Indrajit Lankesh Recalls Launching Deepika Padukone’s Film Career

MUMBAI-Filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh has revisited one of the most memorable moments of his career, recalling how he launched Deepika Padukone in her acting debut with the Kannada film ‘Aishwarya’.

Speaking to IANS, Lankesh said he was looking for a new heroine when someone recommended Deepika. He revealed that their first meeting was arranged by Pooja Dadlani, who managed Deepika Padukone at the time and is now Shah Rukh Khan’s manager.

“I was looking for a new heroine, and someone recommended Deepika,” Lankesh said.

“We met in a lift, and I started narrating the story. I had barely spoken two lines when she was convinced. That’s how Deepika was cast in ‘Aishwarya’. She already had the confidence. I just created an atmosphere where she could perform fearlessly.”

Lankesh said he immediately recognized Deepika’s potential.

“She had the height, the look, the screen presence, and, most importantly, the hunger to prove herself. I told her one day she’d become a Hollywood star. Years later, when she worked with Vin Diesel, I remembered that conversation.”

The filmmaker also clarified that Deepika was not working on ‘Om Shanti Om’ while filming ‘Aishwarya’. According to Lankesh, Shah Rukh Khan cast her in the Hindi film only after ‘Aishwarya’ completed a successful 100-day theatrical run.

‘Aishwarya’, directed by Lankesh, marked Deepika Padukone’s acting debut opposite Upendra in 2006. (IANS)