Rajkummar Rao may soon share screen space with Deepika Padukone in Meghna Gulzar’s upcoming film based on the life of Lakshmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor. The film is Deepika’s first production venture.
[PIC] Deepika Padukone and Rajkummar Rao at the #HelloHallOfFameAwards ? #HHOF2018. RT if you want to see this talented duo in a film! pic.twitter.com/NkZJyD9eJi
— Deepika Padukone FC (@DeepikaPFC) March 11, 2018
Many reports have speculated Rajkummar and Deepika will work together, after a recent photo of the two of them at an event did the rounds on social media. As per HT, Rajkummar has also expressed his desire to work with Deepika in a film.
A report in Bollywood Hungama quotes a source close to Rao, “The role is substantial and has excited Rao. He has not yet worked with Deepika. A role that drives back home a social message has excited the actor. Rao is never excited about the length of the roles. He did a superb cameo in Raabta which got many people talking especially for his make-up among other things.” However, the actor is yet to confirm the news.
As earlier reported by Silverscreen, this film is Deepika’s first production venture, and she will be playing Laxmi Agarwal. Faced with an acid attack at the age of 15, Agarwal took to helping other acid attack victims and also spreading awareness about such violent attacks on women. Laxmi is also the recipient of the US State Department’s International Women of Courage Award in 2014, and received the award from the then First Lady of United States, Michelle Obama.
Meghna Gulzar, who directed this year’s Raazi, said that Agarwal’s story would help bring awareness to the society. Talking to Mumbai Mirror, she said: “Using Laxmi’s story as a lens, we are attempting to explore these aspects and the consequences of acid-related violence in our society. This is what makes this must-told story relevant. Awareness is the first step towards change.”
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Talking about her producer and lead actor, Meghna Gulzar said: “I was instinctively convinced that Deepika would do justice to the character and the story. Also, her physicality matched with what I’d imagined for Laxmi’s character. I’m grateful and encouraged that she was so spontaneous in her decision to do the film.”
The film will go on floors early next year, said Padukone in a Times Now report.
Padukone explained her decision to turn producer with the particular project. “When I heard this story, I was deeply moved as it’s not just one of violence but of strength and courage, hope and victory. It made such an impact on me, that personally and creatively, I needed to go beyond and so the decision to turn producer,”