Deepika turns Draupadi!

The actress, along with Madhu Mantena, is producing a film which will narrate the Mahabharat from the point of view of its central female protagonist.

Last year, around this time, Mirror (October 5, 2018) had reported that Deepika Padukone was turning producer with Chhapaak, being directed by Meghna Gulzar on 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, seen through the eyes of Draupadi with Deepika in the central role. She is collaborating with Madhu Mantena on this epic extravaganza which will not only be lavishly mounted but will also be a one-of-its-kind project in Hindi cinema. What’s interesting is that it will 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 Padmavat, is delighted to be spearheading another challenge. “I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to be essaying the role of Druapadi. I truly believe that it is the role of a lifetime,” she exults. Her joint producer, Madhu is equally delighted, even while he acknowledges 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 on with leading actors to join the franchise. It is a project that can redefine our 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 influence,many of life’s lessons are also derived from the Mahabharat 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 royal again, only this time with a woman commanding the plot.