Grand Finale A phenomenal Kahani

The grand finale event of FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Chapter – A Phenomenal Kahani with the acclaimed actor Padma Shri Vidya Balan, was held on 16th March 2023. The event was preceded by an overview of the entire year at FLO and the unveiling of the coffee table book by the past Chairs. The highlight of the evening was the interaction with the renowned actress Vidya Balan with FLO Ahmedabad Chapter Chair Dr Rachna Gemawat and TV presenter & host Neha Sareen.

The event started with a welcome address by Dr Rachna Gemawat, who highlighted the achievements of the FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Chapter over the past year. She also introduced the coffee table book, which showcased the various initiatives and projects undertaken by FLO members and had a brief overview of the fabulous FLO ladies.

Following this, the stage was set for the interaction with Vidya Balan. The actress, known for her powerful performances in movies such as The Dirty Picture, Kahaani, and Shakuntala Devi, shared her journey in the film industry and her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry.

During the interaction, Vidya Balan spoke about the importance of women’s empowerment and the need for women to be financially independent and what inspired her to be financially self-sufficient. She shared her experience about her father’s health scare and how financially vulnerable her mother felt at the thought of losing him and having to raise two young daughters which made Vidya resolute about being financially self-reliant.

She was sporty enough to also enact a dialogue from her very popular movie “Tumhari Sullu” and sing a verse of a song from one of her movies.

She talked about her role models, especially her sister whom she has always looked up to and also her husband, who is her rock. She described some of the hilarious pranks that actors like to play on hapless co-stars but all in good fun.
She talked about her film choices and her sartorial choices, her journey as an actor from the TV series Hum Paanch to till date and evolution as an actor. The importance of education and middle-class values that still form the foundation of her life. Her conversation was punctuated with her trademark infectious laugh.

The session was followed by a question-and-answer session, where members of FLO Ahmedabad Chapter got the opportunity to ask Vidya Balan questions. The actress answered questions ranging from her favourite movie to her thoughts on the portrayal of women in Indian cinema.

After the Q&A session, the event concluded with networking among FLO members and bidding adieu to the current year. The event was a huge success and provided an opportunity for FLO members to interact with a prominent figure in the Indian film industry and discuss issues related to women’s empowerment.

In conclusion, the Vidya Balan event at FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Chapter was a highly anticipated event that lived up to the expectations of the attendees.