his film is not about Silk Smitha!” clarifies actress Vidya Balan, who was in Bangalore to promote her upcoming film The Dirty Picture. Denying claims of the film being a biography of the southern dancing star’s life, Vidya says, “The film is primarily about dancing stars in the southern industry. I am named Silk because she was perhaps the most prominent of them all.”
When asked about agreeing to play such a controversial role in the first place, Vidya says she became an actor so that she can lead different lives and play different roles. “I loved the script! To play someone so different was a brilliant experience,” she says. Incidentally, Vidya has to wear about 100 costumes through the entire film to portray her character, who was a sensational dancing star.
How was it dancing to a sensual song with an actor as senior as Naseeruddin Shah? “Naseer sir was very supportive the entire time. It was interesting to watch him play this role. I forgot that he was Naseer sir, I only saw him as the lecherous, pompous superstar Suryakanth”, says the actor with a laugh.
Dressed in bell-bottoms, wedges, a flowery shirt and huge goggles, Vidya looked right out of an ’80s film set. “I just absolutely love the retro look,” Vidya says, adding, “Naseer sir and I had so many laughs when we played out situations which were typically from the eighties; the colourful sets, flowers, rolling down a hill.”
With some extremely woman-centric roles in all of her recent movies, has Vidya Balan given the sensual diva a new meaning? “Well, I am not consciously trying to give it a new definition, but if it’s happening, it’s great!” she says.
Completely in character, Vidya says that the film does not intend to convey any message but is all about entertainment. “Filmein sirf teen cheezon se chalte hain — entertainment, entertainment, and entertainment — aur main entertainment hoon (Films run on only three things — entertainment, entertainment and entertainment. And I am entertainment)!” she signs off.