Vidya Balan (Malayalam: ?????? ??????, lang-ta?????? ?????, lang-hi?????? ????); born 1 January 1978) is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood movies. she is also a cousin of popular Tamil-National Award Winning actress Priyamani.

Balan, who began her career starring in many music videos, soap operas and many commercials, made her acting debut in the Bengali film, Bhalo Theko (2003), for which she won critical acclaim. She later made her Hindi film debut with Parineeta (Parineeta (2005 film)) (2005), for which she received a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, and received her first commercial success with Rajkumar Hiranis Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006).