Saturday, May 29, 2010

Deepika Padukone plays a freedom fighter in Gowariker’s next

Deepika Padukone is all set to appear in a totally non-glamorous avatar in Ashutosh Gowariker’s period epic ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se’, where she plays the role of a revolutionary named Kalpana Datta for which she has draped in traditional Bengali saris. Designer Neeta Lulla has dressed Deepika for the film and is said to have done research before finalising Deepika’s Bengali look.
“It is a single pallu drape, twice over the shoulder. When she was doing her action sequences, like any other normal sari, we tucked it around her waist,” Lulla said. For Deepika, doing all their stunts in a sari, draped in the traditional way, was a challenge because every time Deepika was to run, the sari would come in her way.
This period film is based on Manini Chatterjee’s book ‘Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930- 34’ and Deepika’s character Kalpana was a strong and independent woman who joined the mutiny because she believed in the cause.
“Kalpana is not the kind of woman who will sit at home waiting for her husband to return,” says Deepika about her character.
Deepika’s athletic background helped her with the action sequences. “It is nice to do your own stunts given the challenges they offer. I am very spontaneous and did not need the help of a body double,” she said.