Vidya Balan to play Silk Smitha in ‘Dirty Picture’

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: After playing juicy seductress in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Ishqiya’, thinking man’s actress Vidya Balan is all set to undergo a month-long training under the able guidance of skilled southern choreographers to perfect late Silk Smitha’s eye, lip and hip movement right. Directed by Milan Luthria and produced by Ekta Kapoor, the film is a biopic on the life and times of Silk Smitha and is tentatively titled ‘Dirty Picture.’ Talking to a news daily, a source confirmed the news and said, “Alternatively, Balaji will fly down a team of top choreographers from the South and put them up in Mumbai, where Vidya can train. The plan, as of now, is to go and stay in the South.” Apparently, Vidya has given her consent to Ekta and is yet to sign film. However, a close friend of Vidya’s said, “That’s just a formality. Vidya is very excited about this role. She loves to experiment with characters.” Speaking on the intense formal training required for Vidya, a source said, “She is a fine dancer but Silk Smitha’s movements were very special. You can’t have someone doing her biopic in a manner that is not akin to her. It would look completely out of place. Vidya can’t be dancing in Silk Smitha’s biopic in a regular Bollywood manner.” However, there will be a lot of thrusts and heaves but there will be no dirty dancing. Further adding the source said, “Vidya will not indulge in any dirty dancing either as the film is far from being even marginally pornographic. It will be made as a very classy, urban flick. Silk Smitha’s dances will be glossed to a large extent.” When contacted, Ekta Kapoor said, “I am delighted that my most loved project has a talented actor like Vidya. I haven’t formalised anything with her but yes, Milan sir and I plan to get a lot of research and training done before the project begins. We can’t reveal the details of the research and the training now, but dance will be a big part of it.” Elucidating on Vidya’s training session, Ekta added, “The details of the training will be finalised only after we cast the main lead. The film basically deals with two imperfect people in an edgy relationship.”