Hope we won't have to constantly tell stories on acid attack survivors to see change: Deepika

Hoping her cinematic voice can help bring about lasting change in how society perceives acid attack survivors, actor Deepika Pukone says her latest film "Chhapaak" should ideally be so impactful that re won't be need for ar story on acid violence.

After all, cinema is in itself such a powerful medium, Deepika told PTI ahe of release of film based on life of acid attack survivor-activist Laxmi Agarwal. idea behind social drama is to invoke empathy and understanding rar than paint women who have undergone ordeal as victims, actor, who has also produced film, said in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

"Beyond gruesomeness, violence and all of that, re is a story of human spirit and hope. That's why we're telling story," she said. Deepika, 33, said it was a story that spoke to her and she felt pride in attaching herself to project. "Chhapaak", directed by Meghna Gulzar and also featuring Vikrant Massey, is second mainstream film to focus on subject after 2019 Malayalam movie "Uyare" starring Parvathy Thiruvothu.

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"I hope we won't have to constantly tell stories on acid attack survivors for us to see change. I hope with our film we begin to see that change for ourselves as a society and for acid attack survivors. "If we don't, n we've done something wrong as a society. Cinema in itself is such a powerful medium that hopefully just through this one film we will hopefully be able to see that kind of change and impact."

actor said re was t much planning behind decision to back film financially. "Sometimes certain films need a little more hand holding, a little more love and support. I felt like I would be ding a little more value as a producer. "This is a film I'm very proud of, t just from script point of view but even in terms of story and its mess," she said.

film, which releases on January 10, will be Deepika's first release in two years and comes after her marri to frequent co-star Ranveer Singh. actor said she used time to creatively replenish herself. "It was about finding a film worthy of putting out re. It's t that work at my end h stopped. I was constantly looking for scripts that challenged and excited me.

"I would look at it as time for creative fertility. It's important to nurture yourself. work that goes on behind scenes... most often we're constantly on a film set, but wher it's meeting with writers and directors, looking for scripts... That is also part of creative process and that's what I've been doing."

title "Chhapaak" instantly evokes im of acid being splattered, and Deepika said director wanted a word for film's name that could also lend itself to a song.

"I think she said 'chhapaak', which is sound of a splash, is something that could apt or lend itself beautifully to a song. Perhaps, it also has to do with fluidity and liquid. So on one hand, liquid is kwn to take different forms, a liquid such as this (acid) can change someone's life forever," she said.

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