The Dirty Picture was developed, shot, and initially advertised as an unauthorized biopic of the late Silk Smitha. Silk was a super sexy item girl known for her raunchy appearances in south Indian films playing extra skanky girls for the most part. The trailblazing thing about Silk Smitha's work was her control over her own image and her ability to embrace this sultry image with pride.
In her 30's, Smitha decided to get into film production after she became a bit bored of being in front of the camera. Her first project failed and not long after that, she was found dead in her apartment. The general consensus is that it was suicide, though that notion has its skeptics. Apparently, Silk's raunchy image has followed her beyond the grave and her family aren't too happy about it.
Apparently the family has threatened to sue the producers of The Dirty Picture for defaming Silk Smitha. Now the word is that ALT Entertainment, the production company, is backing off of calling this a Silk Smitha bio, instead trying to make it about some unnamed actress, at least in the press. If this had happened months ago, they could have gone the Rock Star route and changed names and faces to protect the innocent, but The Dirty Picture comes out in two weeks and has massive heat behind it, so they are kind of in a lurch.
For my part, I hope ALT nuts up and does the film they wanted to do, because the trailers and promos look fucking incredible, and Balan is smokin'. As evidence, here is the latest trailer and an song promo for the current Indian chart topper "Tu Hai Meri Fantasy", or "The Ooh La La Song". Enjoy, they are great!