Bollywood music has a very strong effect on me, almost intoxicating. I assume it is the pull of the mother tongue, the primal hold that any "first" has upon us and upon the blueprint of our souls. It is the only kind of music that lifts me with elation and at the same time, fills my heart with such a bittersweet sorrow. I become momentarily immobile, desperate for the song to end yet longing for more. It calls me, calls me to some vaguely known world and an obscure but all too familiar culture and way of life that is together alien and an intrinsic part of me.

Do I know these faces? Do I recognise the smell of this earth it sings to?

I want to reach out and become a part of it sometimes, but it is surreal, like a half-awake dream. There is however, a part of me for sure that is content - smug almost - and at rest. It knows that this, all of this belongs to me and I belong to it, and nothing in the whole world can take that away. There are a thousand things that this music alludes to, some of them amazing, some terrible, some fascinating, some terrifying. And right there, in the midst of it all, there is a space for me. I don't have to fight for that space or assert my right to claim it. It is mine; inherited alongside the language, the faces, the legends the earth and the music. And whenever I listen to it, it leads me to that space among all them things, and I know that I have arrived home. (",)

Occupation: Bollywood actress
Residence: Chembur, India
Date of Birth: January 1, 1982
Star Sign: Capricorn
Marritial Status: Single and waiting for Shah (",)
Ex-boyfriend: None
Education: Graduated in Sociology from St. Xaviers College and completed her Masters in Sociology from Mumbai University
Languages: Tamil, Hindi, English, Malayalam, Bengali and can read Urdu
Favourite Hero: Amitabh Bachchan
Favourite Heroine: Madhuri Dixit

If you refer back a year to a post i made in January 2006, you will see that i predicted the rise of Vidya Balan, as the only star actresses to look out for in the coming year, and that prediction was based on just the one movie Parineeta.

Ever since my prediction, Vidya has grown three movies old, with Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Guru and just last week, Salaam-e-Ishq.

Three movies. Three fantastic performances, and what's more, three box office hits! Her next release is Eklavya - The Royal Guard.

What is it about Vidya Balan that makes her so special in Shah's eyes?

For me, it's her simplicity, her determination to provide quality cinema, her middle class look which she has portrayed in her early movies; and how can we forget the magical "good moooorning mumbai" smile, which set fire to the heart and soul of our Munna Bhai. Vidya Balan is a woman in every sense, a true beauty and an elegant actress.

Here's something you may not know: In the year 2006, which was her first bollywood awards year, she won 10 awards, including 2 Filmfare and one IIFA award. Hairaan?

Vidya Balan isn't the type of lady that goes around boasting about her success. This woman is focussed on developing as an actress before diving into the limelight. The word is that she has been approached by the likes of Yash Raj Films, but she isn't saying 'yes' blindly to anyone. She is picking her roles very carefully.

This is just the beginning of an era. For a moment, let's just look at all the actresses who are at the top of the industry at the moment - Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherjee and Aishwarya Rai... Some of you may not know, but these actresses have all reached their early 30's, which means they potentially have another six odd years of lead heroine cinema left in them.

Vidya Balan has just turned 24, she is the youngest potential megastar out there. Now if you consider the likes of Kareena Kapoor and Diya Mirza as competiton for this lady, then you must be having a laugh. Vidya's real competitors over time are going to be the likes of Ayesha Takia, Sonia Mehra and the much awaited Sonam Kapoor - daughter of Anil Kapoor - who makes her debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saanwariya later this year. More about that another time.

We have just seen the release of Salaam-e-Ishq, in which Vidya was paired alongside John Abraham. Reading all the reviews out there, there is only one person walking away with the awards at the end of the year. No, it's not the director of the movie, it's most likely going to be Vidya Balan for her outstanding performance. Many critics drew comparisons between Vidya Balan and Priyanka Chopra in the movie, but the performances in Salaam-e-Ishq clearly showed the difference in class between the two actresses. No doubt Priyanka is alot prettier, but what value does beauty have in bollywood if it isn't coupled with acting talent?

The Vidya Balan era has just begun.

Today, in my eyes she is the Princess of Bollywood. Tomorrow, in the eyes of the world she will be the Queen of Bollywood. (",)


Image and profile info courtesy vidya-balan.com