Two decades of work in Bollywood did not deter this great actress to become one of the most successful in the land. Vidya Balan was never known to have a powerhouse male co-star alongside her but yet, always seems to grab attention. Here’s why- the films remain compelling, led by her talents.

It has been a transformation defining moment of her career that she made with the movie The Dirty Picture in 2010. It was an inflection point for Vidya as she acted out the legendary South actress Silk Smitha who died untimely. In order to do justice to this legendary actress, Vidya had to put on 12 kgs to enact the character.

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In an interview with Hindustan Times, Vidya spoke up regarding the decision to gain weight for the film. She said, “Yes, I gained 12 kilograms for this film because this girl belongs to the South film industry, and the actresses were mostly wholesome out there, especially the dancing stars. So, I had to put on weight.”. At first, I was a little apprehensive. I really did not want to put on so many kilos, but then I thought, if I don’t do it, then I wouldn’t be doing justice to the role. So then, I just went ahead and put on 12 kilograms.”

Vidya was a committed actor for the role. She received much appreciation for her performance and looked gorgeous while bringing Silk Smitha to the silver screen, making the audience fall in love with her acting.

New Addiction: Smoking After The Dirty Picture

However, this role affected Vidya in many ways. During her preparation and after the movie, she started smoking. In an interview on Unfiltered with Samdish, Vidya confessed, “I don’t think I should say this on camera but I enjoy smoking. If you told me that there is no harm that a cigarette would do, then I would have become a smoker. I love the smell of smoke. Even at bus stops in my college days, I would sit next to people who would smoke. After The Dirty Picture, I got addicted. I would smoke 2-3 cigarettes a day.”

The Role No One Wanted

It is amusing that Vidya did not come as the first choice for The Dirty Picture. Both Kangana Ranaut and Bipasha Basu were chosen in the lead role of Silk Smitha, and since they refused to do the film, it ultimately came into their hands. Her portrayal of the character ended up being a career-defining moment in the actress’s life, catapulting her to the screen and making the movie a big hit.

Vidya Balan: A Different Track

What differentiates Vidya from most of the Bollywood stars is that she can carry films on her shoulders without big male actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, or Aamir Khan. She has built a solid fan base because of the choice of diversified and unique roles. While she’s yet to star opposite one of these top male actors, fans continue to hope that one day, we’ll see Vidya share the screen with one of them in a blockbuster film.