Vyjayanthimala Bali is a purist in the Bharatanatyam tradition. She is often credited with paving the way for semi-classical dance in Bollywood, yet she strictly kept her film dance separate from her classical recitals, which she performed with religious devotion and technical perfection.

She was the disciple of the illustrious K.P. Kittappa Pillai, a direct descendant of the Tanjore Quartet. She also learned Carnatic music from D.K. Pattammal, ensuring she understood the rhythmic and melodic structures of the music she danced to.

She performed her Arangetram at age 13. Even at the peak of her film career, she refused to compromise the grammar of her classical performances. A lifelong Vegetarian, she adheres to a strict traditional South Indian diet. At 92, she attributes her "Twinkle Toes" agility and legendary health to her disciplined vegetarianism, yoga, and the spiritual energy derived from her "Sattvic" lifestyle.

A superstar of the Golden Era, she starred in classics like Devdas, Madhumati, and Sangam. She married Dr. Chamanlal Bali and has a son, Suchindra. She later served as a Member of Parliament but remains most identified as a dedicated natyavisharada, continuing to research and perform rare temple repertoires that were nearly lost to time.