Deepika Proves She’s Got What It Takes

 Ever since she  got a hero’s welcome  in  Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat Deepika Padukone has been  striving towards positioning  herself as the  first among equals in the  heroines’ hierarchy  of  Bollywood.

For those  who are not  aware  of  this, Deepika was paid more than Ranveer Singh in Bhansali’s Padmaavat. Ever since then  Deepika has climbed from strength to strength. She refused to  take on any new  project as a leading lady  until she was given creative  space  in the screenplay and  overall project to have a say.

Now Deepika  has been appointed  the chairperson  of  the n MAMI(the  Mumbai Academy  Of The Moving Image), a post previously held by Kiran Rao(Mrs Aamir Khan)  that Deepika  intends  to take  most seriously.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali whose Deepika-Ranveer trilogy Ram Leela, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat went a  long way into establishing Deepika’s  supremacy says   the honour is  richly deserved. “There is a lot more to her. Lots! Deepika is one of the finest artistes I’ve worked with. Such thehrao and such grace! She  never surrenders to melodrama even when there is ample temptation to do so. Look at her speech in front of the women before they commit jauhar.Such control, restraint and so much emotive power without tripping over . I was so overwhelmed by how she handled that scene, I gave her a 500-rupee note after she finished the scene. I am sure that token of my appreciation is  more valuable and precious to her than the entire remuneration she got for  the film.”

SLB sees glimpses of three legendary actresses  in Deepika. “From some angles she reminds me of Vyjanthimalaji. Sometimes she reminds me of Hemaji.And the grace with which she has performed  the Ghoomar dance reminds me of Waheedaji. I strongly believe Deepika has the potential to join the ranks of our legendary actresses.”