Vidya to sport hot pants in Silk Smitha biopic

Actor Vidya Balan getting ready to step out of her comfort zone, and get into hot pants. She is jittery about her bold outing in The Dirty Picture, director Milan Luthria’s interpretation of Southern siren Silk Smitha’s life.

She is jittery about her bold outing in The Dirty Picture, director Milan Luthria’s interpretation of Southern siren Silk Smitha’s life. Luthria admits that they’re working hard to allay the actor’s fears by sending her video references, pictures and stories about Silk Smitha and Disco Shanti.



"To be honest, I’m happy she’s nervous. It’s a good sign for any actor to be anxious. It’s better than being over-confident," laughs Luthria, who’s going to have some sittings and rehearsals to prep up Balan. "In a couple of days, Vidya will start coming to my office regularly."

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The actor is presently working with costume designer Niharika Khan on her clothes. "Lot of tight clothes and hot pants," says Luthria, who’s taken on the challenge of turning the ‘conservative’ actor super glam. "Another challenge is showing Silk Smitha ageing. We are going to use prosthetics but nothing that’s over-the-top."



He adds that Balan is relieved to be working with her Ishqiya co-star Naseeruddin Shah with whom she shares great chemistry. "I know she’s in safe hands," he chuckles, pointing out that from Saif Ali Khan and John Abraham to Emraan Hashmi, he has pulled out actors out of their comfort zone. "Vidya has already shown her acting prowess in films like Paa and Ishqiya. I am just going to take her untapped talent further."

The Dirty Picture goes on floors in the second half of April. Luthria plans to wrap up the film by September. Besides Vidya and Shah, the film also stars Tusshar Kapoor.

Meanwhile, the film’s producer Ekta Kapoor has slammed Silk Smitha’s boyfriend Vinu Chakravarthy for condemning her biopic and Balan.