Meghna Gulzar recently opened up about the profound impact Deepika Padukone’s contentious visit to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had on their collaborative project, ‘Chhapaak.’ The director candidly acknowledged that the film’s intended focus on acid violence got overshadowed by the media frenzy surrounding Deepika’s involvement in a protest at JNU on January 7, 2020—merely three days before the movie’s scheduled release.
During a thoughtful discussion, Gulzar unreservedly admitted, “I am sure the answer is pretty obvious. Yes, of course, it made a dent on the film. Because the conversation shifted from acid violence, which I intended the film to amplify, to somewhere else. So, it certainly impacted the film. There is no denying that.”
In an unprecedented move, Deepika Padukone, also making her debut as a co-producer alongside Fox Star Studios, Govind Singh Sandhu, and Meghna Gulzar, ventured into film production with ‘Chhapaak.’ Despite the film having a modest budget, it faced challenges in making a significant mark at the box office.
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The controversy sparked by Deepika’s participation in the JNU protest reverberated across social media platforms. Twitter became a focal point for discussions, with hashtags such as #BoycottChhapaak and #BlockDeepika dominating the online discourse. The film, which saw Deepika essaying the challenging role of acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal, garnered strong support but fell short of meeting box office expectations.
Meghna Gulzar’s revelation at the Express Adda event shed light on the intricate dynamics between a film’s narrative and the real-life events involving its cast. Despite the film’s sincere attempt to shed light on the heinous crime of acid violence, it found itself entangled in the web of controversy generated by Deepika’s JNU visit.
As the film industry grapples with the intersection of art and activism, ‘Chhapaak’ stands as a testament to the delicate balance filmmakers must strike in navigating the complexities of real-world events impacting cinematic endeavors.