Vidya Balan has long been celebrated for her portrayal of strong, independent women on screen — a hallmark of her career that continues to shape her choices. With her most recent appearance in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, the actress remains discerning about her future projects, seemingly drawn to roles that defy conventions and offer depth.
Despite her reputation for such parts, Vidya Balan acknowledges a concerning shift in the film industry’s dynamics in the wake of the pandemic, where the resurgence of male-led narratives is overshadowing opportunities for stories centered on women.
Reflecting on her early days in Bollywood, Vidya shared insights into the lack of meaningful roles for women when she began her career. There was no clear path or strategic planning toward playing empowered characters, largely because mainstream cinema didn’t prioritise such narratives. In her view, films with women at the forefront were rare and typically confined to art house circles. One of the only commercially successful exceptions she recalled from that time was Chaalbaaz, a rare example of a woman-led film that managed to thrive at the box office.
It wasn’t until Parineeta that Vidya truly saw the potential of leading a film with a strong female protagonist. The critical and commercial success of the film marked a turning point, not just for her but for the possibilities of women-driven cinema. However, Vidya expressed concern that the industry has regressed in recent years.
She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered movie-going habits in India and with audiences hesitant to return to theatres, studios have become more risk-averse, opting to invest in the more traditionally profitable male-led films. She suggested that the industry needs to rethink and reinvent the approach to female-centric storytelling to revive its presence in mainstream cinema.
Throughout her career, Vidya Balan has brought to life a diverse array of characters, each marked by resilience and complexity. From her role as a devoted single mother in Paa, to a cunning widow in Ishqiya, to the brilliant mathematician in Shakuntala Devi, and an enterprising housewife turned radio jockey in Tumhari Sulu, Vidya has continuously pushed the boundaries of how women are represented on screen.
Her body of work stands as a testament to the power of authentic female voices in cinema, even as she calls for the industry to do more to support them in the future.
