Vidya was born in the Tamil-speaking Balan family on January 1, 1978 in Palghat, Kerala, India. Her family
consists of her dad, P.R. Balan, who is the Vice-President of ETC Channel; mom - a home-maker, and an elder sister, Priya, who is married to Kedar. She also has an aunt by the name of Raji Raju. The Balan amily re-located to live at Road No. 11, near Ambedkar Garden, Chembur, Bombay, when Vidya was very young. She tudied in St. Anthony's Convent School, and thereafter in St. Xavier's College from where she obtained a egree in Sociology. She then went on to obtain a Masters degree in Sociology from Bombay university. She also studied and performed in Prithvi heaters' workshops. Due to tradition of most Tamil-Iyer families, Vidya and her Priya learned arnatic dance form during their early childhood days, but Vidya opted out as the dance classes took place early on Sunday mornings and as she is not an early riser. Considerably overweight, rather tomboyish, uring her school-days, and an ardent fan of Shahrukh Khan, she decided to shed those extra pounds when she elected to opt for modeling and movies.
consists of her dad, P.R. Balan, who is the Vice-President of ETC Channel; mom - a home-maker, and an elder sister, Priya, who is married to Kedar. She also has an aunt by the name of Raji Raju. The Balan amily re-located to live at Road No. 11, near Ambedkar Garden, Chembur, Bombay, when Vidya was very young. She tudied in St. Anthony's Convent School, and thereafter in St. Xavier's College from where she obtained a egree in Sociology. She then went on to obtain a Masters degree in Sociology from Bombay university. She also studied and performed in Prithvi heaters' workshops. Due to tradition of most Tamil-Iyer families, Vidya and her Priya learned arnatic dance form during their early childhood days, but Vidya opted out as the dance classes took place early on Sunday mornings and as she is not an early riser. Considerably overweight, rather tomboyish, uring her school-days, and an ardent fan of Shahrukh Khan, she decided to shed those extra pounds when she elected to opt for modeling and movies.How would you describe Krishna Varma of Ishqiya? You've got this interesting dialogue in the film which goes,' Ishq mein sab bewaja hota hain….
Ishq mein sab bewaja hota hai!...haan hota hai! (laughs). In love you do things for no rhyme or reason. You just do it for the sake of love. That's what 'Ishqiya' is all about. It's about how three people who find love and how love takes them on separate paths. And yet, the path of love is just one. It's the entire trip of love that 'Ishqiya' is all about. Krishna, my character in the film is an extremely passionate woman. She loves as passionately as she hates when she is conned. Krishna does not take things lying down. She is very aggressive with a certain sexual aggression in her.
You have worked with Arshad Warsi earlier in Lage RahoMunnbhai, while you're working for the first time with Naseeruddin Shah in this film. How would you describe the experience?
I may have worked with Arshad Warsi before, but we've not really shared screen space in 'Lage Raho Munnabhai'. He is, by far, one of our most versatile actors and is fairly under utilised.And about Naseersaab, what can I say that has not been said before? He is an institution. It was a pleasure to be working with him. What I really admire about Naseerbhai is that here there is a certain pressure to tow the line, to be a certain way. And although he's been here in Hindi films for about 25 to 30 years, or more, he is who he is and nothing ever changes that! Surely, he is this acclaimed actor but he does not behave in a manner that you would expect him to. In our industry, they are constantly trying to make you fit into a certain mould and he has resisted that. I think that's what I most admire about him.
What's your take on director Abhishek Chaubey who debuts with Ishqiya?
He's extremely intelligent, well read and focused, and so he knows how to put that knowledge to use. He knows what his story is and how he wants to tell it. Though he was open to suggestions, he was extremely clear on what he wanted. My wishes for him, though, are that he always remains the fine person that he is.
The phrase 'Chuttiyam Sulphate' has managed to create a rage. What was your reaction and did you ever expect that it would catch the fancy of people?
Honestly, I thought it was damn cool! (laughs). I know that the phrase is often used in the North. Krishna is basically a rough and aggressive woman who would use that kind of language. So it was not really a surprise for me that she spoke like that. As Vidya, I was a little uncomfortable initially, but as Krishna it came very naturally. And I knew that people would catch on to it in no time.
Were you upset when you were linked you with your mentor, Pradeep Sarkar the director of Parineeta?
Initially, it would irritate me but l've learnt not to pay heed to it. Dada and his wife are like family to me. I go by what my dad says, tough situations don't last tough people do'.
What does love mean to you?
Love is essential for every human being to survive. It's the unconditional feeling that makes you look beyond yourself And right now, I am in love with my work. I don't want to get into a relationship just for the heck of it. It will happen when it has to.
