Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently faced criticism after revealing that Deepika Padukone was initially offered the role of the sombre Meera in Cocktail, which Diana Penty eventually played.
Explaining why Deepika was offered Meera’s role Imtiaz Ali, who wrote the film, said she was projecting a ‘good girl’ image at the time. Meaning she had too demure a image to play the extroverted Meera. Imtiaz then went on to say Deepika’s sober image was a facade, and that she was actually a ‘crazy and wild’ party girl.
The rather uncharacteristic sexist outburst from the gender-sensitive director who created one of the most iconic female heroines—Geet in Jab We Met—left the netizens aghast.
Following a backlash, the filmmaker penned a note to Deepika, clarifying his remark and saying he had been told she might misunderstand or feel hurt by it.
Taking to Instagram Imtiaz wrote, “My dearest and loveliest Deepika Padukone, you are my pal, my buddy, my safe option for humour. I think you will never misunderstand my attempts at fun because more than anyone else you know how much I love you, admire you, understand you and appreciate you. But I have been told you might misunderstand and be hurt, so I am telling you, please don’t.”
