Vidya Balan gets candid and speaks on the power of women and issues which inspire her to be who she is. Excerpts from the interview...
Women power We have moved ahead in a lot of ways. Today women are asserting themselves and claiming their rights. However, this does not hold true for every part of the country. Women, especially in rural areas, are still deprived of basic rights such as education and have no control over their lives. We have made great progress but there is lot more which needs to be done. Women are blessed with energy - a power which is unique. I have been very fortunate to have played strong women and explored their strengths through my films.
Accepting who you are As women we are constantly criticising and judging ourselves in terms of our body, how we dress, what profession we take up, how we fare in that. Indian women are gifted with certain body types and features which is healthy and we should accept that.
Size zero doesn't matter For me there has been no acceptable body type. Look at actors of yesteryears like Mumtaz, Rekhaji... everyone had their individual style. One should celebrate one's own self the way you are. And when you accept yourself, everyone accepts you. And I'm saying this after going through a confused phase in life myself.
I know nothing about fashion I went through a period of body image consciousness or adhering to 'a certain style' or fashion. But I am grateful to God that I went through that phase to be what I am today. I'm not fashionable and I know nothing about fashion, but I have my individual style and style is eternal.
Achieving my dreams My biggest dream was to become an actor and I have achieved my dream now. There is so much of critical acclaim for my films and such wonderful things are being said about me. People told me 'you are unconventional and this doesn't work forever, so it's just a fluke'. I thought before it turns out to be a fluke let me safeguard myself by adhering to the norms, but that was my biggest pitfall.
My inspiration I would say Shabana Azmi. I always wanted to do the kind of work Shabanaji did. Jayaji (Bachchan) is another person I'm in awe of. I believe she must have also undergone a lot of pressure to look glam, but she created her own style.
Am I the hero? I feel flattered when I hear people say I am the hero of the films I work in. But having said that my career has been following a unique course from the start. Today women are more comfortable in their skin; society is less judgmental. You will see more grey shades in films rather than black or white today. I'm here at the right time and making the most of it.
Protagonist/vamp/sex symbol A protagonist is the one who makes you believe in the story being told, a sex symbol makes you want her and as far as vamps are concerned I don't believe in the concept.
Women power We have moved ahead in a lot of ways. Today women are asserting themselves and claiming their rights. However, this does not hold true for every part of the country. Women, especially in rural areas, are still deprived of basic rights such as education and have no control over their lives. We have made great progress but there is lot more which needs to be done. Women are blessed with energy - a power which is unique. I have been very fortunate to have played strong women and explored their strengths through my films.
Accepting who you are As women we are constantly criticising and judging ourselves in terms of our body, how we dress, what profession we take up, how we fare in that. Indian women are gifted with certain body types and features which is healthy and we should accept that.
Size zero doesn't matter For me there has been no acceptable body type. Look at actors of yesteryears like Mumtaz, Rekhaji... everyone had their individual style. One should celebrate one's own self the way you are. And when you accept yourself, everyone accepts you. And I'm saying this after going through a confused phase in life myself.
I know nothing about fashion I went through a period of body image consciousness or adhering to 'a certain style' or fashion. But I am grateful to God that I went through that phase to be what I am today. I'm not fashionable and I know nothing about fashion, but I have my individual style and style is eternal.
Achieving my dreams My biggest dream was to become an actor and I have achieved my dream now. There is so much of critical acclaim for my films and such wonderful things are being said about me. People told me 'you are unconventional and this doesn't work forever, so it's just a fluke'. I thought before it turns out to be a fluke let me safeguard myself by adhering to the norms, but that was my biggest pitfall.
My inspiration I would say Shabana Azmi. I always wanted to do the kind of work Shabanaji did. Jayaji (Bachchan) is another person I'm in awe of. I believe she must have also undergone a lot of pressure to look glam, but she created her own style.
Am I the hero? I feel flattered when I hear people say I am the hero of the films I work in. But having said that my career has been following a unique course from the start. Today women are more comfortable in their skin; society is less judgmental. You will see more grey shades in films rather than black or white today. I'm here at the right time and making the most of it.
Protagonist/vamp/sex symbol A protagonist is the one who makes you believe in the story being told, a sex symbol makes you want her and as far as vamps are concerned I don't believe in the concept.
