Kangana Ranaut claims she turned down Deepika Padukone’s role in Padmaavat: “She is only getting ready in the entire film” : Bollywood News

Bollywood actress-turned-director Kangana Ranaut recently shared why she turned down the lead role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, a role that was later portrayed by Deepika Padukone. Speaking during an interview with Ajeet Bharti, Kangana criticised the film’s portrayal of women, describing the female role as insubstantial. This revelation comes as Kangana continues to address gender representation in Bollywood, amidst the release of her latest project, Emergency, which has sparked protests in Punjab.

Kangana Ranaut claims she turned down Deepika Padukone’s role in Padmaavat: “She is only getting ready in the entire film”

Why Kangana Declined Padmaavat

In her conversation, Kangana disclosed the reason for rejecting the titular role in the 2018 historical drama. She revealed, “I asked Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the script, but he said he never shares scripts. Then I asked him about the role of the heroine. He said there’s nothing much, the heroine’s role is just that the hero looks at her in the mirror while she’s getting ready.” Kangana went on to say that when she watched the film, she noticed that her initial assessment was accurate: “She is only getting ready.”

Criticism of Bollywood’s Representation of Women

Kangana’s remarks highlighted her ongoing dissatisfaction with Bollywood’s stereotypical depiction of women. “Top directors do not show women in good roles,” she said, further adding, “The kind of roles female actors are getting these days are demeaning.” She also criticised Bhansali’s body of work, calling it a "multiverse of prostitutes," though she clarified that her comments were not intended to demean sex workers, having portrayed one herself in Rajjo.

Emergency Sparks Controversy

Kangana’s comments came amidst the release of Emergency, where she plays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film’s journey to theatres was fraught with delays, including challenges with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and financial hurdles that led Kangana to sell her Mumbai property to fund the project. Post-release, Emergency faced protests in Punjab, with members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) accusing the film of misrepresentation and calling for a ban in the state.

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