Actress Vidya Balan is considered one of the most talented actors in Bollywood. But not many know that despite being a popular face on TV, her entry in films was not a smooth one. In fact, the actress had made her debut in a Bengali film, before Parineeta made her a star overnight in B-Town.

According to insiders, it was during her earlier days that she had even tried to get a break down South, but apparently couldn’t bag any film there, inspite of the fact that being a South Indian, she is well-versed with the language. A source reveals, “Yes, she did try to get a break down South, but nothing ever got finalised. Sometimes she didn’t like the roles being offered, and sometimes she was rejected for a few films.”

But now the tables seem to have turned. According to insiders, several filmmakers are now keen on casting Vidya, but this time around it’s the actor who’s turning down offers from South. “Ever since she’s been seen in her Silk Smitha avatar, she’s created quite a buzz in the South. Considering Silk was an icon there, people have loved her in the promos. Now, she seems to have several offers from down South. But she’s not signing any film as of now,” says the insider.

However, while a source close to the actress confirms that she has indeed been getting several film offers there, the source is quick to clarify that she’s not signing any films only because she has no dates available to suit their requirements, although some have agreed to even alter them. “It’s not like she has anything against them for not signing her on several years back during her struggling years. In fact, she has already done a song for Urumi there. But she is too busy with Bollywood as of now. If an interesting film comes along, she will of course consider it,” says the source.

A trade observer informs that much has to do with her portrayal of Silk Smitha. “Vidya has already established a fan base there and filmmakers obviously want to cash in on her popularity there. So, it’s no surprise that she is being offered so many films,” shared the analyst.