After numerous protests and controversies, Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s magnum opus Padmaavat has finally hit the silver screen on January 25, 2018, and is doing well at the box office. The period drama is based on the 16th-century epic ‘Padmavati’ by poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi.
Amidst controversies and threats, the audiences streamed into theatres across the country to watch the film. The film is getting appreciated a lot and actors Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone have done 100 percent justice to the characters in the film. Shahid Kapoor was seen in the role of Rajput king Maharwal Ratan Singh, Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji in the film.
Deepika Padukone is in the mood to celebrate. The strife is behind her, she says, and she is looking ahead. “At this point, I am not thinking about the last three months. The last few days have been so overwhelming that nothing else matters. I am in a mood to celebrate. I am grateful for all the love and support,” Deepika said while interacting with the media.
For Deepika, playing the part of Rani Padmini in the historical drama was the most difficult role in her decade-long career. “This role of a queen had no crutches like she doesn’t have a sword, she doesn’t get on a horse and goes on a battlefield, but there is sheer inner strength and resilience which I had to show through my eyes,” Deepika said.
The film has been getting mixed reviews from the audience. While some are impressed with Bhansali’s narration, there are a few who are showering with a lot of love and appreciation for Ranveer’s portrayal of Alauddin Khilji in the film. And there are people who are of an opinion that Padmaavat glorifies the practice of ‘Jauhar’.
Not only common people, even Deepika Padukone parents didn’t like something about the movie.
When lyricist Javed Akhtar called ‘Padmaavat’ the “Mother India” of her career, Deepika was on cloud nine. But what gratified her more was that her parents praised her performance. “My parents have seen the film and they were proud of my work, but there was a sense of disbelief like they were thinking is she our daughter?”
“As I don’t stay with them, they don’t know much in detail about the role or the film. I want them to enjoy the film as a normal audience. They had no idea about ‘Padmaavat’ and the story. The last 15 minutes of the film for my parents were tough… they hate it when I die in films,” Deepika said.
Deepika about her character, Rani Padmavati said, that while ‘Padmaavat’ was a story that was several centuries old, it was as relevant today as ever. “It looks at the power of women. Today again we are standing up for ourselves with dignity… I find her journey so relevant today. The amount of love, support is unprecedented and most important the blessings that I am getting. I feel what have I done to deserve this (love),” she said.