Silk Smitha, the enigmatic siren of South Indian cinema, left an indelible mark on the 1980s film scene. With her electrifying performances, she became the secret ingredient for a film's success, captivating audiences and compelling producers to vie for her presence in their projects. Her popularity was such that a single song performed by her was believed to be enough to make a movie a hit. Her career was on a spectacular rise when she unexpectedly passed away at a young age.
She started her acting career in 1980, appearing in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films. Her fame skyrocketed after her role in the Tamil film "Vandichakkram," where she got her iconic nickname 'Silk,' a name that became legendary. She also set a world record by acting in the most films in a single year.
Silk Smitha's life and her sudden death were shrouded in mystery. Years later, her story was turned into the critically acclaimed film "The Dirty Picture," which won Vidya Balan the National Award for Best Actress for that year. Recently, Tamil actor Anand Raj spoke about Silk.
Anand Raj, who was close to Silk Smitha, remarked, "If they had called me while making 'The Dirty Picture,' I could have provided more details that would have benefited the film." He felt that the movie only touched on minor aspects of her life and that he had much more to share. "Right before Silk Smitha died, I was acting in a Kannada film as a villain. They needed someone for an item dance, and I recommended Silk Smitha. I even arranged for her advance payment. But tragically, she died the next day. It was a real shock."
"When we heard the news of her death, everyone on the set was stunned, and we had to stop shooting. Alphonsa later took over the role," Anand Raj continued. "Movies were everything to Silk Smitha, but her mysterious death shocked everyone," he revealed during an interview.
Silk Smitha's journey began in Malayalam cinema, and she was particularly celebrated for her role with Mohanlal in 'Spadikam.' While she mostly appeared in B-grade films, she also shared the screen with superstars in various roles. Anand Raj, now known for his comedic roles in Tamil films, has also acted in Telugu and Kannada films.
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