The Dirty Picture

The Dirty Picture follows Reshma, a young woman who leaves her village for Madras with dreams of becoming a film star. After initial setbacks, she convinces a producer to take a chance on her, and he gives her the screen name Silk. Her early appearances alongside her idol Suryakanth bring sudden wealth and fame, and she becomes a popular sex symbol through increasingly sensual roles. Over time she realises the industry values her mainly for her body, and her career and personal life begin to unravel as she struggles to keep living by her own rules. The film is a fictionalised account of the life of South Indian actress Silk Smitha.

Milan Luthria directed the film, with a screenplay by Rajat Arora and production by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. Vidya Balan plays Reshma, also known as Silk, heading a cast that includes Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Anju Mahendru and Rajesh Sharma. Released in December 2011, the film runs 144 minutes and blends comedy with drama. Made on a budget of about 3 million dollars, it earned roughly 17 million dollars worldwide, a strong return relative to its cost.

On TMDB it holds a rating of 6.1 out of 10 from 94 votes, indicating a modest audience reception.