Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan ( born 1 January 1978) is an Indian film actress who appears in Hindi and Bengali language films. At age sixteen, Vidya landed her first acting role, in the sitcom Hum Paanch (1995). After making several unsuccessful attempts to start a career in film, she acted in television commercials and music videos. In 2003, she made her feature film debut with the independent Bengali drama Bhalo Theko.

In 2005 Vidya garnered praise for her first Hindi film, Parineeta, and followed it with a leading role in the blockbuster Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006). Her subsequent portrayal of glamorous characters in the films Heyy Babyy (2007) and Kismat Konnection (2008) met with negative comments from film critics. The year 2009, however, marked the beginning of the most successful period in Vidya's career as she portrayed five consecutive roles to wide critical acclaim in Paa (2009), Ishqiya (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011), The Dirty Picture (2011), and Kahaani (2012). These roles have earned her the tag of a "female hero" and established her as a leading contemporary actress of Hindi cinema.

Vidya has received one National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards and five Screen Awards. She initially drew criticism for her fluctuating weight and poor dress sense, but was later credited in the media for retaining her individuality and breaking stereotypes of a Hindi film heroine. Vidya is a social activist and supports the empowerment of women. In December 2012, she married film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur.

Vidya Balan was born on 1 January 1978 in Ottapalam, a town in the Palakkad District of Kerala, to P. R. Balan, currently the Executive Vice-President of Digicable, and Saraswathy Balan, a homemaker. According to Vidya, they speak a mix of Tamil and Malayalam at home; she is also well versed in Hindi, Marathi, English and Bengali. Her elder sister, Priya Balan, works in the field of advertising.

Vidya grew up in the suburban neighbourhood of Chembur, Mumbai and was schooled at St. Anthony Girls' High School. From a young age she aspired to a career in film and was inspired by the work of actors Shabana Azmi and Madhuri Dixit. At the age of sixteen, she starred in the first season of Ekta Kapoor's sitcom Hum Paanch as Radhika, a bespectacled teenager. Following the success of the show, Vidya refused director Anurag Basu's offer to star in a television soap opera, as she wanted to concentrate on a film career. Her parents were supportive of her decision but encouraged her to complete her education first, so she attended St. Xavier's College to pursue a bachelor's degree in sociology and later earned a master's degree from the University of Mumbai. 

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Urmila Matondkar

Urmila Matondkar (born on 4 February 1974) is an Indian film actress. Matondkar, who made her screen debut as a child artist in the 1980 film Kalyug, debuted as an adult in Narasimha (1991). She established herself as a popular actress in mainstream Hindi cinema with her films such as Rangeela (1995), Judaai (1997), and Satya (1998), all of which earned her Filmfare nominations. These roles contributed to a new screen persona, where she was known for her intense style and dancing skills, and was frequently featured in the Indian media as a hot symbol.

She subsequently took on several psychological roles, delivering a range of critically acclaimed performances. These parts include a psychopath in Kaun (1999), an obsessive lover in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), a ghost-possessed woman in Bhoot (2003), and a merciless avenger in Ek Hasina Thi (2004). For her performance in Bhoot, she won her first Filmfare Award in the Best Actress (Critics) category, among others. She followed with leading roles in art and independent films, such as Tehzeeb (2003), Pinjar (2003), Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005), and Bas Ek Pal (2006).

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Twinkle Khanna

Twinkle Khanna (born Tina Jatin Khanna on 29 December 1974) is an Indian film actress who has acted in Bollywood and Telugu films. She is the wife of popular Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and the daughter of established actors, Dimple Kapadia and late Rajesh Khanna. After leaving film industry in 2001, she ventured into interior designing and is now the co-owner of The White Window store.

Khanna made her debut opposite Bobby Deol in Barsaat (1995). The film did well at the box office, and she received the Filmfare Best Debut Award for her performance. After an eye surgery for a slight cross-eye condition, Khanna went on to do many films which got her good reviews and recognition from the audience. She has acted with some of the renowned actors in the industry, including Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Ajay Devgn and Govinda.

Her notable film roles include the girl next door in Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998) with Salman Khan, the undercover spy along with Shahrukh Khan in Baadshah (1999) and the village belle in Mela (2000) with Aamir Khan. She paired with Venkatesh in the year 1999 in a Telugu film, Seenu. Film director, Karan Johar admitted in an interview that Khanna was in his mind for the role of Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, but she refused it and thus Rani Mukerji was signed.

Khanna left the industry after her marriage to Akshay Kumar in 2001, citing that she did not enjoy the acting profession anymore. Her last film was Love Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega (2001), which was an average grosser at the box office.

In 2002, Khanna opened her own interior design store in Crawford Market, Mumbai called The White Window, in partnership with her longtime friend Gurlein Manchanda. Since then, the store has received a prestigious Elle Decor International Design Award (from Indian edition of Elle Decor magazine). She has opened up another branch of the flagship store elsewhere in Mumbai and plans to expand throughout India.

Khanna did the interiors for actress Rani Mukerji's new house in 2006. Khanna also produced the films Tees Maar Khan and Patiala House.

Twinkle Khanna is the daughter of Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna. Her sister is Rinke Khanna. Her aunt is Simple Kapadia. Khanna was born to a Punjabi father and Gujarati mother. She married actor, Akshay Kumar in 2001 and together they have a son, Aarav Kumar born 2002 and a daughter, Nitara Khanna Bhatia (born 25 September 2012), named after Rajesh Khanna. Nitara means " having deep roots".

She retired from the film industry after her marriage and ventured into interior designing. Her father, Rajesh Khanna, died on July 18, 2012. 

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Tanushree Dutta

Tanushree Dutta (Bengali: তনুশ্রী দত্ত;  born 19 March 1984) is an Indian actress who appears in mainly Bollywood films. A former beauty queen, she won the Femina Miss India Universe title in 2004.  

Dutta was born and raised in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand (then Bihar) to a Bengali Hindu Kayastha family. She attended D.B.M.S. English School in Jamshedpur and attended junior college in pune.She dropped out of college after 1st year of B.COM to pursue a career in modelling.

  

Dutta won the Femina Miss India 2004 competition held in Mumbai; subsequently she won the title of Femina Miss India Universe 2004 and represented India at Miss Universe 2004 Quito, Ecuador where she placed in the Top 10. In 2005, the Government of Jharkhand honored her by releasing postcards and stamps featuring her. She made her Bollywood debut in 2005 appearing in Chocolate and Aashiq Banaya Apne.

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