Meghna Gulzar Breaks Silence On Deepika Padukone’s JNU Visit During Chhapaak Promotions: It Made A Dent On Film

The January 2020 visit by Deepika Padukone to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) stirred massive controversy, resulting in calls for boycotting her film, Chhapaak. Director Meghna Gulzar, discussing the incident at a recent event, acknowledged that the uproar shifted the film’s focus from acid attack survivors to unrelated discussions.

Deepika Padukone’s JNU controversy impact on Chhapaak

While promoting her latest directorial venture Sam Bahadur, Meghna was asked about Deepika’s visit to the JNU at the time of Chhapaak release. While replying, the filmmaker talked about the impact of the visit, stating that the intended narrative on acid violence was overshadowed by the JNU controversy.
‘I am sure that the answer is pretty obvious. Yes, of course, it made a dent on the film. Because the conversation went from acid violence, which I intended the film to amplify, to somewhere else. So, of course it impacted the film. There is no denying that,’ she said at the Indian Express Adda event.
The JNU campus was engulfed in turmoil in early 2020, marked by masked intruders assaulting students. Accusations of ‘antinational slogans’ further fueled the controversy. Deepika’s pre-JNU interview expressing solidarity with students contributed to the film’s diverted focus.

Chhapaak’s critical acclaim amid box office struggles

Despite positive reviews, Chhapaak struggled at the box office. The film, co-produced by Deepika, also featuring Vikrant Massey, aimed to shed light on the harrowing journey of acid attack survivors. However, it failed to earn decent moolah.

Meghna Gulzar’s next venture

Meghna Gulzar’s latest directorial venture, Sam Bahadur, starring Vicky Kaushal as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, is set to release on December 1. It will clash with Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal.