Vidya Balan is an Indian actress and producer known for her roles in female-led films and for pioneering a change in the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema. She was born on January 1, 1979 in Palghat, Kerala, India. She has a master's degree in sociology from Delhi University and has been credited in more than 60 movies. Her first acting role was in the 1995 television show Hum Paanch and her first big-screen debut was in the 2003 Bengali film Bhalo Theko. Some of her other films include Paa (2009), The Dirty Picture (2011), Ghanchakkar (2013), Natkhat (2020), and Neeyat (2023). Balan has won several awards, including a National Film Award for Best Actress for The Dirty Picture (2011), seven Filmfare Awards, and the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2014. 

Balan has also sung songs such as "Soona Man Ka Aangan", "Kasto Mazza", and "Yeh Kaisi Jagah". She has been married to Siddharth Roy Kapur since 2012.