critics and became successful at the box office with gross earnings of ₹280.5 million (US$4.1 million).

In 2003, she was part of several projects. She played the role of a north Indian girl in the background of the 1947 India partition in the critically acclaimed Pinjar. She played the title role in Khalid Mohammed's drama Tehzeeb, starring along Shabana Azmi. However, she was mainly noted for her performance in Bhoot, a horror movie. Matondkar enacted a ghost-possessed woman; her performance was much appreciated by critics and audiences and she won her first Filmfare Award under the Best Actress (Critics' Choice) category, as well as various Best Actress awards at different award ceremonies, such as Star Screen Awards,Zee Cine Awards and Bollywood Movie Awards. She later received the national honour Rajiv Gandhi Award for the film, as a recognition to her achievement in Bollywood. Taran Adarshwrote of her performance, "...the film clearly belongs to Urmila Matondkar all the way. To state that she is excellent would be doing gross injustice to her work. Sequences when she is possessed are simply astounding. If this performance doesn't deserve an award, no other performance should. It beats all competition hollow." Khalid Mohamed wrote, "Matondkar is consistently excellent - controlled and persuasively vulnerable – as the beleaguered wife, evoking your concern and empathy. She’s the major triumph of Bhoot actually.

Later roles and critical acclaim (2004–2008)In 2004, she got critical recognition for her performance as a merciless avenger in Ram Gopal Verma's Ek Hasina Thi, co-starring Saif Ali Khan. She played the role of a deceived woman who is jailed because of her lover, played by Khan, and later flees from prison to avenge him. Once again, Matondkar was nominated for a Filmfare for her performance in the film. Ek Hasina Thi was a financial success with global revenues of ₹170.4 million (US$2.5 million).

Next year in 2005, she tried her hand with another horror film, playing the title role in the film Naina, which failed. However, her performance as the caring daughter of Anupam Kher in Jahnu Barua's art filmMaine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara was very well received, and she won her second Bollywood Movie Award for Best Actress.

Shilpa Shetty (born c. 1975), also known asShilpa Shetty Kundra after her marriage, is an Indian film actress, producer and former model. The elder sister of actress Shamita Shetty, she appears predominantly in Bollywood films, however, has also worked in a few Telugu,Tamil and Kannada language films. Through her successful Bollywood career and after winning the international reality television seriesCelebrity Big Brother 5, Shetty has become one of the most popular and high-profile celebrities in India. She is the recipient ofnumerous awards and nominations, including four Filmfare nominations.^[4] In the Indian media, she is frequently cited as a sex symbol, and has received praise for her acting and dancing skills.

Shetty began her career as a model in 1991 with a Limca television commercial and followed it with several other commercials and advertisements. She then began receiving offers for film roles and made her debut in the 1993 thriller Baazigar, a box-office hit that earned her Filmfare nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Lux New Face of the Year awards. She subsequently earned widespread recognition by playing lead female roles in the 1994 box office hits Aag and Main Khiladi Tu Anari. Following this initial success in her career, Shetty starred in several unsuccessful films in which her brief, repetitive roles earned her negative reviews from film critics. The 2000 romantic drama Dhadkan marked a significant turning point in her career, earning her wide critical acclaim and best actress nominations at several award ceremonies.Her performances in the dramas Rishtey (2002) and Phir Milenge (2004) were appreciated, with her portrayal of an AIDS patient in the latter earning her several accolades, including a Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination.

In 2007, after participating in the British reality television series Celebrity Big Brother 5, Shetty was crowned as the winner with 63% of the final vote, after an international racism controversy. This was followed by re-establishment of her status in the film industry with two successful dramas Life in a... Metro and Apne, both of which earned her critical appreciation. In addition to film acting, Shetty is also a social activist and is vocal about the issues such as feminism and animal abuse. She featured as a celebrity host for the 2008 reality show Bigg Boss 2, and served as a talent judge for the reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Season 1) and Nach Baliye (seasons 5 and 6). Since February 2009, she is the co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Rajasthan Royals. Shetty turned into a film producer with the 2014 action film Dishkiyaaoon. She has a son born in 2012.

Karenjit Kaur Vohra (born May 13, 1981),better known by her stage name Sunny Leone(pronounced /ˈsəniːliːˈoʊnˈiː/), is an Indo-Canadian Bollywood actress and model, and former porn actress. She has also used the stage name Karen Malhotra. She was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003, was a contract star for Vivid Entertainment, and was named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010. Sunny Leone also appeared in a censored advertisement of "I am Besharam" (India's Online Adult Web Store). Her porn website is still operated by Gamma Entertainment.

She has played roles in independent mainstream events, films and television shows. Her first mainstream appearance was in 2005, when she worked as a red carpet reporter for the MTV Video Music Awards on MTV India. In 2011, she participated in the Indian reality television series Big Boss. She hosts the Indian reality show Splitsvilla.

In 2012 she made her Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt's erotic thriller Jism 2 (2012) and shifted her focus to mainstream acting which was followed up with Jackpot (2013), Ragini MMS 2(2014) and Ek Paheli Leela (2015).

Apart from her acting career she has been part of activism campaigns including the Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half-Marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society and has also posed for a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ad campaign with a rescued dog, encouraging pet owners to have their cats and dogs spayed and neutered.

Katrina Kaif (pronounced [kəˈʈriːnaː ˈkɛːf], bornKatrina Turquotte; 16 July 1983) is a British-Indian film actress and model. Primarily known for her work in Bollywood films, Kaif has also appeared in Telugu and Malayalam films. In addition to being one of Bollywood's highest-paid actresses, she is considered one of India's most attractive celebrities by the media.

Born in British Hong Kong, Kaif and her family lived in several countries before she moved to India. She received her first modelling assignment as a teenager and later pursued a career as a fashion model. At a fashion show in London, filmmaker Kaizad Gustad spotted Kaif and decided to cast her in Boom (2003), a critical and commercial failure. While filming in India, Kaif received modelling assignments and established a successful modelling career. However, filmmakers were hesitant to cast her due to her poor command of Hindi. After appearing in the Telugu film, Malliswari (2004), Kaif earned commercial success in Bollywood with the romantic comedies Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005) and Namastey London (2007). She followed with a series of box-office hits, but was criticised for her acting, repetitive roles and inclination to male-dominated films.

Kaif's performance in the 2009 terrorism drama New York was better received, earning her aFilmfare Award for Best Actress nomination. After roles in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani(2009), Raajneeti (2010) and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), she received her second Filmfare nomination for her performance in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011). Kaif featured in the thrillers Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and Dhoom 3 (2013), both of which rank among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics for her acting prowess, she has established herself as a commercially successful actress of Hindi cinema.

In addition to acting, Kaif is involved with her mother's charity and participates in stage shows. She is guarded about her personal life, which is a subject of media scrutiny. Her background has also been a topic of discussion, with some sources accusing her of fabricating her history.

Ayesha Takia is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. She made her film debut in Taarzan: The Wonder Car for which she won the Filmfare Best Debut Award in 2004. Her notable films include Dor (2006), for which she won the Screen Award for Best Actress (Critics), Salaam-E-Ishq (2007) and Wanted

Career

Takia began her career as a model when she was 15, appearing in the "I am a Complan Boy! I’m a Complan Girl!" campaign and also inFalguni Pathak's "Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye" music video. Later she appeared in the music video Shake It Daddy" Remix of song Nahin Nahin Abhi Nahin along with actor Keith Sequeira, which brought her to the attention of Bollywood, and a few film offers followed. She signed a contract to appear in Socha Na Tha, then for Taarzan: The Wonder Car. However, delays making Socha Na Tha meant that Taarzan was released first and was therefore her “debut” film. She won the Filmfare Best Debut Award in 2004 for her performance in the film.

Takia has appeared in a number of films that did poorly at the box office. However, she has been highly praised for her work in the 2006 Dor, a smaller budget film in which she plays the role of a young widowed Rajasthani woman living in a traditional joint family. She went on to win several awards for her performance in the film, including the Zee Cine Critics Award for Best Actress.

Apart from Bollywood, Takia has also appeared in the 2005 Telugu film Super, withTollywood star Akkineni Nagarjuna, for which she was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu). Her most recent hit was Prabhu Deva's Wanted, co-starring Salman Khan, which emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of 2009. The film was the third-highest grossing movie of the year and her role met with positive reviews.

In 2011, she starred in Mod, which met with a good response. As of 2012, she was hosting the musical-reality show Sur Kshetra.She is very active on social media, especially Twitter and has been a supporter for wildlife protection. She has a son with her husband Farhan Azmi. In April 2014, Ayesha denounced her father-in-law, Samajwadi party MLAAbu Azmi's comment that rape victims should also be punished.

In a public statement, she has claimed to be a veganwhile posing for a vegan ad for PETA India.

Asin Thottumkal (born 26 October 1985), known mononymously as Asin, is an Indian actress and trained Bharathanatyamdancer. She has received three Filmfare Awards. She began her acting career in theSouth Indian film industry, but now appears predominantly in Bollywood films. She speaks eight languages, and dubs her own films.She is the only Malayali actress, other thanPadmini, to have dubbed in her own voice for all her films, irrespective of language. Asin has been referred to as the "Queen of Kollywood" by online portals in 2007. She is a member of the Bollywood 100 Crore Club.

Making her acting debut in Sathyan Anthikkad'sMalayalam film Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), Asin had her first commercial success with the Telugu film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi in 2003, and won a Filmfare Best Telugu Actress Award for the film. M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi (2004) was her debut in Tamil and a huge success. She received her Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Awardfor her most noted critically acclaimed performance in her third Tamil film, Ghajini(2005). She then played the lead female roles in many successful films, most notable being the dramatic thriller Varalaru (2006), the action thriller Pokkiri (2007), romantic drama Vel(2008) and Dasavathaaram (2008) oppositeKamal Haasan and hence established herself as the leading actress of Tamil cinema and was also honoured by the Tamil Nadu government with the Kalaimamani award for her excellence in the field of art and literature. In 2013, Asin was conferred with Pride of South Indian Cinema award at SIIMA for her contribution to Tamil cinema.

In late 2008, Asin made her debut in the Bollywood film Ghajini (2008) opposite Aamir Khanwhich was the first Bollywood film to have collected more than ₹1 billion in the domestic box office, subsequently collecting ₹1.9 billion (US$28 million) worldwide. Asin won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and many accolades for Ghajini. 2011 marked the most successful phase of Asin's Bollywood career, as she starred in Anees Bazmee's romantic comedy, Ready, in which she co-starred alongside Salman Khan. The film was a major hit at the box office, collecting ₹1.84 billion (US$27 million) worldwide. In 2012, Asin first starred in Sajid Khan's multistarrer Housefull 2 which collected more than ₹1 billion. She then featured in Bol Bachchan and Khiladi 786, which were also commercially successful with both grossing over ₹1 billion.

Early life

Asin was born in Cochin (now Kochi) in Kerala to a Syro-Malabar Catholic Nasrani family. Her father Joseph Thottumkal is an Ex-CBI officer and later managed several businesses. Her mother Seline Thottumkal, who moved settlements from Kochi toChennai to Mumbai to live with her daughter, is a surgeon. According to custom, Asin was to be named Mary, after her paternal grandmother. Asin's father however named her Asin as the name had a beautiful meaning. Asin has quoted that her name means "pure and without blemish". She states that the 'A' in her name is from Sanskrit meaning "without", and 'sin' from English".

She attended Naval Public School from LKG through X standard. She then attended St. Teresa's School in Kochi for her Plus Two education. After that she attended St. Teresa's College in Kochi, a college affiliated with MG University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature.

Career

Early work (2001–04)

Asin's first Tamil language film was M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi, in which she co-starred with Jayam Ravi. Asin reprised her role from her film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi for the remake, which saw her portraying a Malayali girl instead of the Tamil girl in the original. The movie subsequently went on to super hits in Tamil cinema during 2004, introducing Asin toTamil film industry. After a brief return to Telugu films, to do Chakram, she appeared inUllam Ketkumae. The film, initially launched in 2002 and was supposed to be her debut as a lead heroine, is a college love story, directed by Jeeva, which was long-delayed but eventually became a successful venture at the box-office, creating wider opportunities for her and the rest of the cast.Asin's first assignment was an advertisement for BPL Mobile. She debuted in a Malayalam film Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka in 2001, at the age of 15. After taking a year out to pursue her education, Asin returned with her breakthrough film as an actress,Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi opposite Ravi Teja, portraying a Tamil girl in her first Telugu languagefilm, which subsequently fetched her the Telugu Filmfare Award for Best Actress. In the same year she won the Santosham Best Actress Award for her performance alongside Akkineni Nagarjuna in her second Telugu film, Shivamani. Her following twoTelugu films, Lakshmi Narasimha and Gharshana, both portrayed Asin as the love interest for police officers and both were successful ventures.

Kollywood breakthrough and stardom (2005–07)

After the release of Ullam Ketkumae, Asin was cited as a leading heroine of the Tamil film industry after starring in blockbuster films like Ghajini, Sivakasi, Varalaru and Pokkirirespectively. The film which provided the breakthrough for Asin was Ghajini. The film, co-starring Surya and was directed by A. R. Murugadoss, earned her the Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her role was that of a vivacious young model named Kalpana. Sify.com praised her portrayal as "magical", describing her character as a "lovable chatterbox", played with "sheer ability in the romantic interludes, the poignant and heartfelt scenes when she rescues minor girls from villains and her gory end are touching". The following Diwali in 2005, Asin had two releases, Sivakasi and Majaa. Despite the latter becoming an average grosser, the former went on to be a successful venture at the box office.

The following year, her long-delayed venture, Varalaru opposite Ajith Kumar also succeeded at the box office, and The Hindu said she "looks lustrous and sails through her role smoothly". Asin appeared in Pawan Kalyan's Annavaram, another successful venture which was a remake of Thirupaachi. In January 2007, Asin appeared opposite Ajith Kumar and Vijay in two different films, Aalwar and Pokkiri, with the latter becoming a success, whilstAalwar became a failure. Whilst Asin's role in Aalwar was criticised, her performance inPokkiri was lauded by critics. Her final project of the year was opposite Surya, in Hari'sVel, which had a Diwali 2007 release, subsequently becoming her third successful film which released during the Diwali season in three years. Asin, who portrayed a TV anchor, was appreciated for her role in the film.

Bollywood debut (2008–10)

Asin appeared in her first dual role in K. S. Ravikumar'sDasavathaaram opposite Kamal Haasan, who portrayed ten roles. The film, which was under production since September 2006, Despite being overshadowed by Haasan's ten roles, Asin's portrayals in the film were praised as her "best-to-date" with one of her roles being that of a Vaishnavite in 12th century Tamil Nadu; whilst the other character was a Brahmin girl fromChidambaram for which she won her first ITFA Best Actress Award. Dasavathaaram subsequently went on to become one of the blockbusters .

Since establishing herself as the leading actress in South India, Asin opted to move into Bollywood. Her first film, Ghajiniopposite Aamir Khan was the remake of her breakthrough film of the same name. Upon release, the film garnered positive reactions from critics and masses alike, with Asin being singled out for her "fabulous" portray. Noted critic Taran Adarsh described her Hindi debut as "fabulous" and that "to share the screen space with an actor of the stature of Aamir Khan and yet remain in your memory even after the show has ended is no cakewalk. She looks fresh and photogenic and acts her part brilliantly", giving Asin's performance a positive outlook.

Ghajini became the highest grossing Bollywood film of 2008 and sixth highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time according to net collections. Asin later appeared in Vipul Shah'sLondon Dreams alongside Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, in which she played as a south Indian girl, Priya, who is emotional but strong willed and an ambitious dancer at the same time. The film received mixed reviews from critics.

Her first film of 2011 was Kaavalan which released on 15 January 2011. The film was a critical and commercial success. Behindwoods review of the film praised her performance: "Asin, in Tamil for the first time after Dasavatharam, convinces us with her portrayal. The chemistry of the lead pair has worked out well; especially the portions w things that ultimately result in love". The chemistry between Vijay and Asin worked out well and was appreciated. Asin went on to win the SIIMA Award for Best Actress for this film. The film also includes Vadivelu as the comedian along with Mithra Kurian, Roja, Rajkiran playing supporting roles.

Breakthrough in Bollywood (2011–present)

Her next movie with Salman Khan, Ready was released on 3 June 2011 to mixed reviews. Critics praised the chemistry between Salman and Asin. Upon release, Ready became the second highest weekend grossing Bollywood film, afterDabangg and went on to became the fifth film in Bollywood history to cross the coveted ₹1 billion (US$15 million) mark in the domestic market.

In 2012, she first appeared alongside Akshay Kumar in Sajid Khan's multistarrer comedy Housefull 2. Though it received a mixed critical reception, it was a major commercial success. Asin generally received favourable reviews for her performance, with Adarsh stating that "[a]mongst the female leads, Asin has the meatiest role and gives a decent account of herself."

On 6 July 2012, Rohit Shetty's Bol Bachchan alongside Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchanreleased with Mixed reviews with the Critics praising the performances of Asin, Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan. Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama who praised Asin's performance stated, "Asin does well, though her screen time is limited. Nonetheless, her amiable looks and stimulating smile add to her charisma!!." While the reviewer from Behindwoods quoted, "There is a small surprise with regards to Asin's role. She is the romantic interest of Ajay and looks serene and absolutely cute." The movie is now declared a superhit

Khiladi 786, in which she reunited with her Housefull 2 costar, Akshay Kumar, released on 7 December 2012 to mixed reviews but was strong at the box office and eventually became a commercially successful venture.

Asin did not appear in any movie in 2013 & 2014, though she appeared in many television ads during this time. She is shooting for her next drama film All Is Well, directed by Umesh Shukla and produced by Bhushan Kumar. In one interview director Umesh Shukla stated that Asin will be seen in an "important dramatic role".

Other work

Humanitarian work

During the shoot of her film Ready in Sri Lanka, she was part of camps that were meant to help the Sri Lankan Tamil people who were affected by the Sri Lankan Civil War.

In an interview during the DNA I Can Women's Half Marathon in 2012, Asin, speaking about the importance of health and the necessity of education said,

“This cause is probably one of the biggest women centric issues in our country. I support the education of six children each year, five of which are girls. I have closely worked with these children and I know that if given the opportunity, women can educate themselves much better and know what is wrong or right for them. Education is a basic right and women should not be deprived of that."

Brand ambassador

Asin has been the brand ambassador for several companies and products, and has appeared in commercials for Avon, Mirinda, Colgate, Fairever,Tanishq, Big Bazaar, Parachute, Spinz talc, Lux, Amrutanjan Healthcare, and Clinic All Clear. Asin has been endorsing Mirinda soft drinks since 2004.

Personal life

Asin currently resides in Lokhandwala, Mumbai. She also owns an apartment in Marine Drive, Kochi and a farmhouse in Vagamon, Kerala.

The actress can speak seven languages; being well-versed in Malayalam (her mother tongue), Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, French, English and Sanskrit. Asin also speaks a smattering of Italian, and learnt basic Marathi for her movie Khiladi 786 in which she played a typical Marathi girl. In June 2013, it was reported in the Indian media that Asin was learning German during her free time. She began learning Spanish after visiting Spain in early 2014. She is married to Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma.

Kajol Devgan (née Mukherjee) (born 5 August 1974), known mononymously as Kajol, is an Indian film actress who predominantly works inHindi cinema. She has received six Filmfare Awards, among eleven nominations and along with her late aunt Nutan, holds the record for most Best Actress wins at Filmfare, with five.In 2011, the Government of India awarded her with the Padma Shri.

Born to actress Tanuja and film director Shomu Mukherjee, Kajol made her acting debut withBekhudi (1992), while still in school. She subsequently quit her studies to pursue acting, and had her first commercial success withBaazigar (1993). She subsequently earned wide public recognition for playing leading roles in several blockbusters including Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998),Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), My Name Is Khan (2010) and Dilwale (2015). Her performances in these films earned her four Filmfare Awards in the Best Actress category. She earned critical appreciation for playing against type in the 1997 mystery film Gupt and the 1998 psychological thriller Dushman.

Following a sabbatical from full-time acting in 2001, Kajol returned to films with the 2006 romantic thriller, Fanaa and continued working infrequently through the rest of the decade, playing leading roles in films such as U Me Aur Hum (2008), We Are Family (2010), My Name Is Khan (2010) and Dilwale (2015). She, thus, established herself as one of India's most successful actress.

In addition to acting in films, Kajol is a social activist and is noted for her work with widows and children, for which she received the Karmaveer Puraskaar in 2008. She has featured as a talent judge for Zee TV's reality show, Rock-N-Roll Family and holds a managerial position at Devgn Entertainment and Software Ltd. She is known in the Indian media for not subscribing to stereotypes of a Bollywood heroine and has hence been labelled as "unconventional". Kajol was in a relationship with actor Ajay Devgan since 1995. In 1999, they married, and she gave birth to their daughter, Nysa, in 2003 and their son, Yug, in 2010.

Alia Bhatt (born 15 March 1993) is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. The daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan, Bhatt first appeared on screen as a child artist in a minor role in the thriller Sangharsh (1999). As an adult, she made her acting debut with Karan Johar's romantic drama Student of the Year (2012).

Bhatt's portrayal of a teenage girl who developsstockholm syndrome in Imtiaz Ali's road movieHighway (2014) garnered critical acclaim. She won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actressand also garnered a Best Actress nomination at the same ceremony. She went on to establish herself in Bollywood by starring opposite Arjun Kapoor in the romantic drama 2 States (2014) and Varun Dhawan in the romantic comedyHumpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014).

In addition to acting in films, Bhatt has sung two of her film songs. She participates in stage shows, and has launched her own line of clothing for women.

Mallika Sherawat (born Reema Lamba on October 24, 1976) is an Indian actress and a former model. Known for her bold onscreen attitude in such films as Khwahish (2003) andMurder (2004) Sherawat has been frequently featured in the media as a sex symbol. She then appeared in successful romantic comedyPyaar Ke Side Effects (2006) which won her much critical acclaim.

Since then, she has appeared in successes likeAap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story, Welcome(both 2007) — her biggest commercial success so far — and Double Dhamaal (2011). She is one of the few Bollywood stars trying to crossover to Hollywood, with films like Hisss(2010) and Politics of Love (2011).

Early life

Sherawat was born Reema Lamba in Moth, a small village in Hisar district of Haryana to aJat family Mallika's father is named Mukesh Kumar Lamba and she was born in the family of Seth Chhaju Ram, a leading Jat philanthropist. She was born on 24 October 1976. She adopted the screen name of "Mallika", meaning "empress", to avoid confusion with other actresses named Reema. "Sherawat" is her mother's maiden name She has stated that she uses her mother's maiden name because of the support that her mother has provided her.

Although relations with her family were strained when she entered the film industry,Sherawat's family have now accepted her career choice and they and Sherawat are reconciled.

Sherawat went to school at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. She has a degree inphilosophy from Miranda House, Delhi University. During the initial days of her career, she claimed to be from a very conservative small-town family and that she faced many hurdles from them in pursuing her career. However, Sherawat's family has rebutted this as a story created by her to give her an aura of a rustic girl who made it big in Bollywood.

Career

Before entering films, Sherawat appeared in television commercials with Amitabh Bachchanfor BPL and Shahrukh Khan for Santro. She also appeared in Nirmal Pandey's "Maar Dala" and Surjit Bindrakhia's "Lak Tunoo" music video. She debuted in films with a small rôle in Jeena Sirf Merre Liye where she was credited as Reema Lamba.

Sherawat attracted notice with her appearance in the 2003 film, Khwahish. In 2004, she starred in Murder, a film inspired by Hollywood's Unfaithful. She was noticed for her bold role with critic Narbir Gosal writing, "she has the chops to pull off a role like this one. She´s confident and sexy as Simran and handles her emotional scenes with dignity." She received a nomination for 'Best Actress' at the Zee Cine Awards for her performance inMurder. The film went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year.Since then, Sherawat has been known for expressing her opinions in public, as well for the reaction to some of her statements.In 2005, Sherawat acted in The Myth, a Chinese film, co-starring with Jackie Chan. She played the role of an Indian girl who saves Chan's character from a river. The Myth was her first international film. Her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival to promote the film secured a lot of attention, with Timemagazine's Richard Corliss calling her "the next big thing.

Her performance in the 2006 film Pyaar Ke Side Effects, co-starring Rahul Bose, won her praise from around the industry, with critic Raja Sen commenting, "Mallika steals the show with her disarming candour. and the film did moderately well at the box office.

Her first release in 2007 was Mani Ratnam's Guru, in which she performed the song "Mayya Mayya." She played a guest role in Himesh Reshammiya's Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story and reportedly charged Rs. 15 million for a 10-minute appearance. Her last release of 2007 was Welcome, which did exceptionally well at the box office. Her performance received very favourable reviews with noted film critic Taran Adarsh writing, "Mallika Sherawat is electrifying.

Her 2008 releases were Ugly Aur Pagli and Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam. Both were unsuccessful at the box office. Sherawat's next Bollywood release was Double Dhamaal, which went on to becoming a moderate success at the box office, receiving 'above average' status at the box office, by Box Office India. She also appeared in item numbers in films such as Thank You (Razia Gundon Mein Phas Gayi), Bin Bulaye Baraati (Shalu Ke Thumkey) and in Osthe (Kalasala), which is a Tamil film. In 2012, she was featured in an item number inTezz (Laila). As of May 2012, Sherawat was expected to appear in two films which will feature her in full-fledged roles — Kismat Love Paisa Dilli, in which she will be playing the role of a Haryanvi, and Lucky Unlucky.

On 23 April 2013 it was announced that Mallika would star in a reality dating show calledBachelorette India - Mere Khayalon ki Mallika.In 2009, Sherawat starred in a Hollywood film namedHisss, co-starring Irrfan Khan and directed byJennifer Lynch. The story, based on the legend ofNāga, is an independent co-production between theUnited States and India. Endeavour Independent bought the distribution rights of Hisss. Sherawat promoted it with live snakes at the Cannes Film Festival 2010. Hisss was released in all major Indian languages on 22 October 2010.

Sherawat starred in another Hollywood film, Politics of Love, aka Love, Barack, directed by William Dear.She plays Aretha Gupta, a devoted local Obamavolunteer coordinator. The film is a romantic comedy set during Barack Obama's campaign for the US presidency. A first look of Love, Barack was unveiled by Sherawat at Cannes 2010. It was released in 2011.Sherawat won the 2008 Renaissance Artist Award at the 16th Annual Diversity Awards held in California. On 14 August 2009, Sherawat received honorary citizenship of Los Angeles in recognition of her career achievements and charitable work.

In 2012 Sherawat featured with American pop star Bruno Mars in his parody video of Salt-N-Pepa Whatta Man for the comedy website Funny or Die.

In 2013 Sherawat featured in a reality television show named The Bachelorette India which was adopted from The Bachelorette to find the perfect bachelor for herself.

Ameesha Patel (pronounced [əˈmiːʂaː pəˈʈeːl]; born Amisha Amit Patel; 9 June 1975) is an is an Indian actress and model who predominantly appears in Bollywood. She has also appeared in few Telugu films. Making her acting debut in the blockbuster Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), Patel won critical praise for her performance inGadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), which became one of the biggest hits in the history of Hindi cinema, earning her a Filmfare Special Performance Award. Her performance in the 2002 film "Humraaz" received critical acclaim & it was one of the biggest hits of the year receiving her a nomination of Best Actress .

Her performance in the 2006 film Ankahee, received critical recognition. In 2007 she appeared in a supporting role in Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and also co-starred Akshay Kumar in Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Patel is frequently cited as one of the sexiest Bollywood actresses of all time. Rediff featured Patel as one of the top Bollywood actresses of 2001.

In 2011, she founded her own production company Ameesha Patel Productions.In 2013, she made an extended appearance in the Race 2.

Sonakshi Sinha (pronounced [soːnaːkʂiː sɪnɦaː]; born June 2, 1987) is an Indian rapper, singer and actress. She is daughter of actorsShatrughan and Poonam. After working as a costume designer in her early career, Sonakshi made her debut in action-drama film Dabangg(2010) which led her to won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Sinha has played the romantic interest of the male protagonists in several top-grossing action-dramas, including Rowdy Rathore(2012), Son of Sardaar (2012), Dabangg 2(2012) and Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty(2014), though she was criticised for taking up roles that offered her limited scope. She received critical praise for her portrayal of a woman suffering from tuberculosis in the romantic drama Lootera (2013), for which she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 2013.

Priyanka Chopra (pronounced [prɪˈjaːŋkaː ˈtʃoːpɽaː]; born 18 July 1982) is an Indian film actress and singer, and the winner of the Miss World pageant of 2000. Through her film career, she has become one of Bollywood'shighest-paid actresses and one of the most popular and high-profile celebrities in India. Chopra is cited by various media outlets as the world's sexiest Asian woman, as well as one of the most fashionable Indian celebrities. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including a National Film Award for Best Actressand five Filmfare Awards.

Although Chopra initially aspired to study engineering or psychiatry, she accepted offers to join the Indian film industry, which came as a result of her pageant wins, making her acting debut in the Tamil film Thamizhan in 2002. The following year, she starred in The Hero, her first Hindi film release, and followed it with the box-office hits Andaaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. She later earned wide critical praise for herbreakout role in the 2004 thriller Aitraaz. By 2006, Chopra had established herself as a leading actress of Hindi cinema with leading roles in the highly successful films Krrish andDon. The 2008 drama Fashion marked a turning point in her career, earning her critical acclaim as well as the National Film Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She subsequently gained recognition for her versatility in portraying a range of unconventional characters in films such asKaminey, What's Your Raashee? (both in 2009), 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), Barfi! (2012), Mary Kom (2014), Dil Dhadakne Do, and Bajirao Mastani (both in 2015), all of which garnered her wide critical acclaim and several accolades. In 2015, she began starring as Alex Parrish on the ABC drama Quantico, becoming the first South Asian woman to headline an American network series.

In addition to her acting career, Chopra participates in stage shows, has written columns for newspapers, and is a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products. She released her first single "In My City" in 2012. Her second single "Exotic" debuted in 2013, and charted in countries such as the United States and Canada. Chopra is noted for her philanthropic activities, and was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010. She promotes various causes such as environment, health and education, women empowerment and women's rights, and is particularly vocal about women's issues, including safety, gender equality, and gender pay inequality. Though she is reticent to discuss her personal life in public, her off-screen life is the subject of substantial media coverage in India.

Veena Malik is a Pakistani actress, TV host and model who appears in Lollywood and Bollywoodfilms. Malik made her film debut in 2000 withSajjad Gul's Tere Pyar Mein. In 2002, she starred in Akbar Khan's Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwaand Sassi Punno and later played roles in female-centric films such as Koi Tujh Sa Kahan(2005), Mohabbatan Sachiyan (2007), Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai (2005), Kabhi Pyar Na Karna (2008) and Ishq Be Parwah (2008). In 2012, she was seen in Bollywood with a comedy film Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai. The following year, she appeared in the dramedy Zindagi 50-50, Supermodel and the Kannada film Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Maga which was a box office hit. She also appeared in 2014 horror filmMumbai 125 KM 3D.

In November 2014, Malik and her husband Asad were sentenced to 26 years in prison by a regional, anti-terrorism court for allegedly airing a blasphemous program, however they fled to Dubai.

In this Indian name, the name Balan is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Vidya.

Vidya Balan
Vidya at the DVD launch of The Dirty Picture in 2012
Born	1 January 1978 (age 38) Poothamkurussy, Puthur,Palakkad, Kerala, India
Alma mater	University of Mumbai
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1995, 2003–present
Spouse(s)	Siddharth Roy Kapur (2012–present)
Relatives	Priyamani (second cousin)
Awards	Padma Shri 2014

Vidya Balan (pronounced [ʋɪd̪jaː baːlən]; born 1 January 1978) 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 fiveScreen 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.

Vidya aspired to a career in film from a young age, and had her first acting role in the 1995 sitcom Hum Paanch. 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. She subsequently featured in various television commercials and music videos, and in 2003 made her feature film debut as the protagonist of the independent Bengali drama Bhalo Theko. In 2005 Vidya garnered praise for her first Hindi film, the drama Parineeta, and followed it with a leading role in the highly successful 2006 comedy film Lage Raho Munna Bhai.

This initial success was followed by roles in theromantic comedies Heyy Babyy (2007) andKismat Konnection (2008) which met with negative reviews. The year 2009 marked the beginning of the most successful period in Vidya's career as she portrayed five consecutive roles to wide critical acclaim in the 2009 drama Paa, the 2010 black comedy Ishqiya, the 2011 semi-biographical thriller No One Killed Jessica, the 2011 biopic The Dirty Picture, and the 2012 thriller Kahaani. These roles established her as a leading actress of Hindi cinema.

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". She is married to the film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur.

Early life and background

Vidya Balan was born on 1 January 1978 in Poothamkurussy, Puthur, a town in thePalakkad District of Kerala, to parents of Tamilian descent. Her father, P. R. Balan, is the Executive Vice-President of Digicable, and her mother, Saraswathy Balan, is a homemaker. According to Vidya, they speak a mix of Malayalam and Tamil at home.Her elder sister, Priya Balan, works in the field of advertising. The actress Priyamani is her second cousin.

Vidya grew up in the suburban neighbourhood of Chembur, Mumbai and was schooled at St. Anthony Girls' High School. From a young age she aspired to a career in film and was inspired by the work of actors Shabana Azmi and Madhuri Dixit. At the age of sixteen, she starred in the first season of Ekta Kapoor's sitcom Hum Paanch as Radhika, a bespectacled teenager. Following the success of the show, Vidya refused directorAnurag Basu's offer to star in a television soap opera, as she wanted to concentrate on a film career. Her parents were supportive of the decision but encouraged her to complete her education first, so she attended St. Xavier's College to pursue a bachelor's degree insociology and later earned a master's degree from the University of Mumbai.

Career

Struggle and film debut (2000–04)

While pursuing her master's degree, Vidya was cast as the female lead in the Malayalam filmChakram, opposite Mohanlal and was subsequently signed on for twelve other Malayalam language films. However, due to production difficulties, Chakram was shelved. The postponement of a film starring Mohanlal was an unheard of occurrence in Malayalam cinema and film producers blamed Vidya for bringing "bad luck" to the project; labelled her as a "jinx" and replaced her in all the films that she had been contracted for.^[12] She then shifted focus to Tamil cinema. In 2001, she was cast as the female lead in N. Linguswamy's Run(2002). However, after completing the first shooting schedule of the film, she was unceremoniously dropped and replaced by Meera Jasmine.^[20] She was signed up under false pretences for a sex comedy, a genre she was then uncomfortable with, and thus decided to leave the project. Thereafter, she signed on for a third Tamil film, Manasellam(2003), but was replaced by Trisha Krishnan as the director was dissatisfied with her work.Kalari Vikraman, another Malayalam film that she completed work for in 2003, failed to get a theatrical release.

After failing to start a film career, Vidya appeared in approximately sixty television commercials and in music videos for Euphoria and Shubha Mudgal; a majority of these were directed by Pradeep Sarkar. In 2003, she was signed on by Goutam Halder for his independent Bengali drama Bhalo Theko; her first film release. Her portrayal of Anandi, a young woman reminiscing about her past, won her an Anandalok Purashkar for Best Actress.

Breakthrough (2005–08)

In 2005 Vidya made her Hindi film debut with Pradeep Sarkar's musical drama Parineeta. Before being cast for the film, she had to undergo extensive auditions for a period of six months.The film, an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel of the same name, narrated the love story of an idealist Lalita (Vidya) and a musician Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan), the son of a capitalist businessman. Her performance in the film was praised by critics; Derek Elley from Variety wrote, "An acting revelation is Tamil newcomer Balan, whose devoted but dignified Lalita is the picture's heart and soul. Parineeta fetched her aBest Female Debut award and a nomination for Best Actress at the annual Filmfare Awardsceremony. The following year, Vidya appeared opposite Sanjay Dutt in Rajkumar Hirani's comedy film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. She portrayed the role of Jhanvi, a radio jockey and the love interest of the protagonist Munna Bhai. To prepare for her role, she met with a couple of radio jockeys and watched them at work. Her performance was critically well received,and the film emerged as a blockbuster with earnings of ₹1.19 billion (US$18 million).

In 2007 Vidya featured in a supporting role in Mani Ratnam's semi-biographical drama Guruas a woman suffering from multiple sclerosis. The film, which starred Mithun Chakraborty,Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and R. Madhavan in leading roles, performed well at the box office. However, film critics Khalid Mohamed and Raja Sen noted that her "talent was wasted" in a "minuscule role". Her next release was Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love, a romantic comedy featuring an ensemble cast, in which she was paired opposite John Abraham. The film, which narrated six individual love stories, saw Vidya play the role of a television reporter, Tehzeeb Hussain, suffering from a memory loss condition. The film, which was a critical and commercial failure, generated positive reviews for Vidya. Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com wrote, "Vidya's transformation from a self-assured working woman to a helpless, vulnerable person is superb.

Vidya then took a supporting role in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's drama Eklavya: The Royal Guard, alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sharmila Tagore, Saif Ali Khan, and Sanjay Dutt. The film, which flopped commercially, met with positive critical reviews and was selected as India's official entry to the Oscars for the 80th Academy Awards. She was later cast as Isha Sahni, a single mother, in Sajid Khan's Heyy Babyy, alongside co-stars Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, and Fardeen Khan. The comedy film was a box-office success, but garnered negative reviews from critics, as did Vidya's performance; CNN-IBN's Rajeev Masand criticised her wardrobe and make-up, and considered her the "sore thumb" of the film.

Vidya's fifth and final film of 2007 was Priyadarshan's psychological thriller Bhool Bhulaiyaa, a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu (1993). Vidya featured as Avani Chaturvedi (a character played by Shobana in the Malayalam original), a woman suffering fromdissociative identity disorder. Co-starring Shiney Ahuja, Akshay Kumar, and Ameesha Patel, Bhool Bhulaiyaa was a commercial success with a worldwide revenue of over₹830 million (US$12 million). Reviewers, while being generally negative of the film, were appreciative of Vidya's performance. Writing for Hindustan Times, Khalid Mohamed described her as "bankably likeable" and Bollywood Hungama's Taran Adarsh labelled her as "splendid". The role earned Vidya a second Filmfare nomination in the Best Actress category.

In 2008's social film Halla Bol, Vidya played a supporting role alongside Ajay Devgn andPankaj Kapur. The film was based on the life of activist Safdar Hashmi, who was killed by political rivals while performing on a street play (by the name of Halla Bol) in 1989. The film was a critical failure. Later that year, she co-starred with Shahid Kapoor in Aziz Mirza's romantic comedy Kismat Konnection. Faring poorly at the box office, the film and her performance generated a negative response; critic Sonia Chopra commented, "[Balan] is made to look downright drab. The haircut is unflattering, the make-up too plain, the clothes usually in off-white or brown. Plus the character is repetitive and reminds us of the one she played in Lage Raho Munnabhai."

Widespread success (2009–12)

In 2009 Vidya played the role of an unwed gynaecologist struggling with her 12-year-old son's progeria syndrome, in the R. Balki-directed dramedy Paa. Amitabh Bachchan played the role of Vidya's son and Abhishek Bachchan played the titular character. A critical and commercial success, the film has been described as a major turning point in her career.Sukanya Verma compared her acting style to that of Dimple Kapadia and noted, "Balan is poignant yet restrained and projects an impressive figure of grace and integrity"; Nikhat Kazmi from The Times of India further argued that Vidya was successful in lending a "rare dignity to the image of the Bollywood mom. Her portrayal garnered her several awards, including a Filmfare Award for Best Actress and a Screen Award for Best Actress.

Vidya followed the success of Paa with the Vishal Bhardwaj-produced Ishqiya (2010), a black comedy directed by debutant Abhishek Chaubey; co-starring Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, and Salman Shahid. Vidya's role was that of Krishna Verma, a sexually manipulative woman. Vidya described her character as "an epitome of grey" and a departure from the conventional portrayal of women in cinema. In preparation for her part, she undertook professional training to speak in the local Uttar Pradesh-dialect. The feature as well as her performance received critical acclaim; Anupama Chopra of NDTV stated, "Vidya Balan's smoldering looks scorch the screen even as her eyes hint at tragedy. She proves that she is miles ahead of the cookie cutter Barbie dolls that clutter Bollywood and that sensuality has very little to do with showing skin. Her work in the film earned Vidya a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress, a second consecutive Best Actress award at Screen and a nomination for Best Actress at Filmfare.

Raj Kumar Gupta's semi-biographical thriller No One Killed Jessica with Rani Mukerji was Vidya's first release of 2011. The film, based on the Jessica Lalmurder case, saw her portray the real-life character of Sabrina Lal, Jessica's reticent sister. While preparing for the role, Vidya did not meet Lal on the insistence of Gupta as "the Sabrina [...] today is different from the Sabrina a decade ago, [when] the story begins". No One Killed Jessica met with contrasting reviews from critics, but Vidya's performance was particularly praised. The Hinduremarked on Vidya's ability to be "in sublime control over her emotions and Savera Someshwar of Rediff.com added that "her hesitant body language, her faith, her helplessness, her rage, her sorrow and her gratitude all come across beautifully". The film had earnings of ₹490 million (US$7.2 million) and was noted for being a commercial success despite the absence of a male lead. Vidya earned another Filmfare nomination in the Best Actress category for the film. In March 2011, a retrospective of Vidya's films was held in Australia, as part of the film festival Bollywood & Beyond. That same year, Vidya featured in a guest appearance in Santosh Sivan's Malayalam language fantasy film Urumi.

Vidya's next appearance was in Ekta Kapoor's production The Dirty Picture, a biopic based on the life and death of the controversial Indian actress Silk Smitha. Vidya was cast as Silk, who was—in Vidya's words—"known for her brazenness and in-your-face sexuality."She described the role as the "boldest" she had ever played, one that "required a lot of mental preparation," and to look the part, she gained 12 kilograms (26 lb). The film opened to major critical acclaim, and Vidya received unanimous praise for her portrayal which several reviewers regarded as her best performance to date. Khalid Mohamed observed, "She's extraordinary: gutsy, consistently in character and unafraid of exposing her darker side. Here's the kind of complex performance which you haven't evidenced in years and years." Her director Milan Luthria described her as the contemporary claimant of the "sex-symbol" title, and compared her "voluptuousness" to the likes of yesteryear actressesSridevi and Vyjayanthimala.The film was eventually declared a blockbuster, earning₹1.14 billion (US$17 million) worldwide. Vidya won a second Filmfare Award, a third consecutive Screen Award, and a National Film Award for Best Actress.

For her next feature film, Vidya starred as Vidya Bagchi, a pregnant woman in search of her missing husband in Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani (2012). The thriller, set in the city of Kolkataduring the Durga Puja festivities, met with wide critical acclaim. To lend authenticity to her part, Vidya met several pregnant women and learnt about their lifestyle. She generated public and media attention by wearing a fake baby bump during the film's promotional activities. Vidya received further appreciation for her performance in Kahaani. Subhash K. Jha praised Vidya's portrayal of "grace under pressure" as "measured and skilled"; Pratim D. Gupta of The Telegraph added that she "gets into the physicality of a pregnant woman with unfailing mastery". Kahaani emerged as a major commercial success both at the domestic and international box office, with revenues of over ₹1.04 billion (US$15 million).Vidya won a fourth consecutive Best Actress Award at Screen and a third Best Actress Award at Filmfare.

2013–present

After completing the duties of a jury member at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Vidya starred opposite Emraan Hashmi as a loud and boisterous Punjabi woman inGhanchakkar, a comic-thriller from director Raj Kumar Gupta. Critics were unenthusiastic about the film and it earned little at the box office. Vidya then provided the voice of Draupadi for Mahabharat, a 3D animation filmbased on the Indian epic of the same name.

The romantic comedy Shaadi Ke Side Effects was Vidya's first film release of 2014. Directed by Saket Chaudhary and co-starring Farhan Akhtar, the film tells the story of a married couple who face a series of comic events after the birth of their first child. Critics found the film to be a "bit overstretched", but praised both Akhtar and Vidya's performances. Also in 2014, Vidya featured as the host of No More Kamzor, a special television program on women empowerment. Her second film release that year was the comedy-drama Bobby Jasoos in which she played the eponymous role of a Hyderabadi woman who aspires to be a detective. Vidya was drawn to the idea of playing a female detective, and identified with the character's struggle to "do something unusual" in life.The role required her to sport twelve elaborate disguises, and she trained with a language coach to adopt a Hyderabadi accent. Saumil Gandhi of Mumbai Mirror wrote that Vidya's "effervescence rubs off on the proceedings and gives it an energy that drives the film". However, both Shaadi Ke Side Effects and Bobby Jasoos were financial failures.

In 2015, Vidya starred in the Mohit Suri-directed romance Hamari Adhuri Kahani, which marked her third collaboration with Hashmi. Penned by Mahesh Bhatt, the film tells the story of Vasudha, a single mother trapped in an abusive marriage, who has an extra-marital affair. Shubha Shetty-Saha of Mid Day reviewed, "Vidya Balan, a fine actress with thousand emotions fleeting across her lovely face, has shown us what she's capable of in her earlier movies. But here, saddled with a boring, outdated, weepy character, there was nothing much even she could do". As of June 2015, Vidya has committed to host a talk show for an American television network.

Personal life and off-screen work

The mass media has often speculated about a romantic relationship between Vidya and her co-actors, but she has strongly denied these reports. In 2009, Vidya was involved in a controversy when she mentioned a previous relationship in which "caustic remarks" were made at her due to her weight. She said, "If someone who matters to you takes you down, it can break you. That someone whose approval mattered to me started to constantly find faults with me. At that point of time, it was important to walk away from that relationship." Though she refused to name the person,tabloid reports suggested that she was referring to Shahid Kapoor (her co-star in Kismat Konnection). Kapoor, however, denied the allegations. During an interview in May 2012, Vidya announced that she was dating Siddharth Roy Kapur, the CEO of UTV Motion Pictures. On 14 December 2012, the couple were married in a private ceremony inBandra, Mumbai.

Vidya is trained in carnatic music and briefly studied the dance forms of Bharatnatyam andKathak. Regarding her religious affiliations, Vidya said, "I am a person with a lot of faith and I have conversations [with God] all the time but I am not so religious in the conventional, organised sense".She practices vegetarianism and was listed as "India's hottest vegetarian" in polls conducted by PETA in 2011 and 2012. Her weight fluctuations over the years have been the subject of substantial media coverage in India.

Besides acting in film, Vidya promotes humanitarian causes and supports charitable institutions. In March 2011, she endorsed World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour campaign in India. She campaigned for the cause of nutrition in India for Child In Need Institute (CINI), a non-profit organisation based in Kolkata. In September 2012, Vidya visited a village inMirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, where she participated in a campaign to promote children's education and the empowerment of women. For her attempts to empower women, Vidya was awarded The Prabha Khaitan Puraskar 2012 by the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce; she was the youngest recipient of the award. Vidya has also been appointed by theGovernment of India as their brand ambassador in the drive to improve the country's sanitary condition. In August 2013, she served as the grand marshal of the India Day parade held in New York City. In September that year, she launched a technology-based learning platform for underprivileged children in the Thanapur village of Uttar Pradesh. On the occasion of International Women's Day in 2015, Vidya wrote an opinion column in Hindustan Times on the issues faced by women in India.

Media image and artistry

Following the success of Parineeta and Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Vidya's film roles were subject to wide critical analysis. Vir Sanghvi noted that the films Heyy Babyyand Kismat Konnection were "strange films [...] in which she tried to pretend to be what she is not — a Bollywood bimbette." Vidya described that particular phase in her career as a "struggle to be someone else". Due to the criticism that her film choices evoked, Vidya decided to choose roles that she "believed in" rather than choose by convention. Members of the media have subsequently labelled her as "bold" and "daring" in her choices.

Her starring roles in Heyy Babyy and Kismat Konnectionalso led to considerable attention in the media for her "questionable wardrobe". Several publications listed her as the "worst dressed actress" and her costume designers attributed her failure to carry off western clothes due to her weight and body structure. She was later praised in the media for wearing saris at public events; designer Niharika Khan explained, "Vidya's beauty lies in her curves. She's comfortable in her voluptuousness, and therefore in a sari." Vidya has since been identified as defying "an anglicised idea of sexuality" and embody the idea of "raw Indian sexuality".

After portraying strong female protagonists in Paa, Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica, The Dirty Picture and Kahaani, Vidya was credited in the media for pioneering a movement that breaks the stereotypical portrayal of heroines in Bollywood. The major commercial success of the latter two earned her the title of a "female hero" and Kalpana Nair of First Postnoted that with these two films Vidya spearheaded a change in the roles that were offered to actresses over thirty.Film critic Mayank Shekhar predicted, "Just a few smart male actors can completely change the face of a commercial, star-driven film industry. Looking at [...] Vidya Balan [...] it appears, that change could well originate from the leading lady instead." India Today featured her in their listing of the "25 Power Women" and noted that "she has toppled the all dominating hero, reducing him to a supporting role in a male dominated film industry".

Vidya occupied the top slot in Rediff.com's annual listing of "Bollywood's Best Actress" for two consecutive years (2010–11). She also featured in the list for the years 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2012. In 2010, she featured in Filmfare's listing of the "Women we love". In 2012, the magazine Verve listed her as one of India's "Young Power Women" and wrote, "In a reel world peopled by size zero-toned bodies and pretty-as-a-picture heroines, Vidya comes across as completely real and natural – a woman who has followed her own instincts and dared to live her destiny by being her own person and not morphing herself to fit into any conventional slot." In 2014, Vidya was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for her contributions to the entertainment industry.The following year, she received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Rai University; the university also named a scholarship program for underprivileged girls after her.The chancellor of the university, Harbeen Arora said, "Among the league of iconic actors, Vidya is a pioneer in every way. Her films epitomise a distinct Indianness and a powerful womanhood".