The offer to play Silk Smitha came as a shock: Vidya Balan

New Delhi: Seeing her play a subduedcharacter like Sabrina Lall in No One Killed Jessica, it ishard to imagine Vidya Balan as Silk Smitha, the ultimatesex symbol in South Indian cinema.

Balan herself was "shocked and thrilled" to land the rolein Milan Luthria's biopic Dirty Picture, which chroniclesthe tragic life of yesteryear's star, who died in mysteriouscircumstances at the age of 35.

Balan admits that the new role is completely opposite ofwhat she has done onscreen so far. Even her role of a badgirl in 'Ishqiya' pales into comparison.

"I loved the script and was almost shocked that they(Milan and Balaji) thought of me. I was shocked and thrilled because she is so unlike me. Silk Smitha's sexuality is onyour face. It is almost offensive," Balan told PTI.

"I think Dirty Picture is an apt title for the movie.It is reflective of our perception of her. We feel that shecould not have made a pretty picture," Balan says.

Born as Vijayalakshmi, Silk Smitha went on to act inmore than 200 movies including films like Moonram Pirai,Sadma and Alaigal Oivathillai.

With her dark complexion, seductively pouting lips andsultry eyes, Smitha went on to become a sex siren in theindustry. Her movies were labelled as "soft porn" and at onetime her mere presence defined the fate of a movie.

Balan is aware that it will be a huge challenge but theactress is hoping to bring something new to her portrayal ofthe diva, whose sudden rise to fame and tragic death continuesto mystify people.

The 33-year-old star is playing another emotionallychallenging role in Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani. The film iscomplete and expected to release in June this year.

"Sujoy Ghosh (director) just gave me one line idea ofthe story while we were discussing about another project butthen he kept on adding to it. He told me that he was writingthe script with me in mind. He finally came up with the scriptand I had no option but to say yes.

"It is about this pregnant woman who comes from London insearch of her husband but while you think it is one emotionaljourney it is much more thrilling. The film defined hard workfor me," she adds.

The actress wowed critics with her performance inrecently released No One Killed Jessica but Balan insiststhat the character on screen is not inspired by the realSabrina.

"There was no apprehension in playing a real lifecharacter. The story is part fact and part fiction mergedbeautifully. I had to play a regular, normal girl, who couldeasily get lost in a crowd.

"I am wearing oversized clothes, slippers and thickglasses in the movie. It is was the first film where mymake-up took less than 10 minutes and I was happy. For mebeing glamorous not a criteria. As an actor I am happy that Iam getting the chance to live different lives," says Balan.

After playing emotionally charged roles in her last fewfilms Balan is looking forward to unwind with a comedy thisyear.