Silk Smitha
Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati (2 December 1960 – 23 September 1996), better known by her stage name Silk Smitha, was an Indian actress and dancer who worked mainly in Tamil and Telugu cinema, in addition to some Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. She became one of India's most popular sex symbols of the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as one of the most sought-after erotic actresses in South Indian cinema in the 1980s. Smitha was a key figure in the Malayalam softcore film genre in the late 1980s.
Silk Smitha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati 2 December 1960 Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | 23 September 1996 (aged 35) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Cause of death | Suicide by hanging |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–1996 |
In a career spanning 18 years, she appeared in over 450 films. Smitha was part of several successful dance numbers in the 1980s Indian films. She entered the industry as a supporting actress, and was first noticed for her role as "Silk" in the 1979 Tamil film, Vandichakkaram.