With a passion for acting since childhood and big dreams in her eyes, this girl, due to poverty, at the age of 14, became the wife of an older alcoholic man and got entangled in household responsibilities. Fed up with the harassment from her husband and in-laws, she fled her in-laws' house and headed to Chennai.
Entertainment News: Today marks the death anniversary of Silk Smitha, South Indian cinema's most bold and sensational actress. Her life story was not limited to glamour and popularity, but was filled with struggle, pain, and mystery. Silk Smitha, who had a passion for acting since childhood, achieved success by the age of 35 that many artists don't attain in their entire lifetime.
Silk Smitha's real name was Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati. She was born on December 2, 1960, in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. Due to poverty, her education remained incomplete, and her childhood was spent in household chores instead of playing and studying. She was married off at the age of 14 to a husband who was an alcoholic and domestically violent. Distressed by domestic abuse and harassment from her in-laws, Silk Smitha fled her marital home and reached Chennai.
From Makeup Artist to Actress
In Chennai, with the help of an aunt, Silk Smitha started working as a makeup artist in films. While doing touch-ups for actresses, she made contacts in the film industry and gradually started getting small roles and item numbers. However, during this period, some producers exploited her and restricted Silk to certain kinds of work.
Silk Smitha got her first major break in Antony Eastman's Malayalam film ‘Inaye Thedi’ in 1979. However, the film was released in 1981. In Tamil cinema, she gained recognition through the film ‘Vandichakkaram’ (1980). In this film, her character was named Silk, which she adopted as part of her name, becoming Silk Smitha.
South Industry's Sensational Actress
Silk Smitha's bold scenes and dance numbers made her the most sensational actress in the South Indian film industry. Many films wouldn't be released without her songs. The demand for her work increased so much that producers and directors felt compelled to cast her for at least one song in any film. Silk worked with superstars like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, and Chiranjeevi during her career. Her film journey included contributions to approximately 450 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.
While Silk Smitha earned money and fame in her film career, people around her—family, husband, friends, and some lovers—continued to exploit her. Her personal life was filled with struggles and mental pressure. At one point, a close friend advised her to become a producer, but her two productions flopped, resulting in a loss of approximately 2 crore rupees. This loss also impacted her mental health and personal life.
Films Based on Silk Smitha
Several films were made based on Silk Smitha's life. The most notable is the 2011 film ‘The Dirty Picture,’ starring Vidya Balan and produced by Ekta Kapoor. Additionally, her character was portrayed in the Kannada film ‘Silk Sakkath Hot’ (2013), the Malayalam film ‘Climax’ (2013), and the Tamil film ‘Mark Antony’ (2023).
Silk Smitha passed away on September 23, 1996. According to reports, she committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her home. However, many mysteries still surround her death. It is said that even after her death, there were no clothes on her body, which clearly indicates that she was used merely as a symbol of sensuality in the industry and society.
