To the camera born

Sensuous, sensitive and spontaneous, Vidya Balan never ceases to surprise. Regarded as every thinking man’s woman, she is the only true ‘star’ actor in Hindi cinema today, writes Derek Bose
She is a beautiful 20-something living in Mumbai. Her mother tongue is Tamil but her roots are in Kerala. She began her acting career with a Bengali film and is, at present, the diva in demand in Bollywood. Her name is Vidya Balan. She has the most expressive eyes in the Hindi film industry and a smile to die for. She loves chocolates and has a healthy drink of coconut water at least once a day. She loves listening to Shubha Mudgal, Pandit Jasraj and the Gundecha Brothers, and is a fan of George Clooney.

FIRST PERSON
I believe in possibilities
Would you describe yourself a ‘director’s actress’?
To me, an equation with the director is a must. I need to believe in him. For, he is the captain of the ship and it is his vision that finds expression on screen. So it is of utmost importance that I share that vision.

INTERVIEW
A Contract to remember
Srabanti Chakrabarti talks to Adhvik Mahajan from Jalandhar, who played the lead in Ram Gopal Varma’s latest film