Silk Smitha wasn't 'dirty' at all, says brother

There's trouble brewing for The Dirty Picture despite the rave reviews the film has garnered for leading lady Vidya Balan.

A week after the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed his writ petition seeking a stay on the film's screening, Vadlapati Naga Vara Prasad, brother of late south Indian actress Silk Smitha - on whose life the film is allegedly based - is all set to file a criminal defamation suit against its producers Balaji Telefilms and director Milan Luthria.

"I will get the copy of the high court order in a day or two. Most probably, I will file a criminal defamation petition against the filmmakers," Prasad said.

Refusing to stall the film's release, the HC had asked Prasad to first watch the movie and then file a defamation suit against the filmmakers, if he found The Dirty Picture was indeed based on his sister's life.

Though the producers as well as Balan have made it clear in the past that the film is not based on Smitha's life, Prasad claims otherwise.

"It was made on Smitha's life, barring some modifications to suit the film. The only difference is that contrary to the vulgar and cheap manner in which Balan's character has been depicted, my sister led a dignified life off screen. In the film, Balan's character is a smoker and an alcoholic, who has several sexual liaisons. Smitha was never like that in her real life," Prasad said.

He said he had come to know that the film was based on the inputs provided by an alleged boyfriend of Smitha.

"If they wanted to make a film which was true to Smitha's life, they should have contacted us. Who else, other than us, can tell you about her childhood and her career?" Prasad asked.

He said Smitha, whose original name was Vijayalakshmi, had struggled a lot during her initial days in Tinseltown before making it big.

"We were from a poor family in Kovvali ( about six km from Eluru town in west Godavari district). Smitha dropped out of school when she was in the fourth standard. She had always wanted to become an actress. When she was 17 years old, she left for Madras to pursue her dreams," Prasad said.

With the filmmakers denying the movie is inspired by the late southern siren's life, it remains to be seen how Prasad will prove his allegations before the court.