After a sports drama slated for Christmas, the actress will get busy with a modern romance, a comedy drama, a mythological, and a futuristic sci-fi film
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 24, 2020)

Earlier this March, Deepika Padukone was all geared up to start filming for director Shakun Batra’s next in Sri Lanka. Then, the Coronavirus pandemic hit all plans for a six and like everyone, she has been confined to home since. After playing house and experimenting with different recipes in the initial stages of the lockdown, the actress returned to work and has had several virtual script-reading sessions with different writers.

Now, she has her slate in place with diverse subjects; from a contemporary romance to a comedy drama, from a mythological to a futuristic sci-fi. There is also Kabir Khan’s sport-drama, ’83, with husband Ranveer Singh as India’s winning captain Kapil Dev, and her as his better half, Romi Dev. Initially scheduled to open on April 10, the film, which documents India’s historic 1983 World Cup win, has now been announced as a Christmas 2020 release. “Deepika wants to explore all kinds of films and pick roles that will resonate with the audience and leave an impact. The first film she will kick off after this forced break is Shakun’s untitled film, followed by the official adaptation of Hollywood hit, The Intern. Then, she will move on to a film with Prabhas,” informs a source.

While Shakun’s film is an urban relationship drama, also featuring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday, The Intern remake is a comedy drama. the Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway and Rene Russo-starrer revolves around a 70-year-old widower who, bored of a retired life, becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site.

The recently announced untitled, pan-India multilingual film with the Bahubali actor Prabhas and directed by Nag Ashwin is expected to roll in April 2021. “It’s a futuristic sci-fi film with plenty of VFX and scaled-up action. The concept is novel and budget-wise, it will be one of the biggest Indian films till date. Being prep-heavy, the director and his team have already begun work on visualisation and logistics,” the source reveals, adding that this space is a first for the actress and she is looking forward to the start the shoot.

From the future she will move to the past with Draupadi. Based on The Mahabharat, the mythological drama, that is produced by the actress and Madhu Mantena, is currently being scripted. Speaking to Mirror (October 25, 2019), Deepika had described Draupadi as “role of a lifetime”. The epic extravaganza unfolds through the eyes of its female protagonist and could be made in two or more parts. It was earlier announced as a Diwali 2021 release.

Deepika Padukone asserts she is undaunted by the mammoth scale of her next production as she begins work on the multi-part epic
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 9, 2020)

Well ahead of the release of Chhapaak, Deepika Padukone had announced her next production, Mahabharat, in collaboration with producer Madhu Mantena. Stepping into the shoes of Draupadi, the actor was keen to provide a fresh perspective to the mythological tale. Almost four months later, there has been no development on the front.

"I am not someone who believes in making an announcement to create buzz," cuts in Padukone, stating that she took on the project "after a lot of thought. I was busy with Chhapaak promotions, so there was no time to sit down and discuss [this film]. We have yet to ascertain the cast and crew."

The allure of the narrative cannot be denied—the actor had described the opportunity to tell the much-revered story, through the perspective of Draupadi, as one "of a lifetime". In choosing to back the epic for her second production, Padukone understands that she has taken on a mammoth responsibility. However, she is far from daunted by the multi-part film. "Making the Mahabharat is not like making any other film. From the scale of production to the budget and costumes, it will take five times longer to execute . I cannot turn it around in a short time frame. It is my most ambitious project," she says of the Diwali 2021 release.

The actress, along with Madhu Mantena, is producing a film that narrates Mahabharat from the female protagonist’s point of view
MUMBAI MIRROR (October 25, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (October 5, 2018) that Deepika Padukone was turning producer with Chhapaak, which is directed by Meghna Gulzar and revolves around acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. Twelve months later, the actress is pushing the envelope further with her third production after Chhapaak and ’83, the Mahabharat.

The epic extravaganza unfolds through the eyes of its female protagonist, Draupadi, with Deepika in the central role. The actress is collaborating with Madhu Mantena for the lavishly-mounted project which will also be a one-of-its-kind in Hindi cinema and is being planned to be made in two or more parts, with the first part scheduled for a Diwali 2021 unveiling.

Deepika, who has already distinguished herself in bravura roles, including Cocktail, Ram Leela, Chennai Express, Bajirao Mastani, Piku and Padmaavat, is delighted to be spearheading another challenge. “I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to be essaying the role of Draupadi. I truly believe that it is the role of a lifetime,” she exults.

Her joint producer Madhu is equally delighted, acknowledging that it is a huge responsibility to be re-telling this mythological tale on the big screen. “While we have all consumed the Mahabharat all our lives, the uniqueness of our film is seeing the same story from the point of view of Draupadi, who is one of the most significant heroines in our country’s cultural history. And Deepika is not just the biggest Indian actress today, but someone who can take this narrative across borders. If it weren’t with her, we would not be making this film on such an ambitious scale,” the filmmaker asserts.

The duo is in advanced talks with A-list filmmakers to be a part of their epical universe. Simultaneously, discussions are also on with leading actors to join the franchise. It is a project that can redefine Hindi cinema, not just in terms of production values but also in its content.

As Deepika points out, “While the Mahabharat is popularly known for its mythological tales and cultural influences, many life lessons are also derived from it, but most often from its men. Telling it with this fresh and new perspective will not only be interesting, but also very significant.”

And so, get ready for the battle royale again, only this time with a woman commanding the plot and narrative.
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Deepika Padukone announces her next production after Chhapaak, to play Draupadi in multi-part Mahabharat
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; October 25, 2019)

Her maiden production, Chhapaak, may be a few months away from its date with the audience, but Deepika Padukone has already greenlit her next venture. The actor, in collaboration with producer Madhu Mantena, will bring Mahabharat to the big screen. Continuing her streak of portraying powerful author-backed parts, Padukone will breathe life into one of the Indian epic's most enduring characters, Draupadi. Interestingly, the story will be told from the perspective of the female protagonist.

"We all know the Mahabharat for its mythological tales and socio-cultural influence. We derive many of life's lessons from the epic. But the narrative we are most familiar with is that of the epic's leading men. This new perspective will be not only interesting but also significant," says Padukone, who has constantly striven to tell stories of female bravado with her offerings. Her next, Chhapaak, directed by Meghna Gulzar, is inspired by the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

Aware that three hours is too little to do justice to Draupadi's journey from her birth in Panchala to her role in the destruction of the Kauravas, the duo intends to make it a multi-part franchise, with the first edition slated to release in Diwali 2021.

Padukone acknowledges that mounting the film on the grand scale that it deserves, is both daunting as well as creatively fulfilling. "While I'm thrilled and honoured, I'm also nervous and can only hope that we are able to create something that we can all be proud of. I believe this is the role and opportunity of a lifetime."

While the duo is scouting for a director to give shape to their vision, they are also in discussion with leading actors to step into the pivotal roles of Yudhishthir, Arjuna, Bheem, Nakul and Sahdev. "We all know and have studied Mahabharat throughout our lives but not from the point of view of Draupadi, who happens to be one of the most important female icons in Indian history. This is an ambitious project, and if not for Deepika, we wouldn't be so confident about taking on this challenge," says Mantena, adding that they will announce the rest of the cast and creative team soon.

Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 18, 2013)

Art often imitates life and many actors are known to incorporate traits from real people for effective character portrayal. While it may be easier to emote happy and positive sentiments, depicting pain and humiliation in scenes can be challenging. Vidya Balan is believed to have felt this when she agreed to lend her voice to the character of Draupadi in director Amaan Khan’s upcoming animation flick, Mahabharat 3D.

Apparently, while dubbing for the vastraharan (disrobing) sequence, the actress ensured that her voice had the resonance of the December 16, 2012, Nirbhaya case. Asked about parallels between the episode in the epic and crimes against women today, Vidya says, “I think the vastraharan is the earliest instance of objectification of a woman. In that context, not much has changed.”

The actress was glad to lend her voice to Draupadi as she finds her the most interesting epic female character. As for the dubbing experience, she adds, “I’ve always felt that the dialogue becomes a bit unnatural in historical/mythological/ epic films. Add to that, this is the animated version. So, it was all the more challenging to imagine how Draupadi would be.”

Mahabharat 3D, presented by Jayantilal Gada (PEN India), produced by Kushal Gada and Dhaval Gada, releases December 27.