In the early 2000s, the Hindi film industry had a very specific type for its leading ladies. To be a top-tier heroine, you generally had to fit into a narrow box: you needed to be a certain age, a certain dress size, and your character's primary purpose was often to look beautiful while the hero saved the day. Over the last two decades, Vidya Balan has become more than just an actor. By consistently choosing roles that challenged stereotypes, Vidya Balan transitioned to becoming the female hero of the Indian box office.