Meghna Gulzar is a keen observer and has developed a taste for the real cinema. She pens down those stories which she believes will leave an impact in any form. Her choice for slightly unconventional and non-fictional cinema stems out from her need to be immaculate and pay extra attention to the minutest detail. Meghna’s last two films Talvar and Raazi proved to be back to back hits at the box office. One such tale that drew Meghna's attention was the story of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. It was traumatic and inspiring for her on various levels. The Deepika Padukone starrer is set to release on 10th Jan and the makers will be releasing the trailer on December 10th.
World Human Rights Day is celebrated globally every year on December 10. People celebrate cinema on this day to sensitize and inspire them and instill in them virtues and humanitarian ethics. Launching the trailer on this date is a sheer stroke of serendipity and for Meghna, couldn't have asked for a better date. Sharing her thoughts on the significance of the date, Meghna averred, "It is actually a nice coincidence that our trailer is getting launched on the 10th of December, which also happens to be - Human Rights Day. Chhapaak is a story of acid violence. The basic act of acid violence violates the human rights of the person who is attacked by acid and their life, their physicality is changed forever.” (ALSO READ: Chhapaak: Deepika Padukone Glows Sans Makeup As She Poses With Shankar Mahadevan And Meghna Gulzar)
“So I really couldn't have asked for better synchronicity for the release date of our film. So that's why the date of the trailer release is extremely significant. That actually was not the starting thought, we were just working backward from our release date, but now that this has happened is almost like a higher-order alignment playing out and I am actually very grateful for that,” she added further.
On sharing her views about her journey as a director in Chhapaak, Meghna exuded, "My journey as a director on the sets of this film has been an extremely fulfilling one. It's been difficult, it has been a difficult film to make both logistically and emotionally, more so for the team and for Deepika, who had to go through a lot of strenuous stuff both emotionally and physically. But at the end of the day when you look at the film that has come together, at least for me and I am sure I can speak on behalf of the team that there is an immense sense of contentment and satisfaction, that this was an important story to tell and we are glad that we got the opportunity to tell it."
Speaking on Deepika playing Laxmi, Meghna added "I don't think it's going to be difficult to make people believe that this is Deepika who is known for beauty and grace to be the same person who is playing Malti in the film. Yes, I am sure there will be a lot of double-takes, where there will be a moment of Huh that's Deepika, really that's Deepika, but then that's the engagement that I am looking for from the audience so that I am hoping will be a good thing actually."
Adding more to it, Meghna said, “Yes, for me Deepika was the absolute right fit for this role. First for her physicality - I have said this before there's an uncanny resemblance between her and Laxmi. More so the Laxmi whose pictures I have seen before she was attacked with acid. And secondly as an actor, the craft that Deepika brings onto a film, was very very critical for me in this film because of the kind of performance that was required. Yes, she was looking for a lighter script and if she hadn't done it, I don't think I would have made it because I really - I don't see who else I could have taken to play this part."
Images Source: instagram/deepikapadukone, PR