Vidya Balan: From The Dirty Picture to Now, 20 Years of Fearless Acting | THR Talks

Anupama Chopra sits down with powerhouse actress Vidya Balan for an inspiring conversation about her remarkable 20-year journey in Hindi cinema on The Hollywood Reporter India's THR Talks. Vidya reflects on how every character she's played has been part of her "healing process," choosing roles based on parts of herself that need expression and voice. The conversation explores Vidya's fearless approach to unconventional choices, from her body-positive stance long before it became a movement to her decision to take a break from work to recharge and rediscover joy. Anupama and Vidya discuss the evolution of female-led films, the need to make women's stories more fun and alluring, and memorable collaborations with directors like Milan Luthria, Sujoy Ghosh, and most recently, Anees Bazmee in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Vidya opens up about working with legends like Sanjay Dutt, her upcoming project with Ritesh Deshmukh on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and why she believes in being directed rather than just performing. This candid discussion reveals the depth, authenticity, and infectious optimism that has made Vidya Balan one of Indian cinema's most celebrated actresses. 0:00 Introduction 2:59 How each character transforms Vidya differently 5:10 Whether characters leave lasting traces behind 7:18 Avoiding repetitive performances, working with directors 10:04 Trusting director's vision and following lead 12:35 Crucial director equation and being guided 15:14 Passion for craft, living the dream 18:24 Taking breaks and exercising luxury of choice 20:23 Current recharging period without stress experiences 22:15 Watching classic films including Meena Kumari 24:27 Recent collaboration with Ritesh Deshmukh project 30:40 Architect role in contemporary female-led cinema 37:00 Early body positivity confidence before trends 42:15 Learning to say no to obligations 45:03 Views on legacy and posthumous recognition 48:10 Fan interactions, poetry and beauty secrets 54:22 Audience questions about balancing real self 58:05 Final inspiration questions about Madhuri Dixit 59:00 Emotional tribute from Parineeta writer memories #VidyaBalan #THRTalks #HindiCinema #BollywoodActress