Powerhouse performer, actress Vidya Balan, started the year with a bang as she bagged her first award for the season, The Best Actress (Critics Choice) for Kahaani, which also won the Best Film (critics), Best Director (critics), Best Story and Best editing.

According to a report in TOI, Lauded for her portrayal of Vidya Bagchi, a pregnant woman in search of her missing husband in the city of Kolkata during the Durga Puja festivities, Balan walked away with the honors.

The award came as no surprise especially since the critics were all praise for the actress ever since the thriller released.

Said acclaimed critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh , "Post The Dirty Picture, the admiration for the National Award winning actress Vidya has scaled woozy altitudes and let me affirm, the supremely talented actress delivers a performance that's at par with her former accomplishments."

Said Madhureeta Mukherjee Zoom, "Once again, a 'pregnant' Vidya, ironically displays more 'male ornaments' (excuse the watering down) than most heroes."

Shabana Azmi lauded Balan for her performance and said, "I had to watch Kahaani because of Vidya. I was bowled over by her performance. As an actor, I could see she was making all the right moves throughout the film. There was not a single artificial note in her performance."

On his fascination to cast Balan, Ghosh said, "The good thing about performers like Vidya is that when you give them something, they take it with them and bring something of their own. For me, having Vidya was a boon because she did so many things herself. What she has brought to her character is completely her own."