'Dirty Picture' chose me: Milan Luthria

Dirty Picture! This is one film that has made it to the headlines since the time it was announced; and has even had producer Ekta Kapoor crying her lungs out trying to convince people that this is no porn.

Director Milan Luthria clarifies, “The film is based not only on Silk Smitha but also on her contemporaries like Nalini. The whole breed of dusky women, who emerged from the South, had a difficult life and personality wise, were quite sexual.”

The breed of women in question saw fame and money, which then lead to a life of loneliness that finally led to untimely death. Ask Luthria about zeroing in on actor Vidya Balan for the lead role and he says, “I needed someone with primal Indian sensuality who also happens to be a great actor. Vidya fits in perfectly,” offers Luthria. Apart from wearing revealing clothes, Vidya will also have to put on weight for this role.

Silk Smitha passed away in 1996 and after 14 years someone decided to tell her story to the world; we wonder what made Luthria choose the subject. “The story chose me! It was Ekta’s idea, she had asked the writer to write a story based on this and once it was done they casually asked me to go through it. She wanted a first time director to do it as it wasn’t a big canvas and did not have a big budget, but when I read the story I was bowled over. I told her I wanted to direct it, it was exclusive material — not those typical masala films and I didn’t want anyone else directing it,” informs Luthria.

“The film shows the impact that different men had on Silk Smitha’s life which might be on the lines of Bhumika,” says Luthria.