Actress Silk Smitha was born in a Telugu family in Eluru in the year 1960. She allegedly left school after her 4th standard due to her family's financial situations. It is said that she married to a guy at a very young age, but when her husband mistreated her, she ran away to Chennai (then Madras).

She entered the film industry as an extra and first got noticed for her role in a movie title Vandichakkaram which released in the year 1979. In a career spanning 17 years, she acted in over 450 films. She also had a fan following at par with her contemporary superstars.

It has been 21 years since Silk Smitha was found dead, hanging from her ceiling in her Chennai apartment after having committed suicide. She passed away on the 23rd September 1996 and the reason behind her death remains a mystery. Some believe it was suicide, due to depression while others call it murder.

We remember her on this day