Synopsis : Speakers:

Few actors have broken as many glass ceilings in the film industry as Vidya Balan. In a career nearing three decades, she has essayed unconventional roles with great finesse in films like Parineeta, Bhool Bhulaiyya, Paa, Kahani, The Dirty Picture, Shakuntala Devi, Sherni and Jalsa. Recognition of her work has come in form of one National and seven Filmfare awards besides the national honour of Padma Shri. Join Vidya Balan as she takes you through the milestones of her incredible journey, in a freewheeling conversation with Vani Tripathi - her colleague from the film industry and a long-standing friend.

A political science from the Delhi University, Vani Tripathi Tikoo has learnt acting under the guidance of the legendary theatre guru Ebrahim Alkazi. As an actor, her work includes 50 plays, 40-odd TV serials and six films. Her passion for theatre has further led her to founding India’s first state run drama school - Madhya Pradesh Natya Vidyalaya – at Bhopal. In 2022, Vani represented the country at the Cannes film festival along with the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, AR Rahman, Shekhar Kapur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. She has been one of the youngest ever member of the Central Board of Film Certification. Recently Vani has authored her first book "Why can't elephants be red?" which is making waves globally.

Session Coordinator: Saikat Sekhareswar Ray, Asst Professor, SRFTI