The Dirty Picture 2: Vidya craves new bold role

Vidya Balan hasn’t lost her appetite for a role like 'The Dirty Picture', the 2011 film that changed the course of her career 15 years ago. Her stint as Silk Smitha won her the National Film Award for Best Actress, and the actor says she would be glad to tackle another challenging character of that kind.

Vidya Balan open to another challenging role like Silk Smitha

Ektaa Kapoor has announced 'The Dirty Picture 2', and Balan is excited about the franchise coming back, even though she feels Silk’s story has already been told. Speaking to Variety India, she said: “The hunger and the craving are still very much there. Whatever the role, I’m just a greedy actor. I’ve said this a million times before, and I’ll say it a billion times more: If a project inspires me, I will dive right into it headlong without a second thought.

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Vidya Balan on ‘The Dirty Picture 2’

'The Dirty Picture 2' is officially in the works, Ektaa has confirmed, 15 years after the original was released. Nothing has been revealed yet about who will star in the sequel or whom it will center on, but the producer has said she has found a story she wants to bring to the screen. Balan, though, is firm that a return to the franchise would only make sense if the story moved past the life of the character she played the first time.

“Of course, I know Silk cannot take part, so I really don't know. I heard from my manager that there is news about Ekta announcing 'The Dirty Picture 2', and I'm thrilled about it. The Dirty Picture gives you so much scope for a different story each time. So let's see what happens. If she approaches me, I will definitely be thrilled, but honestly, Silk's story is over. So it would have to be something like that to explore again,” Balan said.

‘The Dirty Picture’ released in 2011

'The Dirty Picture' was released in 2011 and also featured Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor in key roles. Drawing on the life of Silk Smitha, the film traced a woman’s ascent in the South Indian film industry and looked at how fame, desire, exploitation and public perception intersect.