Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri said that Deepika Padukone probably had no idea what she was getting into when in New Delhi, days ahead of the release of her 2020 film Chhapaak.
Deepika stood in silent support of protesting students, after goons entered the university premises and thrashed individuals. Deepika’s political statement was blamed for the film’s underwhelming box office performance.
In a new interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Agnihotri said that Deepika probably had no idea what she was doing, and that she was most likely advised to make an appearance at the protest by her public relations representatives. He said that it is impossible to make a political statement without attracting backlash. “I can guarantee that Deepika had no idea about JNU politics when she went there,” he said. Asked if he’s suggesting that Deepika is ‘dumb’, Agnihotri added, “It’s not about being dumb. Her PR must’ve told her that this is a good opportunity to promote your film, because the university is associated with politics, and the film is also political. If she had known, she wouldn’t have come.”
When it was pointed out to him that she is still facing backlash because of that one political statement, he said, “You play with fire, you get burned.” Agnihotri reiterated that Deepika is too smart to fall into such traps. “I don’t know her personally, so I don’t know what ideology she aligns with. I do know that she is a very smart and intelligent woman. Had she known that this is a politically sensitive place and that it might impact her career, she would’ve definitely not gone. During film promotions, there are too many voices telling stars what to do and who to speak to. Her PR was mistaken, they thought it was an event. But it wasn’t an event. Bigger fish than her have been fried for getting involved in politics,” he said.
Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Chhapaak marks Deepika’s last appearance in the lead role. She has since played supporting characters in a host of big-budget films. At the Indian Express Adda two years ago, Gulzar said that it is ‘pretty obvious’ that . “I am sure that answer is pretty obvious. Yes, it did make a dent on the film because the conversation went from acid violence which I intended the film to amplify… The conversation actually changed track and went somewhere else so of course it impacted the film. Of course there was an impact on the film. There is no denying that,” she said.