Deepika Padukone currently has seven films in her kitty. She will be seen in movies like 83, Pathan, Shakun Batra’s next, Nag Ashwin’s next, Fighter, The Intern remake, and Draupadi.
But well, looks like the actress is also eyeing some international projects. According to a report in Deadline, Deepika, who made her Hollywood debut with xXx: Return of Xander Cage, has signed up with the international talent management agency, ICM Partners for representation in all areas.
The agency manages work for John Cena, Ian Somerhalder, Lana Condor, and other celebrities.
Deepika had left a mark with her performance in xXx: Return of Xander Cage, but after the 2017 release, the actress didn’t feature in any Hollywood project. A couple of years ago, it was also confirmed that Deepika will star in the next instalment of xXx, but then there’s no development on it.
The actress was last seen on the big screen in the 2020 release Chhapaak in which she played the role of an acid-attack survivor. The movie received mixed reviews from the critics, but Deepika’s performance was appreciated a lot.
Talking about her upcoming movies, while other films are in production and pre-production, 83 is ready for a release. In the Kabir Khan directorial, Deepika plays the role of Romi Dev, Kapil Dev’s wife. Fans of Deepika and Ranveer Singh are surely excited to watch them together on the big screen.
83 was supposed to release in April 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. The makers have not yet announced the new release date of the film.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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