Who would have thought that the story of a girl with a constipated father and a journey they undertake jointly from Delhi to Calcutta in the taxi owned and driven by Irffan Khan would be such a runaway hit?
Her act as a selfless daughter, who spends more time listening to her father’s constipation tales than on her professional or marital pursuits in Piku, has garnered an “overwhelming” response for actress Deepika Padukone. But the most heartening has been the response from people who have expressed a wish to “adopt” her.
“The response has been overwhelming,” Deepika said in an interview post the film’s release. Her character is independent and free-spirited.
“I think we had all thought that it’s a sweet film and that people will connect with it, but none of us had expected it to become this big. It’s gone beyond our own control. The biggest compliment for me has been… I know it may sound funny, but a lot of people want to adopt me,” said the 29-year-old.
Today's Rate
Sat 21 Dec. 2024
She says it’s been the “biggest compliment”. Deepika in real life is daughter of ace badminton champion Prakash Padukone who lives in Bengluru.
“Multiple people have told me that they want to adopt me after watching ‘Piku’, and that’s very overwhelming,” said Deepika, who in real life, is the daughter of former badminton ace Prakash Padukone.
Deepika, who also features in a brand’s emotional advertisement about a daughter’s love towards her mother, says her biggest critic is her family. But even they were speechless after watching Piku.
“My family is my biggest critic. They always watch my films, but they would always say ‘This could have been a little better’. But, for the first time, after watching this film (Piku), there was an absolute silence when they called me.”
“They were so overwhelmed by what they had seen that they were just lost for words,” she added.
The success of Piku also shows how a movie can work even without extensive multi-city promotions, skin show, a lip-lock scene or the song-and-dance formula.
“It depends on the story and what the characters are trying to convey. Piku is a story of a daughter and her journey and how she tries to be perfect in every role. She is trying to do so many things and do them all perfectly. Piku is different and didn’t require all of that,” she said.
Considering that Deepika has had quite a winning streak with movies like Cocktail, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Chennai Express and Happy New Year, how does she choose her films?
“There is no formula… If I find a script and if I feel the director can justify it, I go ahead and do it. I follow my heart and my gut feeling,” she said.
“The reaction that Piku has got, the kind of scripts that I am getting and with the kind of actors I am getting to work with, it’s a very exciting time for me right now,” added the actress, who will next be seen in films like Tamasha with Ranbir Kapoor and Bajirao Mastani with Ranveer Singh.
Actor Irrfan Khan says the response is a win both for the audience as also for a filmmaker who knows how to entertain and engage with a difference.
“THANKSss to all for the success of @PikuTheFilm. Feeling Great full, hopeful, beautiful and so light. It’s the victory of the audience and the new film makers who wants to engage audience on a different level,” Irrfan posted on Twitter on Sunday.
The film is also putting up a good show at the box office. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted about the growth in the film’s business.
Actor Irrfan Khan says the response is a win both for the audience as also for a filmmaker who knows how to entertain and engage with a difference.
“THANKSss to all for the success of @PikuTheFilm. Feeling Great full, hopeful, beautiful and so light. It’s the victory of the audience and the new film makers who wants to engage audience on a different level,” Irrfan posted on Twitter on Sunday.
The film is also putting up a good show at the box office. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted about the growth in the film’s business.
Surprisingly it has pipped big budget, multi star cast film Bombay Velvet starring her ex boy friend Ranbir Kapoor at the B.O.
“Bombay Velvet” has failed to displace Deepika’s simple, subtle and meaningful act as a dutiful daughter in “Piku”, box office figures suggest.
“A colossal flop”, “a debacle”, “a disaster” are some of the verdicts by film trade analysts on Anurag Kashyap’s high-budget drama “Bombay Velvet”, which is set in the Bombay of the 1960s and about a man who wants to make it big in life at any cost.
The film has earned a little over Rs.16 crore in its opening weekend.
