Deepika Padukone is looking forward to the release of her upcoming film Chhapaak that is also her first production venture. The film also stars Vikrant Massey in the lead and is directed by Meghna Gulzar. Deepika plays the role of Malti an acid attack survivor that is based on the real-life of Laxmi Agarwal. During a recent interaction with a leading daily, the actress spoke about the range of emotions she went through while portraying such a different character from all the other glamorous roles that she has done in her career.
During the interview, she was asked about the time she broke down on stage during the film’s promotions and how she would describe this emotional roller-coaster rode. To this, Deepika said, “This has been my most challenging film, emotionally. There was a lot of preparation before we began shooting — look tests, working on the prosthetics, costumes and readings with co-actors and Meghna. I also spent time with Laxmi (Agarwal, the acid attack survivor, who is the inspiration behind her character). But, for a film of this nature, you can never be fully prepared. How do I prepare myself for that moment when acid is thrown on my face? I can imagine that it happened in a certain way, but I can only live it between ‘action’ and ‘cut’. I have had many of those moments of highs and lows, which took a toll on my mental health as well.”
Talking about how she coped with the overwhelming emotions, Deepika further said, “I remember on the second day of shoot, I had a panic attack. We were doing the prosthetics when I had the attack because I’m claustrophobic. I broke into a sweat and could feel the blood rushing through my feet, and I remember saying to myself, ‘I can’t do this’. Throughout the film, I was breathing through one nostril because of the prosthetics. I couldn’t eat properly because I couldn’t open my mouth completely. And then, there was the emotional journey. Having said that, I was willing to go through it all because this was a story we had to tell. That was more important than what I had to live with for a few hours every day. Whenever I felt low or vulnerable, I would think about Laxmi and the other survivors, who have been through so much, and that would help me pull through the day.”
Chhapaak releases on January 10, 2020.
(Source: TOI)
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