Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has directly responded to the growing speculation about her potential return to the romantic comedy genre. The actress engaged in a candid conversation with her fans during an intimate pre-birthday gathering, where she discussed her career plans and the challenges of finding the right script.
Deepika's Hope for a Rom-Com Comeback
During the event, a fan question about her return to romantic comedies was put forward. A video circulating on social media captures Deepika reading it aloud: "When are we seeing you in a rom-com again?" Her response was filled with hope and a touch of realism. "I really hope very, very soon," she stated, affirming that it is one of her favourite genres both as an audience member and as a performer.
However, Padukone expressed a significant concern about the current cinematic landscape. She feels that the audience's appetite might have shifted. "I just feel like the climate right now or the environment right now, I feel like the audience is seeking something else," she noted. Yet, seeing the enthusiasm from her fans, she added, "But if so many of you want a rom-com, I am sure a large part of the public also wants that."
Fans' Dream Co-Star Wishlist Creates Buzz
The discussion took an exciting turn when fans began suggesting potential co-stars for this dream rom-com project. Names like Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor were immediately brought up. Deepika revealed about Kapoor, "We have spoken about it, honestly..." before being interrupted by a fan who playfully suggested she romance both actors.
The host then added Shah Rukh Khan's name to the mix. However, the loudest cheers and applause were reserved for her husband, Ranveer Singh. The host even teased Deepika, asking her to convince Ranveer to do a rom-com with her, joking about his intense roles like 'Dhurandhar'.
The Real Hurdle: Why Bollywood Rom-Coms Are Rare
Deepika then shifted the conversation to the core issue behind the scarcity of romantic comedies in Bollywood today. She hinted at exploring OTT platforms, asking fans if they would be upset if she did a digital project, to which they responded that she is meant for the big screen.
Explaining the industry challenge, she said, "But honestly, this is something that even me and my team, we keep looking out for. We are constantly looking for drama, love story, rom-com, these genres, but I feel like there are very few producers backing that kind of content, or very few writers writing that right now."
In a unique move, she invited her fans to participate in the process, saying, "If you come across an interesting book, interesting material, always happy to look at that."
On the work front, while no official rom-com project has been announced, rumours have swirled about a possible reunion with Ranbir Kapoor in director Ayan Mukerji's next film, believed to be loosely based on the classic 'Chori Chori'. Meanwhile, Deepika is currently busy with Shah Rukh Khan's action film 'King' and will also star in director Atlee's upcoming sci-fi venture.
