Bollywood actress who has been facing a lot of backlash and death threats from Hindu extremists for portraying the role of Rani Padmini in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film, Padmavati, has received immense support from the Bollywood film fraternity with many actors speaking in favour of her and extending their support.
In a recent interview with Filmfare Magazine, Deepika’s Padmavati co-star Shahid Kapoor is all praises for the actress and said that he feels no one instead of Deepika could have done justice to the role and that she is perfect for Padmavati.
He said, “Deepika’s a great actress. She’s at the top of the game. She’s perfect for Padmavati and we had a great time working with each other. It didn’t feel that we were working together for the first time.”
The star also praised Sanjay Leela Bhansali for his vision and referred to him as a “mad genius”.
“He’s a mad genius, who drains and sucks everything out of you. But you get addicted to him. He’s like a drug. He’s difficult for people who are not ready to work hard. He’s easy for people who want to excel and push themselves. So for me, he’s the easiest person. He won’t let go of you till he’s got what he wants. He won’t sleep well if he hasn’t got what he wanted. And I can relate to those feelings,” noted Kapoor.
Similarly, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali also could not stop gushing about Deepika Padukone. The two have worked together in Love Aaj Kal and Tamasha.
“Directing her (Deepika) in any film is an experience in its own; one gets to learn a lot of things,” says Imtiaz, who adds that Deepika is very different from her contemporaries.
“She is powerful and a good actor. I have highest regard and love for her. Her understanding and dedication for a character is what makes her special and different from others.”
Imtiaz, who has also directed many super hit films reveals how he wasn’t convinced about Deepika being the right choice for Tamasha.
“Initially, I didn’t want her to play that part because I didn’t know if it was worth her while, but she said she wanted to do it. I knew that she’d understand the darkness and pain of the emotion very well. So, that’s why I decided to go ahead with her,” he says.
Meanwhile, Bhansali faced a barrage of questions from a parliamentary panel which asked him if the “selective” media screening of his film was aimed at influencing the CBFC.
Veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha also bashed Bhansali for holding a private screening of Padmavati.
Sinha said Bhansali promised that he will screen the film first to the members of the Indian political party Karni Sena but didn’t stick to his word.
“As Padmavati becomes a burning controversy, people are asking why the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, most versatile Aamir Khan and most popular Shah Rukh Khan have no comments. High time!” Sinha said earlier. “As for me, I would and should speak on the Padmavati issue only after the “great film-maker, producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali” speaks up. I speak only when I am spoken to and I will speak keeping in mind the interests of the film-maker as well as the sensitivity, valour and loyalty of the great Rajputs,” added the actor.
Various Rajput groups and political leaders have accused Bhansali of distorting history in the movie by using a romantic dream sequence between the Rajput queen Padmini and Sultan Alauddin Khilji, a claim repeatedly denied by the filmmaker.
