I’m happy being called a heroine: Vidya Balan

The year kickstarted on a high note for actor Vidya Balan with No One Killed Jessica and with The Dirty Picture, she’s ending it on an even bigger high. And the glimpse of the raw sexual prowess that she gave in Ishqiya was taken to another level with this one. Jostling for space with the heroes in the list of hits this year, it’s hardly surprising that her own contemporaries are calling her the ‘hero’ among actresses. Vidya accepts that it’s a huge and humbling compliment, but reveals that she prefers being called a heroine instead.

“I take more pride in being a heroine than a hero,” she says giving a glimpse of the bindaas Vidya, that’s reminiscent of her on screen character Silk. “It’s hard to say how much of Silk is in me or how much of Vidya was in Silk, but both are inseparable,” adds the Ooh la la babe, as we catch up with her for a quick tete-a-tete.

All your recent films have seen you play the central character. Do you think this will make filmmakers wary of approaching you for hero-centric films?
No, why should it? Playing the central character has never been my criteria, neither was doing heroine oriented films a conscious effort. As long as the filmmaker can justify me doing the film, the role or screen time doesn’t matter. So, I’m game for anything interesting, challenging or entertaining.

Considering how B-Town is obsessive about weight issues, especially where actresses are concerned, wasn’t it scary to show off your excessive weight on screen so blatantly?
Yes it was, and I took a really long time to say a yes to the project too. I knew it was a risky gamble, and I was sure that I would either go the whole way or not do it all. But I had faith in the filmmakers (Milan Luthria and Ekta Kapoor) and well, the risk was worth it. Being confident, unapologetic about my sexuality and appearance was the key and playing this role has been personally liberating for me as well.

Till now people associated sexuality with trim figure and Westerns. You have changed both?
I have swum against the tide, yes, but to be honest that’s how an average Indian woman is. Sexy and sensual. Being sexy has nothing to do with physical appearances.

Do you think that female characters are getting bolder on screen?
It’s not about getting bolder. I think films are finally humanising women. They are not being made into holier-than-thou images or being portrayed as Goddesses to be put on pedestal. It’s just that it’s only now that filmmakers are showcasing the other shades of women and not labeling them vamps just because they are assertive of their desires or not afraid to flaunt their sexuality.

How do you take to tags like Boombaat Balan and Dirty Vidya?
I think they are fun. Nice and naughty like me.

Your next film sees you go from ‘bum’ to baby bump?
Yes, I’m playing a six-month pregnant woman in Kahaani and it’s a complete contrast to Silk. It is yet another facet of women that we’ll get to see in this one. So, I’m really excited about this too.

What about your personal front. Is marriage with boyfriend Siddharth Roy Kapoor on the cards?
Well, we are taking things as they come, but marriage is not on the cards for now. I’m just enjoying being in this happy space with him.

How does he take to you being called a ‘Vidya Balan Khan’ one of the tags that you have earned recently?
I’m sure he’d prefer me being called a Kapoor instead (laughs). Well, at least I do for sure! But right now I’m happy just being me: Vidya Balan.