Top 40 Awards of Vidya Balan For Her Contribution To Indian Cinema

Give her any complex character and you know that she will own it. Put her in any genre – be it black comedy, drama, thriller, romance, horror etc. – and you know she will nail it. Without a doubt, Vidya Balan is an actress with lots of versatility, who has brought much to the Indian screen.

With her power-packed performances, Vidya has not only earned herself the label of 'the first female hero', but has also proved that female actors are capable of delivering box office hits. Hence it is not at all surprising that she is a consistent contender at all awards shows and her contribution to cinema has always been honored.

In fact, Vidya's work has fetched her the most number of awards any leading female actor has won in the past 10 years. Vidya is the only actress to win the Screen award in the Best Actor female category four times in a row and Filmfare Award for 'Best Actress' four times in a row.

Since the beginning of her career, way back in 2004, Vidya has clinched many awards and today there is a plethora of awards sitting pretty on her shelves. As the actress celebrates her 40th birthday, we list down the 40 top honours and prestigious awards she has received till date. Take a look…

BHALO THEKO: Vidya made her cinematic debut with a leading role in Goutam Halder's Bengali film Bhalo Theko in 2003, and her emotive performance as Anandi in the film helped her win her very first ‘Best Actress’ award at the Anandalok Puraskar, which is regarded as one of the most prominent awards in Bengali Cinema.

1. Anandalok Award (2004) – Best Actress

PARINEETA: Following the huge success of her Bengali film, Vidya made her Bollywood debut in Pardeep Sarkar’s Parineeta. The ease with which she carried the various emotions of her character- Lolita, especially through her eyes, ensured that she swept all the awards that year. Below are the honours Vidya bagged for her mesmerizing performance.  

2. Filmfare (2006) - Best Female Debut Award

3. International Indian Film Academy Awards (2006) – Star Debut Of The Year Award

4. Producers Guild Film Awards (2006) – Best Female Debut Award

5. Screen Awards (2006) – Best Female Debut Award

6. Stardust Awards (2006) – Female Superstar of Tomorrow

7. Zee Cine Awards (2006) – Best Female Debut

PAA: After sweeping all awards for Parineeta, Vidya repeated a similar feat in 2010, when she dominated all the awards function with her stellar performance in Paa. Her powerful portrayal of a strong, independent, modern Indian woman and single mother was totally award-worthy. She clinched not one but six awards for her act in Paa.

8. Filmfare Awards (2010) – Best Actress

9. International Indian Film Academy Awards (2010) – Best Actress

10. FICCI Frames Excellence Honours (2010) – Best Actress In The Lead Role

11. Producers Guild Film Awards (2011) – Best Actress – Special Honour

12. Screen Awards (2010) – Best Actress

13. Stardust Awards (2010) – Female Star Of The Year

ISHQIYA: The black comedy Ishqiya is another crowning glory in Vidya Balan’s illustrious career. Her restrained and understated portrayal of the mysterious Krishna rightfully deserved to be honoured and it wasn’t surprising when she walked away with most of the Best Actress awards at the various award functions in the midst of thunderous applause that year.

14. Filmfare Awards (2011) – Critics Award For Best Actress

15. BIG Star Entertainment Awards (2010) - Most Entertaining Film Actor – Female

16. FICCI Frames Excellence Honours (2011) - Best Actress in a Lead Role

17. Producers Guild Film Awards (2011) – Best Actress

18. Screen Awards (2011) – Best Actress

19. Stardust Awards (2011) - Best Actress in a Thriller

20. Zee Cine Awards (2011) – Best Actress

THE DIRTY PICTURE: With her outstanding performance in The Dirty Picture, Vidya once again dominated the awards circuit. The film was Vidya’s boldest move and the brazen Silk her most entertaining character, no wonder, she was applauded at all the awards functions and honoured with the Best Actress trophies.  

21. Filmfare Awards (2012) – Best Actress

22. International Indian Film Academy Awards (2012) – Best Actress

23. BIG Star Entertainment Awards (2012) - Most Entertaining Film Actor – Female

24. FICCI Frames Excellence Honours (2012) – Best Actress In A Lead Role

25. Producers Guild Film Awards (2012) – Best Actress

26. Screen Awards (2012) – Best Actress

27. Stardust Awards (2012) – Best Actress Drama and Female Star Of The Year

28. Zee Cine Awards (2012) – Best Actress and Critics Choice Best Actress

KAHAANI: While the award functions in 2012 were dominated by Silk of The Dirty Picture, 2013 was the year of Vidya Bagchi of Kahaani. With her power-packed performance, this time around as a very pregnant woman from London wandering the streets of Kolkata, searching for her missing husband, Vidya made an impression not just on the masses but also on the critics. She once again reigned all the awards functions.

29. Filmfare Awards (2013) – Best Actress

30.  International Indian Film Academy Awards (2013) – Best Actress

31. Producers Guild Film Awards (2013) – Best Actress

32. Screen Awards (2013) – Best Actress

33. Stardust Awards (2013) - Best Actress in a Thriller

34. Zee Cine Awards (2013) - Critics' Choice Best Actress

TUMHARI SULU: Vidya has never failed to charm the audience when on screen and the affable Sulu in Tumhari Sulu was just another example of how fantastic Vidya is onscreen. No wonder, she yet again bagged the Best Actress trophies for this one too.

35. Filmfare Awards (2018) – Best Actress

36. Screen Awards (2017) – Best Actress

37. Padma Shri (2014)

The beautiful and talented Vidya Balan has not only won several popular awards for her portrayal of strong female protagonists but she is also amongst the few Indian actresses who have been honoured with the republic’s fourth highest civilian award – Padma Shri.

38. National Film Award (2012) – Best Actress

While Vidya won most of the Best Actress title for The Dirty Picture at all popular award functions, she also was awarded one of the country’s top honours – The National Film Award, for her bold, gutsy and fiery performance in The Dirty Picture.

39. Vogue Flawless Face Award (2018)

With a visage as pretty and effervescence as that, it would have been really astounding if she wouldn’t have bagged this award.

40. Raj Kapoor Award (2015) – Special Contribution

Vidya’s immense contribution to cinema has also been applauded by the Raj Kapoor Award in 2015.

As the multifaceted actress turns 40, we hope that she wins many more laurels and keeps making us proud. Happy Birthday Vidya!