4 min readNew DelhiJul 30, 2026 11:00 PM IST For an actor celebrated today for her bold choices and self-assured screen presence, Vidya Balan’s early years in the film industry were filled with doubt, criticism, and deep insecurity. In an interview, Vidya once opened up about how external pressure and internal conflict affected her emotionally and physically. She shared: “What people don’t understand about weight—but what I’ve understood through my work with my healer over the years—is weight is also protection. When you feel insecure, a lot of times you put on weight.” The Emmy-nominated actor, who made her Bollywood debut with Parineeta at age 26, revealed that being told she wasn’t “young enough” for certain roles had a lasting impact on her self-esteem. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.  “With Parineeta, which was a period film where I was playing a woman… everyone then told me, ‘No, but you should be able to do the younger roles if you want a longer career.’ I …