After Vidya Balan’s The Dirty Picture, a Telugu biopic of Silk Smitha goes on floors

The late Silk Smitha, who had a tumultuous personal life, enjoyed a golden run in the film industry in the 80s and 90s. Based out of Eluru, the actress, originally Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati, rose to great heights with her dance moves and was popular for her roles as a vamp while occasionally being a character artiste. After Vidya Balan’s The Dirty Picture, a new Telugu film is set to retell her life story.

Director Jayaram announced the biopic on Silk Smitha, commemorating her birth anniversary today, by unveiling the first look. Chandrika Ravi, who shot to fame with her song appearance (Maa Bava Manobhavalu) in Balakrishna’s Veera Simha Reddy this year, has been roped in to play the actress in the film. SB Vijay is bankrolling the movie under STRI Cinemas, while V Mahastri Amirtharaj is the presenter.

“Happy 63rd birthday to the timeless beauty, Silk Smitha. With the blessings of her family, it is with immense gratitude that we share with the world her untold story,” posted Chandrika Ravi, expressing her happiness at being a part of the project. The film will release worldwide in 2024 in five languages: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.

Also read: Veera Simha Reddy: Balakrishna and Chandrika Ravi are at their energetic best in Maa Bava Manobhavalu 

In the first look launched by the makers, Chandrika Ravi’s avatar bears an uncanny resemblance to Silk Smitha. Placing a finger in her mouth and draped in a sari with the kajal contributing to her elegance, netizens are already convinced that Chandrika is an apt choice for the biopic. Other details surrounding the cast, crew and shoot details will be announced shortly.

Also read: Chandrika Ravi roped in for a special number in #NBK107 

For the uninitiated, Silk Smitha, the Eluru-born actress, got her major break in Tamil films from director Vinu Chakravarthy by landing a key role in the film Vandichakkaram. After a two-decade stint in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada language films, she ended her life in 1996. Other biopics have been attempted on Silk Smitha in the past, including Climax in Malayalam and Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Hot in Kannada (both in 2013).

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