Curiosidades

Since Silk Smitha was known to be a heavy smoker, Vidya Balan took up heavy chain smoking to prepare for her role as her in her film "The Dirty Picture" (2011). She would smoke around a pack a day, and sometimes before shooting she would smoke up to ten cigarettes consecutively to get in character. She claimed she would get big headaches and sometimes the crew had to assist her because she'd feel sick. Once filming ended, she immediately quit smoking.

Speaks English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil. After filming Parineeta (2005), can also speak Bengali quite well.

Cousin of actress Priyamani.

Listed as number 8 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25-2006)

Did her schooling from St. Antony's School and later on at St. Xavier's College where she graduated in Sociology. She soon started work on her MA from Mumbai University when she was offered a role in a Malayalam film starring Mohanlal, but it was later shelved due to issues with the director.

Bears a resemblance to classic actress Kanchana.

Daughter-in-law of actress, model Salome (Tu Hi Mere Zindagi 1965).

A Tamilian from Kerala, she hails from the Iyer community in Palghat, on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Granddaughter-in-law of Producer, Director G Rakesh.

Dubbed for actress Sharbani Mukherjee in the film "Sankaal - The Latch".

Her third Tamil film was called Manasellam, where she again got replaced by Trisha Krishnan.

Vidya Balan's first Tamil film was N. Linguswamy's Run, where they got her replaced by Meera Jasmine, after shooting the first schedule with her.

A bilingual film Kalari Vikraman, for which she shot, failed to get a theatrical release and got shelved.

In 1996, Vidya signed a TV serial titled "La Bella's". Produced by Vinta Nanda and Directed by Raman Kumar. The serial was shelved before it could air.