Deepika
Padukone
will
be
playing
the
role
of
an
acid
attack
survivor
in
Meghna
Gulzar's
next
directorial
venture
which
the
actor
will
also
be
producing.
The
32-year-old
will
play
the
role
of
Laxmi
Agarwal
in
the
yet
to
be
titled
film.
"When
I
heard
this
story,
I
was
deeply
moved
as
it's
not
just
one
of
violence
but
of
strength
and
courage,
hope
and
victory.
It
made
such
an
impact
on
me,
that
personally
and
creatively,
I
needed
to
go
beyond
and
so
the
decision
to
turn
producer," Deepika
said
in
a
statement.
According
to
the
release,
in
2005,
while
Laxmi
was
waiting
at
a
bus
stop
in
Delhi,
she
was
attacked
by
an
assailant,
a
man
twice
her
age,
known
to
her
family
and
an
unlikely
suitor
whose
advances
she
had
declined.
The
film
showcases
Laxmi's
journey
in
the
time
after
her
attack
spanning
10
years,
a
significant
part
of
the
story
is
the
game-changing
PIL
in
the
Supreme
Courtwhich
inspired
the
amendment
on
acid
laws
in
2013.
Meghna
said
in
spite
of
regulation
on
the
sale
of
acid
and
changes
in
legislation
regarding
acid
attacks,
the
ground
reality
is
still
very
grim.
"Acid
violence
is
a
very
prevalent
danger
even
today.
Medical
treatment,
compensation,
rehabilitation
and
inclusion
of
acid
attack
survivors
are
still
very
real
challenges.
"Using
Laxmi's
story
as
a
lens,
we
are
attempting
to
explore
these
aspects
and
consequences
of
acid
violence
in
our
society.
This
is
what
makes
this
story,
relevant
and
one
that
must
be
told.
Because
if
anything,
awareness
is
the
first
step
towards
change,"
she
said.
The
Raazi
director
added
that
the
role
is
emotionally
and
physically
challenging
and
she
is
confident
that
Deepika
would
do
justice
to
the
character
and
the
story.
"Her
physicality
matched
with
what
I'd
imagined
for
Laxmi's
character.
I'm
grateful
and
encouraged
that
she
was
so
spontaneous
in
her
decision
to
do
the
film.
When
you
take
a
face
as
beautiful
as
hers
and
portray
her
as
an
acid
attack
survivor,
the
magnitude
of
the
violence
and
damage
is
that
much
more
resounding,"
Meghna
said.
Deepika's
last
film
was
Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali's
blockbuster
Padmaavat.
Earlier,
the
actor
was
suppose
to
work
with
director
Vishal
Bharadwaj
and
Irrfan
Khan
on
a
film,
in
which
she
was
to
essay
the
role
of
a
gangster.
But
the
film
has
been
postponed
due
to
Irrfan's
ill
health.
Credits
-
PTI