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From there; one thing led to another. I ended up doing a TV show that never saw the light of day, and then a series called Hum Paanch for about a year and a half. I got into a few attendance issues at college, and had to quit that – but ended up doing ads.
— Vidya BalanIndian actress known for critically acclaimed roles in unconventional films
I got through the audition, but I'll never forget the writer/director telling me, 'what prompted us to call you was the way your bio was written, it was great!' – That's why I credit my sister for so much in my life, including my very first opportunity as an actor.
— Vidya BalanIndian actress known for critically acclaimed roles in unconventional films
When I told my parents and sister – my sister (who has always been my champion) took me to a local photo studio. I had my best clothes, she did my make-up and I posed in front of the camera. I sent those pictures with a bio that my sister wrote, and I got called for an audition.
— Vidya BalanIndian actress known for critically acclaimed roles in unconventional films
I was studying at Xavier's College, Mumbai doing my 11 standard, and I was taken ill with Typhoid. I was recuperating at home, and my closest friend Manisha saw a poster put-up in college which was basically a shout-out to all aspiring actors to audition for a campus based TV show. She knew I'd just done a 2 month production oriented drama workshop at Prithvi Theatre, and she called me and said, '…would you be interested? They're asking for pictures!' – I didn't have any, and didn't know how to go about getting headshots, and I wasn't well!
— Vidya BalanIndian actress known for critically acclaimed roles in unconventional films
Meanwhile, she eschewed Bollywood beauty standards and was frequently castigated in the press for her unique fashion sense and fluctuating weight.
— Vidya BalanIndian actress known for critically acclaimed roles in unconventional films
In No One Killed Jessica (2011), a true crime tale of a woman searching for her sister's killer, Balan (known to her many fans as simply Vidya) proved that a film without a male lead could be a commercial success.
— Vidya BalanIndian actress known for critically acclaimed roles in unconventional films
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