Deepika Padukone steps down from The Intern remake as an actress; keen to expand portfolio as a producer

Deepika Padukone has apparently decided to expand her portfolio as a producer in the coming years. As per a report in MiD-Day, she is no longer going to act in the Hindi remake of The Intern. She will be on the project solely as a producer. The movie ran into multiple issues ranging from the untimely death of Rishi Kapoor who was initially chosen to essay the role played by Robert De Niro, the pandemic and Deepika Padukone’s maternity break. She is going to make a comeback with Atlee and Allu Arjun’s movie that also has three other actresses.

It was reported that Amitabh Bachchan would step in for late Rishi Kapoor. Deepika Padukone and he have worked together in critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies like Piku and Kalki 2898 AD. Now, Deepika Padukone is keen to revive the film under her banner, KA Productions.

“This time, Deepika will step away from acting in the film to serve solely as a producer, overseeing the creative and logistical reboot. A new leading lady is being cast to play the part she was once slated to perform.”

- A source told Mid Day

It seems she is keen to produce more films, and this is one of the five projects she is going to announce in the coming year or so. Deepika Padukone wants to tell stories that have a universal appeal. The Intern was a 2015 Hollywood film directed by Nancy Meyers. Anne Hathaway plays the CEO of a fashion e-commerce brand that grows beyond one's imagination within a year. Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) is a 70 year old retired man who just cannot sit at home. He joins her office as a part of a programme. Slowly, he endears himself to one and all.

South Korea is also making a Korean remake of this movie starring Han So-hee and Choi Min-shik.