I needed to heal emotionally: Deepika shares why she Burned her Chhapaak’s prosthetic make-up

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has not only opened about her battle with depression at the peak of career at various occasions but the diva had also set-up a foundation, Live, Love, Laugh Foundation in 2015. The NGO aims at increasing awareness about mental health and also gives hope to every person experiencing stress, anxiety and depression.

Recently, the Padmaavat actress attended The Print's Off The Cuff by Shekhar Gupta where she talked about a lot of stuff. Being an actor is never easy to portray someone else’s life like your own takes a toll on you. Talking about how playing Malti, an acid attack survivor, in Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak, Deepika shared that she had to burn her prosthetic make-up in order to heal emotionally. As quoted by DNA, the 33-year-old actress said,

I literally had to burn the piece of prosthetics that I was wearing on the last day of the shoot. Because it impacted me in a way that I never experienced before. That was my way of trying at least to let go everything that I experienced. I literally burnt it. Prosthetics are expensive, we get charged per piece of prosthetics that the artist makes. But I took a call as a producer, I said I don't care, I need to heal emotionally. It takes about 2-3 days to prepare one piece. On the last day of the shoot, I gave my makeup artist a heads up that I need an extra piece. She made one and the day we finished, I remember taking the piece, taking some alcohol, went into a corner, poured the alcohol on it and set it on fire. I stood there watching it burn until it had disappeared completely in front of me. I don't think it left my system entirely but that vision of the piece burning is stuck in my head. It affected me in a way that no other movie has before.

- Deepika Padukone on burning her prosthetic make-up

At the same event, Deepika also questioned why only actors are subjected to give their opinions on the current incidents and not businessmen or cricketers when asked why she hasn’t spoken up on incidents of lynching across the country. As quoted by DNA, the diva said, “I am someone who likes to work and express my perspectives where I can see change.” She further added,

Actors are brought on platforms and are expected to give our opinions on everything. Why are businessmen not asked these questions, why does someone not ask Ratan Tata what he thinks about Aarey, why are cricketers not asked about MeToo? So, sure, I don't think I'm in any kind of place to say if I would expose myself to a forum. You can ask me whatever question you want, but why subject it only to a film star?

- Deepika Padukone

On the work front, Deepika Padukone will also be seen in Kabir Khan’s ’83, a biopic based on the life of Kapil Dev and how India won the coveted World Cup in 1983, apart from Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak alongside Vikrant Massey. 

Stay tuned for more updates!