Meghna Gulzar says it’s ‘obvious’ Deepika Padukone’s controversial visit to JNU dented Chhapaak: ‘The conversation went somewhere else’

At the Express Adda, Meghna Gulzar admitted that Deepika Padukone's controversial visit to JNU, just three days before the release of Chhapaak, impacted the 2020 film's reception.

By: Entertainment Desk

Chennai | Updated: November 28, 2023 09:59 AM IST

2 min read

Deepika Padukone and Vikrant Massey in a still from Chhapaak.

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Deepika Padukone’s 2020 film Chhapaak was based on the life of acid attack survivor and campaigner for rights of acid attack victims, Laxmi Agarwal. The movie was directed by Meghna Gulzar. Despite such strong backing, Chhapaak didn’t do well at the box office. During the Express Adda on Monday, Meghna admitted that Deepika’s controversial visit to JNU just three days before the film’s release impacted its reception.

The director said, “I am sure that the answer is pretty obvious. Yes, of course, it made a dent on the film. Because the conversation went from acid violence, which I intended the film to amplify, to somewhere else. So, of course it impacted the film. There is no denying that.”

Deepika Padukone’s participation in a protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University on January 7, 2020, three days before the release of Chhapaak, in response to the 2020 JNU attack and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, sparked social media uproar. The hashtags #BoycottChhapaak and #BlockDeepika trended on Twitter.

As a co-producer alongside Fox Star Studios, Govind Singh Sandhu, and Meghna Gulzar, Deepika Padukone marked her debut in production with Chhapaak. Despite being made on a budget of Rs 50 crore, the film only grossed Rs 55.44 crore at the box office.

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Meghna Gulzar’s upcoming venture Sam Bahadur stars Vicky Kaushal in the lead role as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. The film portrays Manekshaw’s pivotal role in India’s victory during the 1971 war, which led to the birth of Bangladesh. The narrative highlights Manekshaw’s leadership and the challenges he conquered.

Sam Bahadur is set to hit theatres on December 1 and will clash with Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal.

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