In 2011, Vidya Balan’s portrayal of Silk Smitha in ‘The Dirty Picture’ was met with critical acclaim. However, the role had an unexpected personal repercussion: Balan developed a habit of smoking. Despite her enjoyment of the aroma of smoke, she maintained that she would only smoke if it posed no health risks.
Vidya Balan shared that authenticity in her performance was high priority, leading her to smoke in real life to accurately depict the character. Post-film, she found herself smoking two to three cigarettes daily.
Vidya Balan emphasized the importance of genuine portrayal in acting, especially regarding societal views on women who smoke. She candidly admitted to enjoying smoking, a habit that began even before her college days when she would seek out the company of smokers.
Addressing the transformative effect of the film on her self-perception, Balan remarked that ‘The Dirty Picture’ liberated her from conventional beauty standards, teaching her that beauty is not confined to physical dimensions. She added that this realisation was a significant milestone in her personal development.