She is being described as Bollywood's new hero. Though Vidya Balan says she is very happy being described as a heroine, a paternalistic industry insists on giving her this accolade. What has catapulted her into the top league is her latest release, The Dirty Picture, which has won her every film award this year.

In her next film, Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani, she plays a pregnant woman in search of her missing husband. Vidya talks to Patcy N and Sonil Dedhia about life after The Dirty Picture, and why she will not get married anytime soon. How does it feel like to be called the new hero of Bollywood?

It's a wonderful compliment but I must say that I enjoy being a heroine. It is the time to celebrate woman power. I am happy being me; I am happy being Vidya Balan. You started your career in a Bengali film; what was it like going back to Kolkata for Kahaani? It was wonderful. I have a special connection with Kolkata that I can't explain. My mother says that in my past life I must have been a Bengali (smiles).

I speak the language pretty well because I have always wanted to learn it. I keep asking all my Bengali friends for new rhymes, poems, songs. I listen to Bengali music and have watched a lot of Bengali films. How all this happened I don't know. My first film was a Bengali film (Bhalo Theko). I did an album with Euphoria, it had me playing a Bengali bride, and then Parineeta was another film where I played a Bengali. Even in Bhool Bhulaiya, Manjulika is a Bengali dancer. I was happy to go back to Kolkata for Kahaani because it is second home to me. I look for opportunities to go there.

Image: Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture