12 Years of 'The Dirty Picture': Did you know the film was almost shelved three times?

The Dirty Picture completes 12 years. Milan Luthria tells us about the hurdles he faced and the moments he felt the film would not see the daylight.

December 2, The Dirty Picture---a biographical musical drama inspired by the life and times of the late actress and dancer Silk Smitha---entered its 12th year at the movies. Directed by Milan Luthria and starring Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Tusshar Kapoor in crucial roles, it was released worldwide in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil languages on December 2, 2011. Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, the film became a mega hit and quickly collected over 100 crores at the box office. 

In one of Luthria's most celebrated and ambitious works, the director recollects the times when the felt "creating 'The Dirty Picture' was a journey filled with challenges that tested our commitment to the project. There were three crucial moments when it seemed the film might not happen. Firstly, we had casting hurdles, but my choice of Vidya Balan prevailed. Filming posed yet another challenge as Vidya's image conflicted with her character, yet a quick transformation by Vikram Gaikwad brought Reshma to life. Our last challenge was when distributors raised concerns about the title, but Ektaa Kapoor's strong determination, by putting in her own money, ensured the film's release. And on the Monday after the release, there were special shows in India, only for ladies.”

The Dirty Picture set an entirely new tone in the film industry, pushing boundaries and breaking moulds. Its groundbreaking approach not only captivated audiences but also earned it the prestigious honour of winning three National Awards.