Vidya Balan is a New Year baby. At 45, she is aglow in the most beautiful way, having won the hearts and admiration of countless fans across the world, who watched the supremely talented actor take a public tumble on stage at a high-profile promotional event recently, sharing the platform with no less a dancer than the eternally graceful Madhuri Dixit. At one point, Vidya missed her footing and fell down, raising gasps in the audience. But here’s what separates Vidya from others—without the slightest change in expression, Vidya got back on her feet and resumed the performance, ably aided by Madhuri Dixit, who subtly cued her to match steps.
Here are two highly accomplished stars, demonstrating the power of true stardom when faced with an awkward situation. So many days later, social media is still talking about the incident, and heaping praise on Vidya for displaying great presence of mind for carrying on with the show like a true professional. Admirers are lauding Vidya for shining a light on a difficult path countless women tread. Her confidence, indirectly, empowered other women to follow in her footsteps if they falter.
Vidya has much more than just her long list of achievements to look back on. She has always displayed exceptional leadership qualities, which are reflected in her personal and professional choices. It is not as if it has been smooth sailing and nothing else for this multiple-award-winning actor, who spent years struggling to get a toehold in the film industry, waiting it out by taking on small assignments—music videos, commercials and modelling. Till she made it big as a pioneering actor focusing on female-led roles, delivering five consecutive hits, which led to her gathering multiple awards, plus a Padma Shri.
On October 25, Vidya Balan fell on stage during a dance performance. But she continued dancing with grace | PTI
Then came a bit of a slump, with fans constantly questioning her fluctuating weight and tearing into her for making disastrous fashion choices. Through all of this, Vidya managed to convert the harsh sniping into a joke, never letting go of her thousand-watt smile and sparkling sense of humour.
Grounded and always herself, Vidya has held her own in the choppy seas of showbiz, attending film functions on the arm of her highly successful, very influential producer-husband Siddharth Roy Kapur. Her decision to “go childless”generated a huge controversy, with critics insisting she was a “bad influence”on young women. Strangely enough, I was friends with Siddharth’s mother, the soft-spoken Salome Roy Kapur, when we used to model together, notably for the Miss India fashion shows across the country, frequently sharing rooms. And later, Balan, Vidya’s wonderful father, became a buddy, exchanging messages and forwards, expressing views freely on films, politics and life!
As Vidya gets set for the release of the supernatural thriller Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, in which she features once again as the wildly popular Manjulika (first played by Vidya in the original 2007 film), audiences are expectantly waiting to watch her and Madhuri dance together on screen to ‘Ami Je Tomar’.
For a bright student who was pursuing a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Mumbai, to being seen as a high-profile ambassador of sisterhood, Vidya remains a unique Bollywood star—an outsider who has become an insider, but still remains her own person, and not a part of any camp.
I can watch Dirty Picture over and over again, just to marvel at Vidya’s courage and prodigious talent. I cannot imagine any other top star having the guts to take up such a risky role. But Vidya did just that. I have a huge canvas of Vidya playing ‘Silk’ in my Pune home.
Here’s raising a toast to Ms Balan. If only there were more ghosts like her floating around we would welcome these Manjulikas into our homes!
@DeShobhaa @shobhaade