In a mesmerizing and candid talk, Bollywood actress Vidya Balan recently captivated an audience of women entrepreneurs at an event organized by FICCI FLO, the Ladies Organisation of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Held at the luxurious Taj West End in Bengaluru, the event featured handloom products from artisans across Karnataka and served as a platform for Vidya to discuss a wide range of topics, including her film career, body positivity, and financial management.
As she addressed the audience, Vidya’s infectious laughter and audacious jokes set a lighthearted yet engaging tone. Sharing her love for handloom saris, which were prominently displayed at the event, Vidya emphasized the importance of supporting India’s unique textiles and offered words of wisdom on how women should feel about wearing saris.
“I almost always wear a sari to any event,” she began with a smile. “Every woman feels beautiful in a sari as it wraps you in its warm embrace. You don’t have to struggle to fit into it, and it allows you to be your most authentic self. My size has fluctuated over the years, but whenever I step out in a sari, I always feel sexy and confident.”
Vidya’s versatility as an actor is well known, and she shared insights into her approach to her craft. “I’m curious about people, and I believe that’s why acting worked out for me. I was born to be an actor; at some point, I let go of who I am and how I behave, to be true to my movie persona. This is how I prep for every film, except Bhool Bhullaiya which was the natural me,” she added, eliciting raucous laughter from the audience.
The actress went on to explain how understanding a character’s motivations is crucial to her performances. “Their feelings, angst, sensitivities, and vulnerabilities — everything that makes them a person. I think all of us are the same, and yet, each one of us is unique, and that’s the beauty of life.”
Despite her numerous hits, Vidya candidly spoke about the hardships she faced while trying to make a mark in the film industry. Recalling a particularly difficult period, she recounted her struggles in the Malayalam film industry, where she was branded a jinx, replaced in 12 films, and faced severe body image issues.
“I had begun working in a Tamil film, and after shooting for a few days, I was replaced. When my parents and I went to meet the producer in Chennai, he showed my father some clips and said, ‘Just look at her — does she look like a heroine?’ I remember I didn’t look at myself in the mirror for close to six months after that. It had damaged my self-confidence terribly. But now, when I look back, I realize every experience has made me who I am today, and I like who I am today,” she admitted.
The turning point in Vidya’s relationship with her body came with her role in “The Dirty Picture,” where she portrayed Silk Smitha, an actress known for her sensuous roles.
. “The Dirty Picture made me comfortable with my body. I’ve always had body image issues as I was a fat girl growing up. The Dirty Picture made me realize your body size has nothing to do with the way you feel about yourself, and that is truly liberating.”
Vidya emphasized how the movie changed her image as an actor and her perception of her body. “As an individual, it made me aware that it is this body keeping me alive, and I need to appreciate it. I began to revel in and enjoy my body after that.”
As one of India’s highest-paid actors, Vidya was also asked about the importance of financial literacy and the money lessons she has learned over the years. “I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the years is, ‘Your money is your money and my money is my money’. I feel most women, even if they are top executives and leaders, don’t take financial decisions on their own. I think it’s important to not just earn but also to learn how to handle money because money is power. You might make a few mistakes along the way, but today, there are enough resources to guide you.”
The session took a serious turn when a member of the audience brought up the Kolkata rape case and asked Vidya if ‘the reel’ had a role to play in real-life violence. “I believe the opposite is true,” she responded, adding, “It is the real that inspires and impacts the reel. What we see around us is what is reflected on the screen. There is nothing called originality — it all has to come from somewhere.”
Vidya went on to discuss the long-standing notion that cinema acts as the moral compass of society. “It isn’t so; only a small fraction of people consume even the biggest blockbusters. Javed sir (Akhtar) summed it up beautifully when he said it is actually society that corrupts films and not films that corrupt society.”
Expressing sympathy for the victim and her family, Vidya remarked, “It makes you fearful for the safety of the girls and women in our lives. When are we going to stop looking over our shoulders? I don’t have an answer; I’m as lost as you.”
The event concluded on a note of reflection and solidarity, leaving a lasting impact on all those who attended, and further reaffirming Vidya Balan’s stature as not just an outstanding actress but a woman of depth, courage, and unwavering principles.
