Kaala director Pa Ranjith will direct a web series based on the life of Silk Smitha, Deccan Chronicle reported. According to a source quoted in the report, the “lavishly shot” web series will be “true to Silk Smitha and bring out untold stories of her childhood”. Ranjith believes that the story of the actor’s life will appeal to audiences across India, the report adds.

The director confirmed the news to the website The News Minute, but did not give further information.

Born Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati, Silk Smitha primarily worked in South Indian films as an actress and dancer. She rose to prominence with the 1979 Tamil film Vandichakkaram. Silk Smitha appeared in more than 450 films in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi. She was found dead in her Chennai apartment at the age of 35 on September 23, 1996, from an apparent suicide.

Silk Smitha’s life inspired Milan Luthria’s 2001 film The Dirty Picture, featuring Vidya Balan in the lead. Trishul’s Kannada drama Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Maga, featuring Veena Malik in the lead, followed in 2013.