“I love experimenting with roles and my upcoming film, The Dirty Picture, provided me with the perfect opportunity to do so. I have never enjoyed being a woman more than in The Dirty Picture. Some people might have issues digesting my character, but I’m sure women will enjoy the film. I’ve celebrated my sexuality in this film,” explains a happy and content Vidya Balan, the Bollywood actress who in her short career in films has perfected the art of not adhering to any one particular image.

Take for example her first film Parineeta with Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt. She did a topless shot without batting an eyelid and without raising a hue and cry for the bold scene. Last year she did Ishqiya with Nasseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi.

Mouthing cuss words as though it was a routine practice for her and essaying equally bold scenes, she won several major awards for the role. And then the actor in her early 30s ‘mothered’ the 69-year-old Amitabh Bachchan in Paa. Even this ensured awards for her. In between she had several hits and misses like Lage Raho Munnabhai, Guru, Heyy Babby, etc.

Says she, “As an actor I believe in challenging myself and take up roles that people can relate to. It is difficult to enact such roles, (Ishqiya, The Dirty Picture), as in India we are not physically demonstrative in public, so doing bold scenes becomes difficult for everybody. It is important for me to portray my characters realistically, but ultimately it’s my director’s and writer’s vision. The only instruction that I got from Milan Luthria (director) was to be bindaas for The Dirty Picture.”

It is because of her opting for zara hatke roles, that in a very short time, she has got to act with the best of the lot. Imagine within two years of being in the industry she got to act with Bachchan Sr. in Eklavya — The Royal Guard and then Paa. Then she bagged roles with Nasseeruddin Shah in Ishqiya and now The Dirty Picture. Which newcomer can boast of getting the experience of acting with these two legends in Bollywood films?

“Both Bachchan and Naseer saheb are living legends and it is always a pleasure and great honour to be sharing the same frame with them. They are both phenomenal artistes and always go that extra mile to make you comfortable on the sets. Both of them are extremely humble,’’ gushes Vidya.

About sharing screen space with Naseeruddin Shah, she elaborates, “Initially, I was very nervous about working with Naseer saheb in Ishqiya, but he made me extremely comfortable. While shooting for The Dirty Picture, I tried not to show my nervousness by cloaking it under my make-up. But he is so encouraging without being blatant about it that I will always remain grateful to him for that. In the film, for Naseer saheb boldness is in his attitude. His eyes were full of lust and that made his portrayal bolder.”

Talking about the bold scenes in the film, she says that she trusts the director. “The scenes weren’t meant to look real. I was confident about that. And if you do something with conviction, it always turns out beautifully.”

About her character, Silk, she says, “It’s about a woman who believes in herself and has no qualms about being the way she is.

It’s a film where I enjoyed being a woman. The film was also a refreshing change as I got the opportunity to do everything what a ’80s actress would do. I haven’t seen many of Silk Smitha’s films, except Sadma in which she had a brief role. Silk was fearless and so was the character in the film.”

When quizzed on the variety of roles she has essayed and her plans to do meaningful films a la Shabana Azmi or the late Smita Patil, she gurgles happily and says, “Thank you for putting me in the same league as Shabanaji and Smitaji. I would love to do the kind of films they worked in, but at the same time I need to keep in mind that the film should be entertaining and engaging enough for audiences. I feel as long as someone is talented, film offers will keep coming their way, so more than an image, it’s important for an actor to be talented.”

Talking about her journey in tinsel town from the days of Bhalo Theko to The Dirty Picture, she laughingly admits that there is still a long way to go. “ I have lots to learn yet and grow as an actor. I am very fortunate to have been able to work with brilliant directors, who gave me the opportunity to show my versatility as an actor. The industry has been extremely kind to me and has always accepted me for the person I am. Each character that I have played in my films has made me stronger as a human being and has helped me to appreciate life. I like living in the moment and believe in taking things a step at a time.

There is a lot that I need to achieve as an actor yet, and acting is my first love.”

Before signing off, she laughingly winks and mouths a dialogue from her latest film, “Filmain teen wajah se chalte hain: entertainment, entertainment aur entertainment; aur mein entertainment hoon” (Films succeed on three counts: entertainment, entertainment and entertainment; and I am entertainment).

The phrase also sums up Vidya Balan as an actress: shy and conservative yet bold and daring, and always ready to try out something new.