Happy Birthday Vidya Balan

It’s the start of a new year - a new decade according to many - and it’s also the birthday of the beautiful and elegant Vidya Balan - thirty-one years old today. Kerala-born Vidya made a stunning debut in Parineeta and has since impressed in movies such.As Lage Raho Munnabhai, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Guru, Kismat Konnection and most recently with the Bachchans in Paa.How has Vidya been preparing for her birthday? “Spending a lot of quiet time, quality time with loved ones and focussing.On the new year with renewed energy and positive thinking,” she says, “I’m thrilled at the response I got for Paa. It feels good and I’m raring to go at 2010.”Vidya is looking forward to the release of Ishqiya in which she takes on a more brazen country-girl image.The film also stars Naseruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi and has already raised expectations after a few run-ins with the censor.Vidya is full of praise for her co-star Arshad in the movie. "Arshad is a brilliant actor,” she states, “I feel he is underutilised in our cinema. He is wonderful and I share a great camaraderie with him. He is really yet to get his due." In addition, she will soon start work on No One Killed Jessica, the story of the Jessica Lal murder and its aftermath.