Vidya Balan to get Smita Patil Memorial Award

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NEW DELHI - Bollywood actress Vidya Balan will be conferred with the Smita Patil Memorial Award for her “outstanding” contribution to the film industry.

“Vidya Balan is an excellent actress. She is modern yet contemporary and has done decent and powerful roles. Her performance in ‘Paa’ was outstanding. Our jury has chosen her for the Smita Patil Award for her outstanding contribution to the film industry,” Priyadarshini Academy chairman Nanik Rupani told IANS.

Priyadarshini Academy is an NGO which is engaged in socio-cultural and educational activities and has been holding the biennial award function since its inception in 1984.

In 2008, Preity Zinta was felicitated with the award. Other celebrities like Yash Chopra, Karisma Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Kareena Kapoor have also been bestowed with this award.

Vidya Balan made her debut with Pradeep Sarkar’s “Parineeta” in 2005 and later on went to give some outstanding performances in “Lage Raho Munnabhai”, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa”, “Paa” and “Ishqiya”.

The ceremony will be held Sep 19 in Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai.