Deepika Padukone will be returning to the silver screen after a year with what is touted to be her most challenging role yet. After the controversial ‘Padmaavat,’ the Bollywood actress will now be seen in ‘Chhapaak,’ a film inspired by the true events following acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.
Deepika revealed her look for ‘Chhapaak’ on social media, sending netizens into a frenzy.
The actress shocked fans with her uncanny resemblance to acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal and stated the release of the film would be in January 2020.
A character that will stay with me forever…#Malti
Shoot begins today!#Chhapaak
Releasing-10th January, 2020.@meghnagulzar @foxstarhindi @masseysahib pic.twitter.com/EdmbpjzSJo
— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) March 25, 2019
Laxmi Agarwal was attacked when she was 15 by two men as she waited at a bus stop in New Dehli, one of whom she refused to marry.
Laxmi had refuted the advances 32-year-old-old Nadeem Khan, one of her attackers, and was attacked as a result as she waited for a bus one day. Laxmi is now an advocate against acid attacks in India and is the face behind ‘Stop Sale Acid,’ a campaign to end violence from the distribution of acid in the market. Laxmi garnered a whopping 27,000 signatures for her petition to end acid sales – a petition she took to the Indian Supreme Court.
Laxmi was continually stalked for months by Naeem Khan, despite making it clear she was not interested in him.
In 2005, Laxmi was on her way to a bookshop when she was attacked by Naeem. She told online publication ‘Daily Mail‘ that”I felt as if someone had set my whole body on fire. The skin was just coming off, it was like dripping, from my hands, and from my face.” Laxmi had to undergo a number of surgeries and was admitted into the hospital for three months. “When I first saw my face afterward, I was devastated. I had no face to speak of.”
Laxmi was awarded ‘International Women Empowerment 2019’ for her stellar campaigning, and also received a ‘2014 International Women Of Courage’ award by Michelle Obama.
Deepika recently divulged how excited she was to shoot ‘Chhapaak’ in her ’73 Questions’ Vogue edition:
Are you excited about Deepika’s next film?