 Vidya Balan ( pronounced [ <unk> ̪ <unk> <unk> ] ; born 1 January 1978 ) is an Indian actress . She has established a career in Bollywood and is the recipient of several awards , including a National Film Award , five Filmfare Awards , and five Screen Awards , and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2014 . She is known for portraying strong female protagonists and has been acknowledged in the media for pioneering a change in the concept of a Hindi film heroine . 
