Often referred to as the Marilyn Monroe of Indian cinema, Silk Smitha was a legendary South Indian actress who dominated the box office as one of the most celebrated adult stars of the 1980s. Her life came to a tragic end when she was found dead by suicide on September 23, 1996. Despite the official ruling of suicide, lingering suspicions and unanswered questions have surrounded her death, leaving the mystery unresolved even after more than two decades.

Silk Smitha: The Tragic Death of Indian Cinema’s Iconic Star

In a career spanning 17 years, she appeared in over 450 films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi languages. In her films, Silk Smitha mesmerized her fans in the role of a vamp, seductress, and bar dancer, with a few inhibitions about shedding her clothes. The sultry actress’s life always hogged the headlines, and she remained immensely popular throughout her career until her life was abruptly cut short in 1996. 

The exact details of Silk Smitha’s tragic death remain unclear, much like the mysterious endings of other young stars in the industry. Her passing echoes the enigmatic and heartbreaking fates of Divya Bharti and Sushant Singh Rajput, who also died under puzzling circumstances. Each of these cases reveals a darker side to the glamorous world of cinema, leaving behind lingering questions that continue to captivate and concern.

Born on December 2, 1960, in a poor family, Silk’s real name was Vijayalakshmi Vadlapatla. Silk had to leave her school at an early age of about ten years after completing her fourth standard as her family could not afford her studies due to financial constraints.

Abject poverty and Silk’s striking looks worried her family as they found it difficult to ward off uninvited attention from frivolous men. The family married her off at the very young age of 17 years. 

Her married life turned out to be troublesome due to her abusive husband and in-laws. To escape from marital harassment, she walked out of her marriage and fled to Chennai to live with her aunt. 

Due to her passion for makeup, she took up the job of a touch-up artist for an actress. Soon, she managed to get a few supporting uncredited roles in the films. Film director Vinu Chakravarthy spotted her and rechristened her as ‘Smitha’.  Chakravarthy’s wife taught English to Silk and also arranged dance, acting, and etiquette classes for her.  

Silk Smitha came to fame with a 1979 superhit Tamil film ‘Vandichakkaram’, where she portrayed the character of a bar girl named Silk – which later became her stage name.

Smitha was considered a diva due to her appealing physique, dusky complexion, and seductive eyes. No film was complete without Silk’s appearance in it. Her appearance, even in the form of short item numbers, was considered to ensure the film’s success. No wonder she was one of the most sought-after artists of her time and worked in 200 films within a short span of four years! 

Silk Smitha Biopic

The Dirty Picture, the biopic on Silk Smitha released in 2011. Popular Bollywood actress, Vidya Balan portrayed the role of Silk. Vidya was critically acclaimed for her performance and won the National Film Award for Best Actress.

The movie covers her life journey as a make-up girl who became an extra and then the most wanted heroine of the early eighties. Chronicling the meteoric rise and steep fall of the erstwhile screen sensation Silk Smitha, The Dirty Picture is set against the colorful and entertaining backdrop of the South film industry of the eighty.

The quintessential siren, Silk, knew her audiences and it didn’t seem like anything would stop the fiercely ambitious starlet, till it did, in the shape of unrequited love. To the world, she was the queen of sensuality. But at heart, Silk was just another woman craving true love. An unfortunate encounter with deceit and infidelity led to dire consequences!

The Mysterious Death of Silk Smitha: Suicide, Secrets, and Unanswered Questions

On September 23, 1996, Silk Smitha was found dead at her Chennai apartment. As per the reports, the actress hanged herself from the ceiling fan at her residence. Silk was 36 when she took the drastic step.

According to her post-mortem report, Silk Smitha died of alcoholism and alcohol intoxication. Though the reason behind her suicide remains unknown, it is believed that she was plagued by multiple problems, including a financial crunch, disillusionment in love, and severe depression. Some reports even hint toward a possible murder angle. 

Incidentally, on the night before her death, Silk had called her friend, Anuradha, and asked if she could come to her house and meet her as she wants to say something important. But Anuradha could not go that night and told Silk that she would meet her the next day. However, the next day, Anuradha woke to the tragic news of Silk’s demise.

Just hours before her death, Silk had also called her friend, actor Ravichandran, but she could not speak to him as he was busy shooting. Ravichandran revealed the startling fact in one of his interviews. He said – 

 “I was busy shooting that day (September 23, 1996) and was surprised to see Smitha trying frantically to reach me a few times. I tried to speak to her, but the call never got through due to poor connectivity. I thought it was a routine call. However, the next day, to my horror, I realized that Smitha had killed herself. I shudder to think of what could have been the reason for her call. This haunts even me now.”

A suicide note was recovered from Silk Smitha’s home. The person responsible for her suicide could not be established as multiple names featured in the letter.

Silk Smitha’s Heartbreaking Farewell: A Glimpse Into the Pain Behind Her Tragic Death

Before her untimely death, Silk Smitha penned a poignant letter revealing the deep pain and heartbreak she endured. The letter, which has since circulated widely on the Internet, offers a raw look into the struggles that led to her tragic decision.

In the letter, Silk expresses the immense effort she put into her acting career and laments the lack of genuine affection in her life, save for Dr. Radhakrishnan, whom she refers to as ‘Babu.’ She speaks of feeling exploited and unfulfilled, and describes how the betrayal and abuse she suffered, particularly from Babu, drove her to despair. Silk’s words reveal her disillusionment with those she had trusted and the ongoing torment she faced from individuals who had taken advantage of her.

The letter also reflects her anguish over broken promises and unfulfilled dreams, alongside a deep sense of injustice and abandonment. Silk’s writings hint at a feeling of betrayal and exploitation by those she had supported, leaving her feeling isolated and betrayed.

Despite the official conclusion of suicide, many conspiracy theories have emerged, suggesting that Silk Smitha might have been murdered to silence her from exposing high-profile figures who had allegedly mistreated her.

Although her life ended at a young age, Silk Smitha’s name will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cinema.