It is difficult to say who between Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh is the bigger box office star. But we can tell you that Deepika’s much talked-about role as acid-attack survivor Laxmi Aggarwal in Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak happened because of Ranveer. Director Meghna Gulzar actually wanted to make a male-centric film after Raazi. She was all set to do a biopic on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, with Ranveer in the lead. But according to a source, “Meghna had the project scripted and ready. She was keen on Ranveer Singh to play Manekshaw. They met, and Ranveer seemed super excited. But when it came to a narration, Ranveer seemed to have no time. Meghna simply decided to move to the next project, on acid attack victim Laxmi Aggarwal. That’s how Deepika Padukone came into the picture.”
The director intends to return to her Manekshaw biopic after Chhapaak. But now the coveted role has gone to Vicky Kaushal, who played Alia Bhatt’s Pakistani army-husband in Raazi.
