Vidya Balan says that recognition is important for her than awards

The acting skills and versatility of Vidya Balan is known to everybody. There is hardly any person who doesn’t appreciate her talent. From performing a simple girl in ‘Parineeta’ to playing the great mathematician, Shakuntla Devi in the movie titled by her name aka Shakuntla Devi, the actress have done it all and has won various accolades including the national award. We can now says that Vidya likes to experiment with her roles and every time she surprises us with a new avatar. Vidya finds it really precious when she is appreciated for her work.

Because she has been playing a several kinds of roles, she is often considered one of the actors who have changed the image of women on the Bollywood screen.

On being asked if she feels it has become her responsibility to show strong women through her work, Vidya Balan told, “No, I don’t think it’s my responsibility at all, but I think it is something I veer towards because I get inspired by strong women stories. I have always been inspired by strong women in my life which is why I choose the kind of stories that I do. I’ll do anything that I’ll relate to instinctively.”

She has recently played a mother in award winning short film Natkhat, which she also produced, has again  impressed the audience. This movie is a story about a mother teaching her young son about gender equality and toxic misogyny.

“The story called out to me. It’s so powerful, and the fact that may be it could touch people’s lives and make them think because it’s so relevant,” she said.

 “Ronnie (co-producer Ronnie Screwvala) offered me the producer credit because he just felt that the budget could not afford an actor’s fee, couldn’t afford my fee, and he thought I could help if I came on as a producer,” she said.

Natkhat had won top prize at the third edition of ShortsTV’s Best Of India Short Film Festival 2020. Now, it is one of the short films eligible for an Oscar nomination. On this, the actress said, “I have never dreamt of awards, anything of this sort. So no, I didn’t have an Oscar dream but I am thrilled to know that a film with which I am associated as both an actor and a producer, is now eligible for an Oscar nomination.”

Recognition is more important for her than awards.

“It is an acknowledgement and a validation. One for me, the litmus test is always how I feel about what I have done. It is so precious when people appreciate your work. So yes, national, international or universal, I think recognition is important. I think more than important, it is just precious for an artiste,” said the National Film Award winner.