27 Vidya Balan Movies That Proves She Is A Versatile Actress

Vidya Balan is one of the most acclaimed Indian actresses in Bollywood. She was born on January 1, 1979, in Chembur, Mumbai, India. She belongs to a Tamilian family from Puthur, Palakkad, Kerala. Vidya Balan movies are prominently known for her acting skills and storyline.

Before entering the film industry, she appeared in several TV commercials and music videos. She made her film debut with the Bengali film Bhalo Theko in 2003. But Vidya Balan gained widespread recognition after making her Bollywood debut with the movie Parineeta in 2005. She earned a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance in Parineeta.

Her breakthrough film was Paa (2009), for which she received the National Film Award for Best Actress. Vidya Balan movies like Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica, and Kahaani are known for their strong performances. These movies received several awards and were critically acclaimed.

Vidya Balan’s notable films are Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Mission Mangal, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, and Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Apart from acting, she is known for supporting various social causes, including women’s empowerment and health awareness.

Here is a list of Bollywood films starring Vidya Balan in lead roles:

1. Parineeta (2005)

Parineeta is a Hindi adaptation of a 1914 Bengali novel of the same name by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. It follows the love story of two childhood friends, Lalita (played by Vidya Balan) and Shekhar (played by Saif Ali Khan). It showcases the challenges and obstacles faced by their relationship. Her performance in this movie earned her critical acclaim.

Genre: Romance, Drama

IMDb Rating: 7.2

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

2. Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)

Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a sequel to “Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.” released in 2003. The plot of this movie revolves around a lovable goon, Munna Bhai (played by Sanjay Dutt), who follows the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. Vidya Balan plays the character of Jahnvi Sahni, a radio jockey and the love interest of Munna Bhai. This movie is one of the best-known Vidya Balan movies.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

IMDb Rating: 8.0

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

3. Guru (2007)

Guru follows the story of Gurukant Desai, a.k.a. Guru (played by Abhishek Bachchan), who wanted to do something big in his life. He married Sujata for the dowry she brought him. Later, he moved to Bombay to start his own business. In his initial days, he got support from Manik Dasgupta, who treated him like a son. Vidya Balan plays the role of Meenu, Manik’s granddaughter. It is one of the best Vidya Balan movies.

Genre: Biography, Drama

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Watch On: Netflix

4. Salaam-e-Ishq (2007)

Salaam-e-Ishq is a movie that features six different love stories: Rahul & Kamini, Gia & Shiven, Seema & Vinay, Ashutosh &Tehzeeb, Raju & Stephanie, and Ramdayal & Phoolwati. Vidya Balan plays the character of Tehzeeb, a TV news reporter, alongside John Abraham as Ashutosh. This Vidya Balan movies is an unofficial remake of the Hollywood film “Love Actually,” released in 2003.

Genre: Romance, Drama

Watch On: Jio Cinema, Zee 5

5. Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007)

Eklavya: The Royal Guard follows the story of a royal family’s guard, Eklavya (played by Amitabh Bachchan), who is torn between his loyalty and truth when one of the members of the royal family is suspected of treason. It stars Saif Ali Khan as Prince Harshwardhan of the royal family and Vidya Balan as Rajjo, Harshwardhan’s childhood love.

Genre: Drama, Thriller

IMDb Rating: 6.0

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

6. Heyy Babyy (2007)

Heyy Babyy is among the Vidya Balan movies that tells the story of three bachelors, Arush (played by Akshay Kumar), Ali (played by Fardeen Khan), and Tanmay (played by Ritesh Deshmukh), whose lives are turned upside down when a baby is left on their doorstep. Vidya Balan plays the role of Isha, Arush’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of baby Angel.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

IMDb Rating: 6.0

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

7. Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)

Bhool Bhulaiya follows the story of a young couple, Siddharth Chaturvedi and Avni Chaturvedi, who experience strange occurrences in their ancestral home. Vidya Balan plays the role of Avni, who is suffering from dissociative identity disorder (DID) and assumes herself to be Manjulika. This Vidya Balan movies is a remake of the Malayalam film “Manichitrathazhu,” released in 1993.

Genre: Comedy, Horror

IMDb Rating: 7.4

Watch On: Hotstar

8. Halla Bol (2008)

Halla Bol is a movie that revolves around the story of a small-town boy, Ashfaque (played by Ajay Devgan), who aspires to be a film star. He got successful after joining the street theater group with a new screen name, “Sameer Khan.” But he becomes an activist after witnessing an injustice. Vidya Balan plays the role of Sneha, a lawyer and Sameer’s wife.

Genre: Drama

IMDb Rating: 6.0

Watch On: Jio Cinema, Amazon Prime Video, Voot

9. Kismat Konnection (2008)

Kismat Konnection follows the story of a struggling architect, Raj Malhotra (played by Shahid Kapoor), who meets a woman named Priya Saluja (played by Vidya Balan) and thinks of her as his lucky charm. He was trying to build a shopping mall on a community center’s land to prove himself as a great architect, but he didn’t because he fell for Priya, who was trying to save the community center.

Genre: Romance, Comedy

10. Paa (2009)

Paa is a movie that revolves around the story of a 12-year-old boy named Auro (played by Amitabh Bachchan), who is suffering from progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes accelerated aging. It features Vidya Balan as Dr. Vidya Bharadwaj, Auro’s mother, and Abhishek Bachchan as Amol Arte, Auro’s father. This is one of the most heartwarming Vidya Balan movies.

Genre: Drama, Comedy

IMDb Rating: 7.1

11. Ishqiya (2010)

Ishqiya follows the story of Krishna Verma (played by Vidya Balan), the widow of a gang lord, who, after her husband’s death, manipulates two criminals named Babban and Khalujan to fulfill her agenda. The trio plans to kidnap a businessman, KK, to find out about her husband, who is presumed to be dead. This Vidya Balan movie is a tale of love, betrayal, and deception.

Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama

IMDb Rating: 7.3

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

12. No One Killed Jessica (2011)

No one killed Jessica is a movie that is based on the real-life Jessica Lal’s murder case. It showcases the struggles and problems faced by Jessica’s sister, Sabrina Lal (played by Vidya Balan), to find justice for her sister’s death. It also features Rani Mukherji as Meera, who helps Sabrina in her quest. Vidya’s character in this movie fights against the corruption and social apathy that surround the case.

Genre: Crime, Thriller

IMDb Rating: 7.2

Watch On: Netflix

13. The Dirty Picture (2011)

The Dirty Picture is a movie inspired by the life of Silk Smitha, a South Indian actress known for her bold and sensuous roles. Vidya Balan plays the lead role of actress Silk, and Emraan Hashmi plays the role of Abraham, a director and the narrator of the film. This Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan Movies received widespread praise.

Genre: Biography, Drama

IMDb Rating: 6.6

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar

14. Kahaani (2012)

Kahaani follows the story of Vidya Bagchi (played by Vidya Balan), a pregnant woman who travels from London to Kolkata, India, during Durga Puja to find her missing husband, Arnab Bagchi. The film unfolds as a gripping mystery with unexpected twists and turns. This movie is one of the highly praised Vidya Balan movies.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

IMDb Rating: 8.1

15. Ghanchakkar (2013)

Ghanchakkar is a film that revolves around a couple, Sanjay Athray (played by Emraan Hashmi) and Neetu Athray (played by Vidya Balan). Sanjay meets two criminals, Pandit and Idris, who offer him assistance in a bank robbery. But things get complicated as Sanjay suffers amnesia and forgets about the money bag. This Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan movie shows a blend of comedy and suspense.

Genre: Comedy, Thriller

16. Shaadi Ke Side Effects (2014)

Shaadi Ke Side Effects is a sequel to the 2006 movie “Pyaar Ke Side Effects” It features Farhan Akthar and Vidya Balan as Siddharth Roy and Trisha Roy, a happily married couple. It explores the challenges and struggles faced by them as they navigate parenthood. This Vidya Balan movie humorously delves into the changes and adjustments in married life.

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Watch On: Hotstar, Jio Cinema

17. Bobby Jasoos (2014)

Bobby Jasoos follows the story of a small-town woman, Bilqees Ahmed, aka Bobby (played by Vidya Balan), who dreams of becoming a detective despite facing a series of obstacles. In the list of Vidya Balan movies, this one follows Bobby’s journey as she takes on various cases and faces societal expectations. Vidya Balan’s performance in this movie received positive reviews.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Watch On: Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video

18. Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015)

Hamari Adhuri Kahani tells the story of Vasudha Prasad (played by Vidya Balan), whose husband has been missing for five years. Her life takes a turn when she meets Aarav Ruparel (played by Emraan Hashmi), a hotel magnate, who falls for Vasudha. It explores themes of love, sacrifice, and societal norms. This film is one of the most loved Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan movies.

Genre: Romance, Drama

IMDb Rating: 6.7

19. Te3n (2016)

Te3n is a remake of the South Korean movie “Montage,” released in 2013. This movie revolves around the lives of three individuals: John Biswas (played by Amitabh Bachchan), Father Martin Das (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui), and Sarita Sharma (played by Vidya Balan). The story unfolds as they come together to solve a kidnapping case that took place eight years ago.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

IMDb Rating: 7.2

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Sony Liv

20. Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016)

Kahaani 2 is a spiritual sequel to the movie “Kahaani,” released in 2012. It tells the story of Vidya Sinha (played by Vidya Balan), a middle-class working mother who has many secrets about her past life. As the movie unfolds, it is shown that Vidya Sinha’s real name is Durga Rani Singh, who is wanted for a kidnapping and murder case.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

IMDb Rating: 6.6

Watch On: Zee 5

21. Begum Jaan (2017)

Begum Jaan is a movie set against the backdrop of the late Indian Independence period of 1948. It revolves around the story of brothel owner Begum Jaan (played by Vidya Balan). Her powerful portrayal of Begum Jaan received acclaim for its intensity and conviction. This Vidya Balan movie is a Hindi remake of the Bengali film “Rajkahini,” released in 2014.

Genre: History, Drama

Watch On: Hotstar

22. Tumhari Sulu (2017)

Tumhari Sulu revolves around the story of Sulochana Dubey, nicknamed Sulu (played by Vidya Balan), a middle-class housewife who dreams of being a working woman. Despite having a bad educational background, she unexpectedly discovers her talent for radio jockeying. It showcases her journey as she balances her newfound career with her responsibilities at home.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

IMDb Rating: 7.0

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

23. Mission Mangal (2019)

Mission Mangal is a movie based on the true story of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission. It shows the efforts and contributions made by many scientists in making the Mars Orbiter Mission successful. Vidya Balan plays the character of Tara Shinde, a scientist and project director who contributes to the mission’s success.

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi

IMDb Rating: 6.5

Watch On: Hotstar

24. Shakuntala Devi (2020)

In the list of Vidya Balan movies, Shakuntala Devi is a movie based on the life journey of a mathematician and mental calculator, Shakuntala Devi (played by Vidya Balan). This film explores her journey from being a child prodigy to a worldwide mathematical phenomenon. This Vidya Balan movie received praise for capturing the essence of the mathematician’s vibrant personality.

Genre: Biography, Drama

IMDb Rating: 6.1

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

25. Sherni (2021)

Sherni follows the story of a forest officer named Vidya Vincent (played by Vidya Balan), who is tasked with capturing a tigress causing unrest in a village. The film addresses human-wildlife conflict and conservation issues. Vidya Balan received the Best Actress award at the 67^th Filmfare Awards for her amazing role in this movie.

Genre: Drama, Thriller

IMDb Rating: 6.8

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

26. Jalsa (2022)

Jalsa is a Vidya Balan new movie that revolves around the story of Maya Menon (played by Vidya Balan), a respected journalist who faces a moral dilemma after a hit-and-run case. In the Vidya Balan movies list, this movie showcases the complex web of silence that unfolds and reveals the impact of social and economic factors on each character’s life. This Jalsa movie Vidya Balan shows her journey and the challenges she faced.

Genre: Social, Drama

IMDb Rating: 6.6

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

27. Neeyat (2023)

Neeyat is Vidya Balan new movie. It tells the story of Ashish Kapoor, a businessman who nearly got killed by a falling chandelier during his birthday party in his castle. After the incident, CBI officer Mira Rao (played by Vidya Balan) came to investigate this case. As the plot of the Neeyat movie Vidya Balan unfolds, it leads to shocking confessions and a final twist that unveils the truth.

Genre: Crime, Thriller,

Watch On: Amazon Prime Video