Vidya Balan: 'I had to gain 10kg for Dirty Picture'

Vidya Balan has revealed that she had to gain 10kg to play Silk Smitha.

The actress takes on the role of the South Indian star in Milan Luthria's biopic The Dirty Picture.

Balan told Mumbai Mirror: "I was a little reluctant when Milan [Luthria] came to me with the script and the first question that I asked him was why me? Because I did not think anybody would cast me in such a role but Milan said that he couldn't see anybody else in such a role.

"I had seen Sadma in which she had done an item number but that's about it. Milan just kept telling me that all I have to do is be bindaas. Also I had to gain around ten kilos for the role which I happily did."

Luthria recently revealed that he had specifically wanted Balan to play the role because of her "unique sex appeal".

The Dirty Picture is currently facing a ban in Pakistan because of its controversial depiction of Smitha's life.