“Deepika Padukone Is Not The Least Bit Cowed Down  By These Bullies.”

Even by their deplorably low standards  of  vilification the Karni Sena hit a new  armpit-level of slander when they  threatened  to cut  Deepika Padukone’s nose for  commenting that India as  a nation has regressed.

A  friend  of  Deepika says the actress can’t stop laughing over the threat. “You are threatening  a woman with cutting her  nose giving  a mythological parallel as justification. If that is not a sign of regression, what is? Anyway, Deepika is   not the  least scared.  She has been provided  security  but her movement remains far from restricted .She will continue to  promote Padmavati, though now the entire Padmavati team has advised her   to exercize caution in her pronouncements. Soshe won’t make  any comments  on  the  vandals masquerading as  protesters. Her  outburst  against regressive elements was  spontaneous and emotional.”
Deepika’s friend says she has never been afraid  of  speaking   her mind. “In  this  she  is  one with her mentor and friend Shah Rukh Khan who will say what he has  to say, come what may. Deepika learnt the art of candour from her father(badminton champ Prakash Padukone) and she  continues  to speak  her  mind and  assert her will according to her conscience.  AndDeepika cannot suffer fools  easily. Unfortunately  right-thinking  people are not left with much of a choice in the matter these days.”

For those apostles  of mischievous violence  who hoped Deepika  would act the shriveling violet after the olifactory threat , there is  news: the actress intends  to continue doing exactly the promotional events planned for Padmavati though now she will move around  more cautiously and will a beefed  up security .

Says  Deepika’s friend, “She’s more worried  for her director Sanjay Leela Bhansali than  herself . Deepika doesn’t fear the goons. She  once  told  a friend, ‘The  more you give in to irrational forces,and the more you cow  down to bullies, the more they attack you. Never show your  vulnerability even to those whom you love the most.’”

There is  plenty of hushed whispers on  why Deepika’s two Padmavati co-stars are so silent when she has been openly threatened  physical violence.

Says  Deepika’s friend, “She can’t speak on Shahid Kapoor, as they are not close friends. But as far as Ranveer is concerned, he is very very worried and concerned. However Ranveer has  been forbidden  by  the Padmavati team from  making any comments.There  is  way too much speculation about how  an A-lister hero  could  play an out-and-villain . To quell the slanderous rumour  of a romantic liaison between  Ranveer’s character and Deepika’s character, the Padmavati team has advised them to not promote the  film together. It is a tactical  move. If the public sees them  together they will presume that the couple has scenes  together in the film. Which, let us  reiterate, they do not.”