Deepika Padukone to produce, play acid attack survivor in Meghna Gulzar's next

Actress Deepika Padukone is all set to play acid attack survivor, Laxmi Agarwal, in Meghna Gulzar's next project. The actress will also be producing the yet-untitled film. 

Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, a tabloid, the actress said, "When I heard this story, I was deeply moved as it’s not just one of violence but of strength and courage, hope and victory. It made such an impact on me, that personally and creatively, I needed to go beyond and so the decision to turn producer." 

The film will be Padukone's debut as producer, and will also mark her first collaboration with filmmaker Meghna Gulzar, whose last film Raazi (2018) went on to be a box-office success. 

Laxmi Agarwal is the director of Chhanv Foundation, an NGO dedicated to helping acid attack survivors across India. Agarwal herself was a victim of an acid attack at the age of 15. The incident inspired her to take up the cause for speaking against such attacks, and earned her global recognition. Agarwal received the 2014 International Women of Courage Award by then First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. 

The report quoted Gulzar as saying, "I’m grateful and encouraged that she was so spontaneous in her decision to do the film. When you take a face as beautiful as hers and portray her as an acid attack survivor, the magnitude of the violence and damage is that much more resounding." 

In addition to this project, Gulzar is also invovled in the production of an original series on former Mumbai police comissioner, Rakesh Maria.