Vidya Malvade – Bollywood actress of ‘Chak De! India’ fame

Vidya Malvade is a Bollywood actress who has played both lead and supporting roles on screen. She marked her film debut with Vikram Bhatt’s Inteha in 2003 playing the lead and appeared in a string of flops till ‘Chak De! India’ happened in 2007. She played the pivot role of Vidya Sharma, Captain and goalie of Indian national hockey team in the movie, which earned her accolades. Her role as Aftab Shivdasani’s sister in Vikram Bhatt’s production venture 1920: Evil Returns also got noticed. Footpath, Striker, Mashooka, No Problem, Benaan, Kidnap, Tum Milo Toh Sahi, Aap Ke Liye Hum etc are a few more Bollywood works.

Vidya Malvade was born in 1973 in Mumbai. She hails from an academically inclined family. She is an air hostess turned actress, who got into this profession after the accidental death of her first husband Captain Arvind Singh Bagga in 2000. He was working as a pilot with Alliance Air when he died in a plane crash. Vidya remarried in 2009 to Sanjay Dayma, a screenwriter by profession. She played Nandini Saxena, the lead in the thriller Inteha, marking her screen debut. The role earned her multiple nominations for Best Female Debut including Filmfare and Star Screen awards. But the movie was a flop. It took a few years of struggle to make a mark in the film industry. Thanks to her role in Chak De! India. She played a cameo role in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara! and was also seen in Yaara Silly Silly. In 2018 she appeared in a TV show, The Family.

She got into modeling field before getting film offers. Once she was called for a model test by Genesis and she got into a place when she took a wrong door. A model test going on, and when she was asked to give the test, she did it. There was no turning back after that.

Vidya Malvade – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. Her nick names are Shaz and Min.

2. Originally a law student, she worked at KLM and later Lufthansa as an air hostess.

3. Her husband Sanjay Dayma has worked as the screenplay writer & Associate Director to Ashutosh Gowariker for the iconic film, Lagaan.

4. She walked the ramp for designers Farah and Firdos Monday at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer-Resort 2013, where she presented light bridal collections.

5. She has also appeared in several TV ads.

6. In 2008 she participated as a contestant in the first season of Fear Factor – Khatron Ke Khiladi, hosted by Akshay Kumar.

7. Her role in Kidnap earned her a nomination at Best Breakthrough Performance – Female at Stardust Awards.

8. She doesn’t socialize much.