Oct 21, 2026 11:56am IST
Vidya Balan Opens Up About Revisiting ‘The Dirty Picture’ World : ‘I Am A Greedy Actor’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Vidya Balan remains hungry for a role like "The Dirty Picture", 15 years after the film became a defining moment in her career. The actor, who won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Silk Smitha in the 2011 film, confesses that she would be open to taking on a similar challenging part again.
With Ektaa Kapoor announcing "The Dirty Picture 2", Balan is enthusiastic about the franchise’s return, though she believes Silk’s story has already been told.
“The hunger and the craving are still very much there. Whatever the role, I'm just a greedy actor. I've said this a million times before, and I'll say it a billion times more: If a project inspires me, I will dive right into it headlong without a second thought,” Vidya Balan tells Variety India.
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Kapoor recently confirmed that "The Dirty Picture 2" is in the works, 15 years after the original film’s release. While details about the sequel’s cast and central character are yet to be revealed, the producer has indicated that she has found a story she wants to tell. Balan, however, is clear that revisiting the franchise would require a story that moves beyond the life of the character she played in the original.
“Of course, I know Silk cannot take part, so I really don't know. I heard from my manager that there is news about Ekta announcing 'The Dirty Picture 2', and I'm thrilled about it. The Dirty Picture gives you so much scope for a different story each time. So let's see what happens. If she approaches me, I will definitely be thrilled, but honestly, Silk's story is over. So it would have to be something like that to explore again,” she s”adds.
Released in 2011, "The Dirty Picture" also starred Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor. Inspired by the life of Silk Smitha, the film explored the rise of a woman in the South Indian film industry, examining the relationship between fame, desire, exploitation and public perception. Balan’s performance earned her widespread acclaim and a National Film Award, cementing the film’s place among the most discussed female-led Hindi films of its time.
Balan’s appetite for challenging roles also comes amid a particularly busy stretch of work across genres. The actor says she has been working almost continuously this year, moving between projects that demand different approaches to performance. Her recent and upcoming slate includes "Mauja Hi Mauja", a film with R. Balki and "Jailer 2", giving her the opportunity to shift between distinct cinematic worlds.
“That's the exciting part, and I really love that—it's what keeps me going. Honestly, I've worked pretty much throughout this year. After a long time, I've had such a busy schedule. You know how things work in this business: either everything happens all at once, or you're just sitting around fiddling your thumbs. This year, everything came back-to-back, and I'm enjoying it thoroughly. I wouldn't have it any other way because that is what truly excites, challenges, and fulfills me as an actor,” she says.
For Vidya Balan, then, the prospect of returning to the kind of material that made "The Dirty Picture" a cultural talking point is less about recreating a past success than finding another character capable of pushing her as a performer. Whether that opportunity comes through Kapoor’s sequel or another project, the actor says the hunger for roles that inspire her remains undiminished.
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