Vidya Balan Biography

Vidya Balan is a Tamilian of Iyer community who hails from Kerala. She comes from a middle-class family from Palghat, on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. She did her schooling from St. Antony's School and later on joined St Xavier's College, Mumbai from where she graduated in sociology.

When she was doing her MA from Mumbai University, she was offered a role in a Malayalam film titled Chakram with Mohanlal, one of Vidya’s favorite actors. However, the project was shelved mid-way and Vidya had to wait for few more years to make her filmy debut.

She made her debut as a model in a Surf Excel advertisement in 1998. She has acted in an array of commercial films, most of which were directed by Pradeep Sarkar.

A couple of months later, she featured in three music videos (again directed by Sarkar) for ‘Euphoria’, Shubha Mudgal and Pankaj Udhas.

Image via Wikipedia

Vidya also acted in Ashok Pandit’s TV serial Hanste Khelte and Ektaa Kapoor's Hum Paanch. She has acted in Bengali movie Bhaalo Theko with actor Joy Sengupta much before her hindi film debut. She even won the ‘best actress’ Anand Lok Puraskar in Kolkata for her acting in the movie.

It was in Mumbai, during a pop concert, when filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra approached her to play the female lead in his movie Parineeta, to be directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Vidya had to go through 40 screen tests and 17 make-up shoots before she was finally chosen for the lead the film.

Vidya has worked in a number of noted films as of now with almost all big star actors that are Kismat Konnection,Halla Bol ,Bhool Bhulaiyaa , Eklavya, Guru , Salaam-e-Ishq and Lage Raho Munnabhai.

Vidya's upcoming films are Paa and Ishqiya in 2009.

Deepa Sahi-Biography

Deepa Sahi was born in India in Dehradun. She is an Indian actress and producer. In Deepa's early film career she collaborated with noted auteur Govind Nihalani and made her debut with the 1984 film Party. This was well-received and she subsequently acted in Aghaat (1985). Deepa Sahi's thespian achievement, no doubt, will always remain her role as the independent-minded and empowered lower-caste Punjabi woman she played in the highly acclaimed television film Tamas (1986).




If we talk about the commercial cinema, after marrying film director Ketan Mehta Deepa Sahi acted in several of his films including Hero Hiralal (1988), Maya Memsaab (1992) and Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India (1995).

Deepa's other notable films include Hum (1991) and Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991). Her last film appearance was in Aar ya Paar (1998).

In 2005 she co-produced her husband's film Mangal Pandey: The Rising - which was a moderate success at the box office. Deepa also wrote the screenplay for Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India which was written and directed by her husband.

Deepa Sahi became a producer in 1993 and she has produced 7 films to date which were Maya Memsaab, Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India, Aar ya Paar, Rules pyaar ka super hit formula, Mangal Panday (co-proudcer), Rang Rasiya and Phir Zindagi.

Besides this, Deepa has produced 12 TV series and is promotor of Maya Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. India's leading animation studio.

Reena Roy

Reena Roy was born on January 7, 1957. Reena was one of the top Hindi film actresses in India. Reena Roy performed leading roles in many films from 1972 to 1985. In 1983-at the height of her fame-Reena Roy decided to quit films to marry Pakistani cricketer, Mohsin Khan. Reena Roy's career in films started off with a non-starter, B. R. Ishara's Nayi Duniya Naye Log with another newcomer Danny Denzongpa.

Her last shooting was for a tragedy Inteha (1984), in which she is raped and tormented by Raj Babbar. The film didn't do well. One of Reena's last releases was J.P. Dutta's war-torn Ghulami (1985).

Reena Roy returned to Bollywood in 1992. In a supporting role as a sister-in-law in the film Aadmi Khilona Hai (1993). Reena's unhappiness showed in her significant weight gain.

Awards and nominations-

Filmfare Nomination for Best Actress--Nagin (1976)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award--Apnapan (1977)
Filmfare Nomination for Best Actress--Aasha (1980)

Reena Roy's last film appearance was in J.P Dutta's Refugee (2000). Reena has since turned to acting in television serials, such as "Eena Meena Deeka," produced by her sister Barkha. After the serial ended, both sisters opened an acting school together in 2004. Reena also has campaigned for the Indian National Congress.

Ayesha takia Biography

Image via Wikipedia

This pretty young gal born on 10th April, 1986 made it very early in the tinsel-town. Her father is a Gujrati and her mother is an Anglo Indian. She grew up speaking Gujrati and English but learned Hindi and Telugu for her filmy career. She studied in St Anthony's Girls High School, Mumbai, her birth place. Her younger sister is Natasha.

Ayesha entered in glamour world through advertisements and her first advertisement was the famous "I'm a Complan Boy, I'm a Complan Girl" alongside Shahid Kapoor. Her first music video was Falguni Pathak's "Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye", when she was just fifteen. Ayisha Takiya
drew the attention of the film industry with the video "Shake It Daddy" and film offers followed. Though Ayesha signed "Socha Na Tha" first but her first released movie was "Tarzan- The Wonder Car".

Ayesha Takyia won the Filmfare best debutant award in 2004 for her performance in "Taarzan". After that Ayesha acted in many films but most of them were unsuccessful at the box office.

On March 1, 2009, Takia married Farhan Azmi, a restaurateur and the son of politician Abu Azmi, a Samajwadi Party leader.

Ayisha Takia beautifully essayed the role of a young widow of Rajasthan living in a traditional joint family in the film "Dor". She was highly praised for her work in this film and went on to win Zee cine critics award for best actress.

She is also the proud winner of Star Screen, Stardust and Zee Cine Best Actress Award (Critics) for "Dor ".She shared it with co-actress Gul Panag at Zee Cine Awards.

She has worked in some 15 odd films like Dil Maange More, Socha Na Tha, Shaadi No.1, Home Delivery, Shaadi Se Pehle, Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota, Dor, Salaam-e-Ishq, Kya Love Story Hai, Fool and Final, Cash, No Smoking, Sunday.

Ayesha Takia listens to loads of trance, rock music and she also loves Ghazals. Her favorite Indian artists are Ghulam Ali and Abeeda Parveen.We anticipate her in only one film in 2009 that is Paathshala.