National award actress Vidya Balan recently voiced her strong statement saying, "This honour (the award) is by the nation and not the government. So I do not want to return it". She is strict on her word that she will not give back her national award as it was an honour bestowed by the country and not the government.

According to sources, she opened up on this only after few eminent film personalities commented on returning their National Awards in unity with FTII students and against growing intolerance in the country. Renowned flmmakers like Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan are among the 10 other film personalities who have returned their National Awards.Talented Vidya Balan won the National award for the best actress for the movie The Dirty Picture` in 2012.