Breakthrough with Kalyug
Smilie Suri first got noticed as an actress in 'Kalyug' (2005), directed by her brother Mohit Suri. Her character as Renuka, an unwitting prey of the murky underbelly of adult content, was a huge success. “Jiya Dhadak Dhadak,” a soulful track envisioned on her, was a massive hit and established her as an uptempo newcomer to the Bollywood scene.
Downfall in career
But for all the promising openings, Smilie’s film career didn’t pan out as well as she hoped. She was then signed to another film from Bhatt’s production house; they later replaced her, which purportedly caused some of the strains in her film career. She later speculated that professional politics may have contributed to her exclusion from the mainstream of cinema.
Moving to television and reality shows
With roles in film diminishing, Smilie went to television. She also joined the reality television show 'Nach Baliye 7' with her then husband, Vineet Bangera. She didn’t go into a long-term TV profession, but she took advantage of that exposure to stay in the public eye.
Managing loss and emotional difficulties
Smilie had personal struggles, including the loss of her parents and parting with her husband. They affected her badly, and she started fighting depression and anxiety. She's been candid about her journey of mourning and a need to find therapy, becoming an advocate for mental health awareness.
Rebuilding through dance
She eventually settled down to do pole dancing, taking it up not only as a means to stay in physical shape but more importantly as an emotional outlet. She trained professionally, opened her own pole-dancing studio, and has helped women find strength in movement. She got back to acting, after almost 20 years, in the movie 'House of Lies.'
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