Vidya Balan to play Shakuntala Devi: Here’s all you need to know about the Mathematical genius

After the massive success of 'Mission Mangal', actress Vidya Balan is all set to shoot her next flick which is a biopic on mathematical genius Shakuntala Devi. After treating fans with the first look of the biopic, the star dropped a teaser of the film and it is something you shouldn't miss! The teaser was all about the Math wizard's journey from basic tables and how she started working on complex mathematical problems. This genius was a mathematician master and even earned the title of 'Human Computer'.

So here are a few facts about Shakuntala Devi we bet you didn't know!

Did you know Shakuntala Devi never received any formal education? Yes, you read it right. The Math scholar built her excellence on her inherent skills through intense practice. The star was born in a well-known family of Brahmin priests in Bangalore. She received her early lessons in mathematics from her grandfather. Shakuntala Devi became an expert at solving math problems by the age of 5.

Shakuntala Devi also made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in 1982. She also made headlines internationally for out-performing and out-computing the most sophisticated computers in the world. She traveled around the world performing for the student community, politicians and educationalists. Shakuntala Devi motivated several young minds to explore the world of mathematics.

After displaying her skills to professors and researchers in London, she tied the knot with Paritosh Bannerji, an IAS officer hailing Kolkata. Everything was well until her husband's sexual preference came to light. People thought this would turn her world upside down but she made an effort to study the plight of the gay community in India. In 2018, when the Indian government scrapped Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, Shakuntala Devi had called it decriminalisation in 1977. She also penned the book ‘The World of Homosexuals,’ which is a compilation of research and interviews.

She disliked being called 'Human Computer'. She believed that the human mind is better than any computer. She wanted people to explore and expand their learning capacity. She followed her passion for teaching mathematics and even wrote books that would make the subject easy and fun for students. She felt that one must nurture young minds by offering them the right learning process and motivate them to develop innate strengths. Shakuntala Devi’s witty sense of humor made her popular among her peers.

In 1980, Shakuntala Devi contested in the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from Mumbai South and from Medak a part of present day Telangana. In Medak she stood against former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.